Transgenderism is a mental disorder, says Indonesian psychiatric body

Medical association's claim follows spate of inflammatory statements by officials and rise in violence towards LGBT people

The leading psychiatric body in Indonesia is claiming that transgender people suffer from a mental health disorder and gay and bisexual people are at risk of mental health problems.

In the latest outburst in an increasingly divisive domestic debate on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, the Indonesian Psychiatric Association said transgender people "can be categorised as persons with mental disorders", which it said "may cause suffering and obstacles in functioning as a human being".