The Ministry of Religion Prepares Materials to Prevent the Spread of LGBTQ in Schools
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is currently developing educational materials on preventing the spread of LGBTQ culture, which it plans to integrate into the national education curriculum. The program is targeted to begin with students starting in the fourth grade of elementary school.
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Father Muhammad Syafi’i, stated that the development of these materials is a follow-up to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 111 of 2025 concerning the General Policy for National Defense 2025–2029. This regulation categorizes the spread of LGBTQ culture as a non-military threat to national defense.
“Personally, LGBT is a personal matter. But spreading and creating a culture is a non-military threat to national defense,” said Father Syafi’i at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (July 20, 2026).
He emphasized that the materials being prepared are not aimed at individuals, but rather focus on education regarding the spread of LGBTQ culture, in accordance with the policy direction outlined in the Perpres.
“The President is not attacking individuals. What is of concern is the spread of their culture. Therefore, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is currently compiling materials that will be incorporated into the existing curriculum,” he said.
According to Father Syafi’i, the materials will be provided in stages, from elementary school to high school. For elementary school, learning is planned to begin with students in grades 4, 5, and 6, then continue to junior high and high school.
“The provision of understanding is planned to begin in grades 4, 5, and 6 of elementary school, then continue at junior high and high school levels,” he explained.
He revealed that all learning materials have now been compiled and are in the finalization stage before being integrated into the curriculum.
“All the materials have been collected. We are currently finalizing them before incorporating them into the existing curriculum,” he said.
In addition to educational channels, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is also involved in the development of an academic paper initiated by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) regarding the prohibition of the spread of LGBTQ culture. According to Father Syafi’i, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was asked to be a resource person in the process of drafting the document.
“If we’re going to discuss a ban on distribution, it certainly requires a legal basis. Therefore, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is currently drafting an academic paper, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been asked to be a resource person,” he said.
Father Syafi’i added that the steps the government is preparing include two approaches: education in educational settings and the development of regulations that will serve as the basis for law enforcement. He reiterated that the policy, he said, is not intended to target individuals but rather focuses on the spread of LGBTQ culture in accordance with government policy.
