The mayor of Padang, in West Sumatra, led thousands of city residents on an anti-LGBT march on Sunday (18 November). It is the latest state-sanctioned move to vilify the community in Indonesia. He organized the two-kilometer protest march to reject LGBT Indonesians and ‘declare a sin-free Padang’, according to local media. Thousands reportedly attended the march. LGBTI Indonesians are experiencing a wave of hatred ahead of elections next year. Padang Mayor Mahyeldi, a member of the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, told marchers he would increase police numbers to protect residents from LGBT people.