Moderate Muslims: Gay is Okay

Muslim scholars at a meeting in Jakarta announced on Mar. 27 that homosexuality is natural and part of God’s creation.

Within the full context of Islamic teaching, the scholars said, the faith does not reject homosexuality. The scholars said that anti-gay teachings spring not from Islam, but from limited understanding of the teachings of Islam.

Though anti-gay clerics frequently cite the Qu’ran in their condemnation of homosexuality, the Jakarta Post article quoted Siti Musdah Mulia as referencing a different passage from the Islamic holy text, al-Hujurat (49:3), which teaches that all people are equal without regard to gender, social status, wealth--or, says Mulia, sexuality.

Rido Triawan, head of Arus Pelangi, put forth the notion that cultural acceptance of gays did not clash with Islamic religious tradition, saying, "In fact, Indonesia’s culture has accepted homosexuality."

Said Triawan, "The homosexual group in Bugis-Makassar tradition called Bissu is respected and given a high position in the kingdom."

Triawan went on, "Also, we know that in [East Java] there has been acknowledgment of homosexuality."

Conservative voices of Islam disagreed.

Indonesian Ulema Council deputy chairman Amir Syarifuddin said, "It’s a sin."

Added Syarifuddin, "We will not consider homosexuals an enemy, but we will make them aware that what they are doing is wrong."

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