People are now getting offended by “somewhat vulgar” same-sex emojis
The Indonesian government has been successful in a request for instant messaging apps to remove same-sex emojis from their keyboards, claiming that the stickers “could potentially cause public unrest.”
Stuff.co.nz reports that LINE, an app that serves over 30 million Indonesian users has pulled its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender emojis from their online store in Indonesia this week. The LGBT emojis, titled in two sections named ‘love is love’, and ‘enjoy gay life’, saw same-sex couples hugging and also included a man in his underwear surrounded by flowers.
The Indonesian Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Ismail Cawidu said of the pulling of same-sex emojis: “The ministry is appreciative of LINE Indonesia for its understanding and discretion in dealing with matters that could potentially cause public unrest, especially the concerns of mothers for their children in terms of the negative influence the circulation of these LGBT stickers could cause.”
“We always try to be neutral and non-discriminatory while considering the sensitivity of the local culture,” LINE Indonesia’s head of public relations, Teddy Arifianto, said.
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