Indonesia's transgender couples surrounded by fear and persecution

[Shana A]

Indonesia's transgender couples surrounded by fear and persecution

Kate Hodal reports on the dangers of defying taboos in the world's most populous Muslim country

    Kate Hodal in Jakarta
    guardian.co.uk, Sunday 16 October 2011 12.39 EDT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/16/indonesia-transgender-couples-persecution

It was anything but a normal wedding. The identity cards were forged, the groom's parents refused to attend, and only a handful of friends were invited. The event was so taboo it could have end with the bride and groom in jail.

[...]

One of a growing number of Indonesia's transgender people, Noah – who was born female, but is now pre-op female to male – is defying considerable sociocultural taboos in the world's most populous Muslim country to become who he feels he is: "A man who just wants to be with the person I love."

"There's no shortcut for this," he says, quietly, of his transgender life. "You have to plan everything – how to fit into society, how to act like a man, how to behave 'normally'. If you don't, you face discrimination – and physical, sexual and verbal abuse."

[mimpi]

Snap! Was about to post this story

One thing not mentioned in the article is that there are no civil wedding ceremonies in Indonesia. Not only that but there are six state recognised religions which every Indonesian citizen has to be a member of. One's religion and marital status are indicated both on one's Identity Card and 'Family Card'. The six recognised religions are: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

Marriage across religions is not permitted on Indonesian territory although couples can get married abroad. In fact the law was so strict that when I was married there I had to re convert to Islam despite being Muslim already because I had no documents to prove it. I offered to recite Quran to the state Imam present to prove I was telling the truth but he wasn't impressed with my pronunciation which modestly speaking I think was pretty good

Weird country in it's attitude to Gay and Lesbian issues. There are Gays, Lesbians and Trans people all over the TV, one of the main newsreaders is lesbian and everyone knows about it but as she's married she isn't Gay...

One thing about the story: I doubt very much the documents mentioned were forged in the traditional meaning of the word. Far more likely they were real but issued following a gentle  oiling of the wheels of bureaucracy.