The following was received from a friend in Indonesia:



  FIRST INDONESIAN LESBIAN AND GAY CONGRESS
     Yogyakarta, December 10-12, 1993
            (Press Release)

In 1981 Indonesia became the first country in Asia to have a gay movement
organization.  But it was only in the past 2 years that the number of lesbian/
gay associations increased throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

To date, there are 15 lesbian/gay associations in Sumatra, Java, Bali, and 
Sulawesi, each with their own specific characteristics and activities.  
However, this growth has not been followed by a common grounding in ideology
of the lesbian/gay movement.

In order to establish such a grounding, and to formulate a culturally-
appropriate ideology of the Indonesian lesbian/gay movement, several groups
gathered together at the First Indonesian Lesbian and Gay Congress in Yogya-
karta, on December 10-12, 1993.  The Congress was organized by the national
network (umbrella) organization, Kelompok Kerja Lesbian dan Gay Nusantara
(KKLGN), and was hosted by the local gay asociation, Indonesian Gay Society.

The aims of the Congress were:

(1) to strengthen cooperation and networking among Indonesian lesbian and
    gay associations,

(2) to facilitate lesbian/gay associations in increasing their organizational
    skills and capability to indentify and articulate needs of its members,
    in order to provide better support services and advocacy in an effective
    and efficient manner.

The Congress was attended by 36 participants, representing 10 lebian/gay
organizations:

     -Gaya Betawi                   (Jakarta)
     -Gaya Lestari                  (Jakarta, lesbian assoc.)
     -Chandra Kirana                (national lesbian network)
     -Gaya Priangan                 (Bandung)
     -Indonesian Gay Society        (Yogyakarta)
     -Gaya Baya                     (Surabaya)
     -Gaya Dewata                   (Bali)
     -Gaya Celebes                  (Ujungpandang)
     -Gaya Arema                    (Malang)
     -Gyska                         (Kediri)


The Congress formulated the Indonesian lesbian/gay movement ideology
as follows:

  -   Lesbians/gays do not wish to be isolated, and would like to integrate
      themselves within the larger society.

  -   Homosexuality is not a disease, and homosexual acts between consenting
      partners is not a crime; therefore, there should be no reason for 
      lesbians and gays to be marginalized.

  -   Lesbians/gays should respect differences in lifestyle, behavior, and
      interests of other lesbians/gays.

  -   The lesbian/gay movement is not elitist in nature.  We do not dis-
      criminate against other gay people based on socio-economic and 
      educational status.  Nor do we discriminate against others based
      on race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, profession, physical
      & mental capabilities.

  -   All forms of traditional homosexuality in Indonesia are fully 
      recognized and respected.

  -   The lesbian/gay movement expresses solidarity towards other oppressed
      groups.

  -   The lesbian/gay movement believes that all efforts for HIV/AIDS pre-
      vention and treatment of people with AIDS can only succeed through
      utilization of community resources.


Each participant joined one of the following groups to formulate action
plans on:  (1)  organizational networking, (2) public relations, 
(3) physical and mental health issues, and (4) lesbian/gay publications.

Participants also attended a pre-congress workshop on gay pride, lesbian/
gay relationships, human sexuality, and lesbian/gay counseling.