Source: Jakarta Post, AsiaMedia
In a country where mainstream religions condemn homosexuality as ungodly, a few have attempt to quietly overcome the obstacles placed before them.
Ade Kusumaningrum, an out lesbian film publicist, told Jakarta Post that even though Indonesia is now more free, it had become more repressive against sexual minorities.
"Just look at some bylaws in several regions. They actually criminalize homosexuality," she said.
In 2002, the South Sulawesi administration became the first to pass an anti-prostitution bylaw that criminalizes homosexuality. Two years later, the Palembang administration passed a similar bylaw.
But, Ade said, the reform movement had allowed greater freedom of information, which benefits younger generations.
"Many lesbians in my age group or older were -- and some are still -- secretive about their sexual identity; it was a hard time for us back then to come out to our family, and sometimes it is already too late to mention it," she said.
Among the benefits for younger people she identified were the Internet and media, which help young people by giving them more knowledge about their sexual identity and faster access to answers on their questions about sexual preferences.
"But the main question remains. They always ask themselves whether they can live as lesbians and face their families, friends and society in Indonesia," she said.
In recent years, there have been several reports of violence and discrimination against gay people by radical groups and local administrations.
In a discussion earlier this year, several mainstream religious organizations, including those representing Muslims and Christians, claimed that homosexuality was a psychological disorder and unnatural behavior.
Last month, gay groups, human rights advocates, and women groups complained that media perpetuate the discrimination.
The groups protested what they described media bias in coverage of a serial murder case.
"Much of the murder coverage focused on the homosexuality of the alleged perpetrator and not on the crimes. I am gay, but I don't kill people," Hartoyo, an activist at Our Voice, an NGO that supports gay and bisexual males, told reporters in Jakarta last month.
He said his group was annoyed after reading experts' statements on Internet news portals and in printed media pointing the finger at homosexuals and conveying prejudice.
Verry Idham Henryansyah is currently under police custody for allegedly killing five people, one of whom was mutilated in Jakarta, while the others were found in Jombang, East Java.
"How come some experts link homosexuality with cruelty in the serial murders allegedly committed by Verry? Anyone can commit murder!" Hartoyo said.
Hartoyo said homosexuality was already stigmatized in the country and the highlighting of the sexual aspect to the serial murders case made this worse.
"We feel more intimidated and scared," he said.
Agustine, an activist of the Ardhanary Institute, which is concerned with lesbians and transgender issues, said news media outlets took advantage of the alleged murderer's confession that he was gay.
"Things would be completely different if the serial murder was committed by a heterosexual. Who would write newspaper headlines like 'Heterosexual kills five people'?" she said.
On behalf of Civil Care to Stop Stigma against Homosexual and Bisexual Groups she passed on her sincere condolences to the families of Verry's victims.
"We hope the news media do not link the murder, allegedly done by Verry, with emphasis on sexual orientation that points the finger at us," she said.
Mardian Kuncoro tries to overcome media coverage like that by actively contributing to society, Jakarta Post reports.
He is gay and proud of it -- so proud that he agreed to be profiled for a feature in Jakarta Post.
"People in this country have terrible ideas about homosexuals, which I think is because they don't know any better," the 27-year-old, better known as Ardi, said on Friday.
Ardi, who has lived in Jakarta all his life, has long realized that good behavior is the only way to communicate to people that a person's sexual preferences do not determine their character, the Post reporter Andreas. D. Arditya writes.
In 2003, Ardi and his two partners set up a clothing shop in Jakarta with the simple aim of making an honest living and sharing it with the community.
"Our plan was simple. One shop would at least need one attendant. As simple as it may seem, we were creating jobs," he said.
That simple plan has now grown into a company that owns a cafe, a hairdressing salon, a boutique, and four shops. Ardi and his partners employ 15 people.
Ardi, who has lived in Jakarta all his life, has long realized that good behavior is the only way to communicate to people that a person's sexual preferences do not determine their character
Ardi studied from 1999 through 2003 at the school now called State Islamic University, the Post reports.
During this time, he was actively involved in various campus organizations.
"I also held discussions about homosexuality in Islam and in the Koran. At first my friends were uncomfortable with my opinions and heated debates would often arise.
"But in the end, I managed to get the message across and they came to understand," Ardi said.
But, Ardi said, he was not a gay man on a mission when he decided to enroll in an Islamic university.
"I always wanted to be close to the Almighty. During my teenage years, when I was questioning my sexual identity, I turned to God for an answer. I can say now that my prayers were answered," he said.
For Ardi, the mainstream religions were being unfair in their teachings and convictions against homosexuals.
"Who are we humans to judge and condemn other humans over their sexual preferences? Let's leave it to (God) above, who has the absolute authority over us," Ardi said.
Like Ardi, Ade said self-acceptance and self-actualization were important aspects for gay men and lesbians in gaining respect from others.
"I always tell my clients that I'm a lesbian and I ask them whether they have a problem with that.
"It would be fine by me if they did and wanted to end the deal, but so far that has never happened. People know me from my work," Ade said.
Source: Bridging the gay-straight divide in pluralistic Indonesia | Jakarta Post
INDONESIA: Gay rights groups slam media over bias | AsiaMedia (Jakarta Post)