Moral panics on lgbt issues: evidence from indonesian tv programme

  • Dina Listiorini The University of Indonesia, SCOPUS ID: 57191813687
  • Donna Asteria The University of Indonesia
  • Billy Sarwono The University of Indonesia
Abstract views: 3863 , PDF downloads: 2135
Statement of Author downloads: 0
Keywords: framing, anti-lgbt, indonesia, sexuality, television

Abstract

There was a discussion activity conducted by a small club of the University of Indonesia called SGRC (Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies) at the beginning of January 2016. It did not only discuss sexuality such as sexual preferences but also conduct peer support for LGBT groups. However, it was reported illegal for many reasons. Although later the “illegal” stamp was dubbed as an "internal problem" of Universitas Indonesia, the effect was unbelievable. The activity of SGRC was reported by media as “LGBT’s attack on campus”, “LGBT is dangerous for campus”, et cetera. Moral, Eastern hemisphere norms, and religious excuses were the main excuses by media to judge and “punish” the LGBT groups. After the SGRC incident, particularly in 2016, the media, both mainstream and online, massively promoted homophobia through hate speech. The media reported the LGBT phenomenon as not only dangerous but also as entities that must be destroyed. Although not as splashy as online news, some television stations reported the case in their ways. TvOne, compared to other Indonesian TV stations, was the most often to discuss LGBT issues from 2016-2018 through a debate programme titled Indonesia Lawyers Club (ILC). The most controversial episode was the one aired on February 16 whose topic was “LGBT Issues is Rising, How Should We React?” in which a participant, a psychiatrist, was accused of delivering false information. His statement was even responded by a U.S.-based international psychiatrist association which later sent him a warning letter. This paper will explore media framing on tvOne’s debate programme using Robert Entman’s Framing Methods. The result shows that through inviting certain debate participants who voiced certain statements, the TV programme promoted not only anti-LGBT actions but also homophobia.

Author Biography

Dina Listiorini, The University of Indonesia, SCOPUS ID: 57191813687

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191813687

References

Altman, D. (2001). Global Sex. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Arthurs, J. (2004). Television and sexuality. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Avianne Tan. (2015). Celebrations Break Out After Same-Sex Marriage Legalized Nationwide. Retrieved July 29, 2019, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/celebrations-break-sex-marriage-legalized-nationwide/story?id=32051778
Carter, D. (2004). Stonewall: The riots that sparked the gay revolution. Macmillan.
Cohen, S. (2011a). Folk devils and moral panics. Routledge.
Cohen, S. (2011b). Whose side were we on? The undeclared politics of moral panic theory. Crime, Media, Culture, 7(3), 237–243.
Cornwall, A., Corrêa, S., & Jolly, S. (2008). Development with a body: making the connections between sexuality, human rights and development. Development with a Body: Sexuality, Human Rights & Development, 1–21.
Critcher, C. (2003). Moral panics and the media. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Critcher, C. (2008). Widening the focus: Moral panics as moral regulation. The British Journal of Criminology, 49(1), 17–34.
Edsall, N. C. (2006). Toward Stonewall: Homosexuality and society in the modern Western world. University of Virginia Press.
Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51–58.
Feeley, M. M., & Simon, J. (2013). Folk devils and moral panics: An appreciation from North America. In Crime, social control and human rights (pp. 67–80). Willan.
Gamson, W. A., Croteau, D., Hoynes, W., & Sasson, T. (1992). Media images and the social construction of reality. Annual Review of Sociology, 18(1), 373–393.
Hanz Jimenez Salim. (2014). Mendikbud Tak Setuju Ada Pendidikan Seks Usia Dini di Sekolah. Retrieved August 1, 2019, from https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/2045715/mendikbud-tak-setuju-ada-pendidikan-seks-usia-dini-di-sekolah
Human Rights Watch. (2016). Permainan Politik Ini Menghancurkan Hidup Kami: Kelompok LGBT Indonesia dalam Ancaman.
Jaworski, B. K. (2009). Reproductive justice and media framing: a case‐study analysis of problematic frames in the popular media. Sex Education, 9(1), 105–121.
Krinsky, C. (2016). PublicPunitiveness, Mediation, andExpertiseinSexualPsychopath Policies. In The Ashgate Research Companion to Moral Panics (pp. 111–128). Routledge.
Kristian Erdianto. (2016). Arus Pelangi Catat 142 Serangan terhadap LGBT pada Awal Tahun Ini. Retrieved July 26, 2019, from https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2016/08/11/20580231/arus.pelangi.catat.142.serangan.terhadap.lgbt.pada.awal.tahun.ini?page=all
Nurmila, N., Ilahi, N., Harsono, H. S., Julkarnaen, I., Bennett, L. R., Davies, S. G., & Hidayana, I. M. (n.d.). Seksualitas di Indonesia: Politik Seksual, Kesehatan, Keragaman, dan Representasi. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.
Pan, Z., & Kosicki, G. M. (1993). Framing analysis: An approach to news discourse. Political Communication, 10(1), 55–75.
Rose, I. D., & Friedman, D. B. (2019). Framing gender identity and sexual orientation: media influence on young men who have sex with men’s health. Sex Education, 19(5), 614–626.
Rothblum, E. D., & Bond, L. A. (1996). Preventing heterosexism and homophobia (Vol. 17). Sage.
Rust, P. C. (1996). Finding a sexual identity and community: Therapeutic implications and cultural assumptions in scientific models of coming out. Primary Prevention of Psychopathology, 17, 87–123.
Scheufele, D. A. (2000). Agenda-Setting, Priming, and Framing Revisited: Another Look at Cognitive Effects of Political. Mass Communication & Society. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327825MCS0323
Tettey, W. J. (2016). Homosexuality, moral panic, and politicized homophobia in Ghana: Interrogating discourses of moral entrepreneurship in Ghanaian media. Communication, Culture & Critique, 9(1), 86–106.
Van Gorp, B. (2017). The Constructionist Approach to Framing: Bringing Culture Back In (vol 57, pg 60, 2007). Journal of Communication, 67(2), 303.
Vincent, L. (2009). Moral panic and the politics of populism. Representation, 45(2), 213–221.
Published
2019-11-08
How to Cite
Listiorini, D., Asteria, D., & Sarwono, B. (2019). Moral panics on lgbt issues: evidence from indonesian tv programme. Jurnal Studi Komunikasi, 3(3), 355-371. https://doi.org/10.25139/jsk.v3i3.1882
Section
Articles