Under the Shadow of Shariah Law, Transsexuals Take to the Stage in Aceh in Rare Beauty Contest
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/national/under-the-shadow-of-shariah-law-transsexuals-take-to-the-stage-in-aceh-in-rare-beauty-contest/358655Banda Aceh. In their best Acehese costumes, kitsch jewelry and towering hair buns, 40 transsexuals sashayed down a stage on Saturday to loud club music, disco lights and rapturous applause as they competed in the Miss Transsexual Aceh 2010.
There was no seat left unoccupied. Drag queens, homosexuals and members of Aceh's minority communities forked out Rp 10,000 for tickets to the show, with some having to sit on the ground or watch from the balconies
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Transsexual Pageant All Right in Aceh as Long as Clothes Stay On: MUI
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/national/transsexual-pageant-all-right-in-aceh-as-long-as-clothes-stay-on-mui/358637Islam does not recognize transsexuals, much less a contest involving their community, the chief of the Indonesian Ulema Council said on Sunday.
"Our national law does not recognize the word transsexual or transgender. Islam only recognizes men and women," Amidhan told the Jakarta Globe. But he said the council, also known as the MUI, would not make an issue out of transsexual pageants.
"If the contest is held for the purpose of entertainment, I believe we can tolerate that," he said.
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Ulemas condemn Miss Transvestite pageant
Hotli Simanjuntak , The Jakarta Post , Banda Aceh | Mon, 02/15/2010 10:01 AM
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/15/ulemas-condemn-miss-transvestite-pageant.htmlParticipants were met with applause, but also taunts when they stepped on the catwalk during a Miss Transvestite Aceh pageant on Saturday evening.
The pageant, held at the Radio Republik Indonesia building and organized by transgender rights organization Putro Sejati Aceh, was aimed at selecting a representative for the national contest as well as campaigning on transgender issues.
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Aceh Shariah Leaders Blast Transsexual Beauty Pageant
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/aceh-shariah-leaders-blast-transsexual-beauty-pageant/358871Religious leaders in Aceh on Monday condemned a recent transsexual pageant in the staunchly Islamic province, accusing the contestants of having violated the Shariah law partially enforced there.
"Aceh ulemas strongly oppose such activity ... What happened on Saturday night was a flaw in the implementation of Islamic Shariah in Aceh," said Tengku Faisal Ali, secretary general of the Aceh Ulema Association (HUDA), which administers the conservative set of laws.
On Saturday, 40 transsexuals representing Aceh's 23 districts competed in a contest called Miss Transsexual Aceh 2010. In their best Acehnese traditional costumes, kitsch jewelry and towering hair buns, participants sashayed down a catwalk to loud club music, disco lights and rapturous applause.
