is article aims to explain why organized queer activism
emerged in Aceh, but could endure only in about six years (from 2008 to
2014). It is argued that this has mainly caused by massive expansion of
‘shari‘a spheres’ since 2001 supported by national and local government and
parliament legal-political back up and societal religio-cultural forces on
the one hand, and weak nature of the queer movements as counterpublics,
characterized with the inadequate resources mobilization, especially in
leadership and in getting support from its social movement communities
during the crises on the other hand. Shari‘a, which is heteronormative,
have been used as discursive and embodied disciplinary power of sexuality
for normalizing and excluding the queer (including lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender/LGBT). eir organized visibility triggered the issuance
of the Qanun Jinayah in 2014, which includes punishment for same-sex
activities. It caused them to dissolve their own queer organizations.