Acehnese Gays Face a Climate of Fear and Abuse

[Shana A]

Acehnese Gays Face a Climate of Fear and Abuse
Dewi Kurniawati | August 18, 2010

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/indonesia/acehnese-gays-face-a-climate-of-fear-and-abuse/391668

Banda Aceh. It doesn't take much to notice "Echa," a transvestite who lives in Banda Aceh. With his masculine figure and flamboyant make-up, he instantly draws attention.

And so does the fact that he is wearing a short dress with a plunging neckline to one of the city's popular coffee houses instead of a headscarf and other conservative Muslim attire. Of course, Echa is a man so he poses a dilemma for the morality police.