The Indonesian Air Force’s Twitter account has courted controversy with an social media debate about whether LGBT people could serve in the military.

On January 9, a tweet from the Air Force’s account announced that soldiers would be discharged if they committed an immoral acts. In response, one follower, RatnaPurba (@ratpruba), asked “what about LGBT people?”

The Twitter administrator replied that LGBT people could not join the air force, because they were mentally ill.

"There is a mental health test in the selection process,” they wrote. “LGBT is included as a mental disorder. If there are still many candidate soldiers who are mentally healthy, then why should unhealthy ones be accepted?"

The statement fueled a brief Twitter war, with some praising the admin and others criticizing both their attitude and crude language.

“LGBT is disgusting,” tweeted @mannchee “Bravo admin.”

"It's up to you if you are against [the LGBT community], but don't eliminate their right to be equal among others," @jea_hana replied.

"This is a sensitive issue, but the TNI [Indonesian National Armed Forces] must be firm," the official account tweeted back. "TNI soldiers must be physically and mentally healthy... Same-sex intercourse is a sin, right? I am really sorry, but even animals never miss their target [in mating].”

Homosexuality is legal in most of Indonesia, though the gay community has increasingly faced discrimination and violence. In the province of Aceh, which is governed by shariah law, same-sex activity is punishable by jail time and up to 100 lashes.