LGBT Exclusion in Indonesia and Its Economic Effects

L. Badgett, A. Hasenbush, W. Luhur

Evidence from a wide range of research-based sources documents that LGBT people in Indonesia face forms of exclusion that harm their well-being and reduce their ability to contribute to the Indonesian economy. Violence and discrimination, rooted in stigma against LGBT Indonesians, make getting an education more difficult, reduce access to health care, increase the chances of health disparities, and reduce workplace productivity. The resulting loss of potential human capital and the inefficient use of existing human capital mean that the Indonesian economy is not operating at its full capacity. The losses are likely to range from the hundreds of millions in US dollars to billions.