In Indonesian view, it is quite acceptable to have transsexual or cross dresser entertainers or public figures. Even today, gay and transsexuals can be found performing in Indonesian television and entertainment industry. While ludruk drama and lengger lanang dance performance featuring male cross dresser as female dancer. Numerous Indonesian traditional performances such as lenong and ketoprak often featuring transsexuals as an object of jest, humor and ridicule. Waria, the male to female cross dressers for a long time have played their parts in Indonesian culture. Indonesian people are generally tolerant towards homosexuals but prefer not to talk about it because of the strong culture of malu in Indonesian society. In Indonesian culture the concept of malu (shame/embarrassment or 'losing face') is prevalent. Sexuality, let alone homosexuality, issues are considered a very private matter that must be confined only within bedrooms. In Indonesian culture sexuality in any form is considered taboo subject and often immediately judged as obscenity.
The national criminal code does not prohibit cross-dressing or adult, non-commercial and consensual homosexual conduct between consenting adults, although it does contain a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual conduct, and there are some reports that police have sometimes harassed gay or transgender people using vaguely worded public indecency laws. In Indonesia, where religion plays a dominant role in society, and where more than 80 percent of the population are Muslim, homosexuality is not punishable by national law, but condemnation of homosexuality has been voiced by many religious leaders, not only Islamic.
Traditional religious mores tend to disapprove of homosexuality and cross-dressing. Public discussion of homosexuality in Indonesia has been inhibited because human sexuality in any form is rarely discussed or depicted openly. Homosexuality in Indonesia is generally considered a taboo subject by both Indonesian civil society and the government.