The Indonesian Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) has said that such ‘sexual tendencies’ are triggered by external factors and can be healed through psychiatric treatment.

PDSKJI member Suzy Yusna Dewi talked to the Jakarta Post to address the country’s rising concerns on the growing prominence of the LGBT community.

"We really do care about them. What we are worried about is, if left untreated, such sexual tendencies could become a commonly accepted condition in society," Dewi said.

Dewi referred to Law No.18/2014 on Mental Health and said that the PDSKJI considers transgenders as having a mental disorder, meaning they have physical symptoms and behaviour issues that affect their welfare. Homosexuals and bisexuals are considered as having psychiatric problems, meaning they are at risk of developing a mental disorder.

The PDSKJI said that there was not evidence that sexuality was caused by biological factors and that sexual appetite was similar in nature to drug addiction.

According to Dewi, intervention is the best way to combat sexuality and efforts should be made to limit ‘inappropriate’ sexual behaviour.

“Without constant intervention, a person can easily return to their previous sexual tendency once he or she experiences withdrawal,” Dewi said.

She stressed the importance of upholding national values and norms. “We must respect Indonesian traditions, which culturally do not accept same-sex marriage, and we should not bow to the influence of foreign values that may not fit in with our values.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of psychiatric disorders in 1990.