transgenderism was hit global headlines of late, and Indonesia is a nation with its own travesty traditions.
While his back recently after a particularly hedonistic evening, my hansom cab Uber rolled the canal bridge which connects Jl Menteng with skyscrapers. Rasuna Said. From the flyover, I noticed several traders on another grueling nightshift plying their wares. Those of you who have also seen these people before while driving south of the evening will undoubtedly be aware that the gentlemen in question were what is colloquially known as ladyboys, transvestite or transgendered folk, if you want. Looks like a lady ... in fact, he's a guy.
The city in question area is known as Taman Lawang and extends from the aforementioned bridge in pleasant green surroundings of Menteng. I've often speculated on this rather special arrangement. Other cities and countries ensure that the street walking, in particular that of the androgynous variety is limited to the nerdy side of town. Menteng is one of the most stylish neighborhoods, more expensive and more gentrified in the city. Former President Suharto was the most famous resident of the area, but a number of other powerful politicians, businessmen and generals are domiciled here. I wonder how these high rollers feel when they leave their dear foot-to-earth one evening, only to be confronted with lipstick and skirts in men who are trying to press the flesh curb crawlers pass.
Homosexuality is largely frowned upon by the nominally Muslim population of Indonesia, of course. Nevertheless, ladyboys, commonly known as bencong banci or waria here are generally regarded as figures of fun and are strikingly visible in everyday life and culture.
Varia are considered the clown of the company; laughingstocks for people point and laugh.
In fact, as I mentioned in a previous article on LGBT issues, transgenderism goes deep into the roots of Indonesian history and cross-dressing palace guards of the Bugis from Sulawesi . Indeed, these earlier antediluvian transvestites arrival of Christianity and Islam on the Indonesian coast.
Your modern Indonesian transvestite / transgender citizen, however, is certainly not treated as a full member of society and would be unlikely to find a job as a palace guard. It will often face discrimination in both family and neighbors, such as the obligation to enter into a heterosexual marriage is strong in Indonesia. It will also be quite limited in terms of career. Many waria can be found working in hairdressing salons or ridiculous figures musician Street, or, of course, in the streets of Menteng and similar districts in the night. The latter is a dangerous way of life for less, and many have fallen prey to the scourge of AIDS.
In addition, the men often star in Indonesian TV shows, which demonstrates the ambivalent social status than those she-hes here. Indeed, these days a growing number of transgender Indonesians have respectable jobs, earn a living as designers, sociologists and others. However, widespread social prejudice means that these trans pioneers are still the exception rather than the rule.
In addition, with the militant Islamic groups increasingly take to the streets, sex Indonesia and sexual minorities may face an uncertain future and a more sexually mature republic and egalitarian seems far away. Indonesia's waria have recently suffered increasing persecution of sharia lobby ascending Regulation and its strict Saudi Wahabist beliefs (which, according to many sources, have spread here with hard Saudi petrodollars). Beauty contest shows such as Miss Waria, for example, have already been broken by the FPI (Islamic Defenders Front).
All this contrasts sharply with the real sexual revolution that took place in the West over the past two decades. Gay marriage has seen its wire-to-color arc being woven full rich tapestry of society, proving that homosexuals can be just as flatly conservative than their heterosexual peers. Meanwhile, over the last two years, it was the turn of the transgender community to grab their civil firmly by the scruff of the neck ... ahem.
And it came to pass that Caitlyn (nee Bruce) Jenner, fatherhood -familias of a family that has become excessively famous for doing nothing, was controversially named "Woman of the Year (and I suppose mater). " Meanwhile, US Republicans get all worked on transgender people using public toilets (although the recent scandals suggest that it is, in fact, Republican lawmakers themselves who represent the greatest danger in this environment). It's not really about the bathrooms for these kinds conservatives, however, is it? Just as it does not really about water fountains there half a century, but I digress.
Other voices, like those of irascible feminist Germaine Greer, were a little more wary and cautious regarding the issue of men who now claim that they are women. While acknowledging that the transgender community should be able to assume their civil rights and lead a life free of persecution, some noted as a transgender provision often have identity problems, that nice change surgery raw sex ultimately not treated, leaving many post-Oppers little depressed and disappointed.
Sexuality is first physical and mental second, and if the mental element is not in place, then the physical part can not occur.
A supporting evidence of this thesis is impotence and male erectile dysfunction, which only has a physiological cause in about 10 percent of cases, the other 90 percent being caused by stress and other psychological problems. In this situation, maybe a slightly less festive and reflective tone could be adopted. These are vigorous debate current issues and you can strongly disagree with this assessment before aiming a stylus wisely threw in my direction.
Back in Indonesia, there have been some encouraging signs. Suara Kita (our voice) is primarily LGBT NGOs in Indonesia and became a vibrant media portal in recent years by organizing workshops on journalism, literature, writing and photography, and offering hope to many who have to bear the country of homophobia dominant. According to Suara Kita , Indonesia represents a kind of middle ground; the country is still miles away from the US and Europe in terms of LGBT rights, but things here are far from being as bad as they are in some countries in Africa or the Middle East.
Indeed, transgender Indonesians of a religious bent have even set up special prayer groups here, despite the prevailing view that there are only two non-gender identities negotiable under Islam. In this context, many transgender Indonesians are not interested in sex change surgery, claiming that they were born as men and must return to God than men. Indeed, many waria have ideas about femininity that modern feminists would find very reactionary, and would like to find a real man to care for and play the traditional woman.
Traditions aside, this is obviously the era of the Internet and therefore, to finish on advanced technologically more note, I thought a quick trawl through some of transgender dating sites of Indonesia would be in order. So if someone is interested in a "young transsexual fropessional [ sic ]", a "super mega tool" or a little "versatile deeply suck" then I suggest you swallow your pride (so say) and start your browser. Onwards and upwards, chaps. Tally ho.