A spokesman of the Islam Defender Front (FPI) says that residents reject Canadian liberal Muslim activist Irshad Manji for her angle that Muslims should embrace lesbianism. >>>

Interview with Kamilia Manaf (30) , founder and coordinator of Institute Pelangi Perempuan (IPP), the Indonesian young lesbian, bisexual and transgender group, based in Jakarta. Interview by Marjan Braspenning, coordinator of Brussels' Rainbow House >>>

South Jakarta Police are questioning the organizers of Canadian author Irshad Manji’s terminated book launch and discussion at a Salihara venue in South Jakarta, which was broken up shortly before the liberal Muslim was due to speak. >>>

A popular Muslim cleric was questioned by the police on Monday about claims by 11 young men that he molested them years ago. >>>

Gay activist Dede Oetomo has made it to the latest screening phase for members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) >>>

Muhammad Prawirodijoyo, who was considered to be a woman for 19 years due to a rare genital abnormality, is slated for surgery on Thursday. >>>

Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality will organize its first Young Queer faith and Sexuality Camp from 10-14 April 2012 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. >>>

Indonesian gay activist Dede Oetomo and transgender Yulianus “Mami Yuli” Rettoblaut are both still in the running for National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) leader position. Both names are among the 120 selected applicants that the selection committee announced in a press conference on Wednesday. >>>

Seksualiti Merdeka’s leave of application to pursue a judicial review against a police ban of its programme in 2011 has been rejected by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today. >>>

Having had its world premiere at the recent Berlin Film Festival, Children of Srikandi – the first film to document the lives of queer women in Indonesia – will likely be screened at a LGBT film festival near you this year. Fridae speaks with co-producers Laura Coppens and Angelika Levi, and co-director Yulia Dwi Andriyanti about crowdfunding and the challenges facing queer women in Indonesia today. >>>

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Once, long ago, Evie looked after "Barry" Obama, the kid who would grow up to become the world's most powerful man. Now, his transgender former nanny has given up her tight, flowery dresses, her brocade vest and her bras, and is living in fear on Indonesia's streets. >>>

Poedjiati fen Sian speech at the panel "We are everywhere! Empowerment of lesbian and bisexual women and trans people - in rural areas and beyond" held by ILGA and RFSL at the 56 Commission on Status of Women in New York >>>

Indonesia’s Nganjuk detention center in Nganjuk, East Java, is preparing a separate room for Mujianto, a suspect in murder attempts of dozens of gay men, killing at least six of them. >>>

For Jakarta’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, efforts to raise awareness are countered with a need to fly under the radar. Some advocate for legislative and government reform, while others turn to creative media to express themselves. Some seek attention while others prefer to remain underground. >>>

The selection committee has received 312 applications for the National Commission on Human Rights members for the 2012-2017 period as of Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. >>>

National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) selection committee chief Jimly Asshiddiqie says selectors would have no problem in accepting homosexual or transgender candidates for commissioner roles. >>>

(Abdul Rohman, Florida) - Sexual identity and religion are sensitive and contradictory issues in Indonesia. Only a few are willing to discuss them open-mindedly. Most are likely to say that having a different sexual preference is a perversion of religion and a betrayal of human nature or social norms. Luckily, we still have various media able to look at the issue through a different lens. >>>

Nicky Nurman and Paramita Mohamad know that it can be tough being a gay teenager in Indonesia, and they wanted to do something to help. >>>

Indonesia's gay and transgender community on Thursday hailed the opening of its first dedicated health clinic, as officials battle a soaring HIV rate in the Muslim majority nation. >>>

Bali has opened the country’s first clinic to specifically serve men who have sex with men, and anyone at risk for and wanting to be tested for HIV or sexually transmitted infections. The clinic will be run by Dr Yogi Prasetia, director of the clinic and five other staff members. All photos courtesy of Bali Medika. >>>