City in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Is Medan LGBTQ+ friendly?
Is Medan LGBTQ+ friendly?
Mixed Muslim, Christian and Chinese city, but not accepting of LGBTQ visibility. Police raids on private parties have occurred; keep discreet.
LGBTQ+ laws in Indonesia
Bali is relaxed, with gay-friendly bars in Seminyak; elsewhere hostility is rising, police raid private parties, and discretion is essential.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Same-sex relationships legal | Yes |
| Same-sex marriage | No |
| Civil unions or partnerships | No |
| Legal gender change | Unclear |
| Anti-discrimination law | No |
| Legal penalty | Aceh only: public caning under sharia; elsewhere police raids use pornography laws |
LGBTQ+ friendliness across Indonesia
| Place | Rating |
|---|---|
| Seminyak | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Bali | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Ubud | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Canggu | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Uluwatu | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Gili Islands | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nusa Penida | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kuta | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nusa Dua | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Sanur | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nusa Lembongan | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Amed | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Jimbaran | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Jakarta | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Yogyakarta | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Lombok | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Labuan Bajo | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Raja Ampat | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Mount Bromo | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Bandung | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Lake Toba | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Kuta Lombok | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Batam | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Bintan | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Malang | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Bukit Lawang | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Medan | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Surabaya | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Manado | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Tana Toraja | 2/5 · Hostile |
Quick answers
Is Medan safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Mixed Muslim, Christian and Chinese city, but not accepting of LGBTQ visibility. Police raids on private parties have occurred; keep discreet.
Is same-sex marriage legal in Indonesia?
No.
More about Medan
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Sources
- ILGA World: legal frameworks
- All Indonesia arrival declaration (Directorate General of Immigration)
- Indonesia e-Visa (Directorate General of Immigration)
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- KAI Bandara (Kualanamu airport rail)
- Siloam Hospitals
Ratings combine national law with local attitudes and the scene. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.