JAKARTA. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said homosexuality was an illness and therefore Islamic leaders should not provoke Muslims to expel lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from society. "The essence of Islam is humanity. Therefore, it is our obligation, especially as religious leaders, to prevent them from being expelled," Lukman said on Thursday. Same-sex orientation is an illness which is why [LGBT] people need to receive treatment and counseling, either religious or psychological, because with treatment and counseling, homosexual people can, hopefully, alter their orientation, Lukman added.
Don’t expel LGBT people from society: Minister
JAKARTA. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said homosexuality was an illness and therefore Islamic leaders should not provoke Muslims to expel lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from society. "The essence of Islam is humanity. Therefore, it is our obligation, especially as religious leaders, to prevent them from being expelled," Lukman said on Thursday. Same-sex orientation is an illness which is why [LGBT] people need to receive treatment and counseling, either religious or psychological, because with treatment and counseling, homosexual people can, hopefully, alter their orientation, Lukman added.