June is Pride Month. While it began in the US, LGBT Pride Month celebrations are now held around the world, including in Asia. In nearby Thailand, there are two major events at the nation’s capital scheduled for this month. The country is also discussing a bill that would legalize same-sex unions, which would make it the first Southeast Asia nation to do so (fingers crossed!).
In Indonesia?
Being able to celebrate Pride Month is, understandably, not a priority for LGBTQIA+ Indonesians – not when their basic freedoms continue to be at stake. The country, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, has seen a rising backlash against and persecution of queer citizens, particularly in recent years.
The idea of celebrating Pride Month in Indonesia is, perhaps, a tall order. Openly, at least.
Not wanting to let the rising tide of homophobia and transphobia bring them down further, some two dozen LGBTQIA+ Indonesians who reside in Bali went ahead and solemnly celebrated Pride Month, but in a careful way so as not to attract any negative attention towards themselves at the same time.
Together in Bali
A get-together event took place on June 5 in Bali organized by Pelangi Nusantara, an NGO focusing on LGBTQIA+ rights.
It was the first-ever Pride-related event in the country since the onset of the pandemic. Among the attendees of the three-hour event were members of fellow NGOs from across Bali including Yayasan Gaya Dewata, Yayasan Gaya Nusantara, QLC Bali, GSHR Udayana, Kwiir, Kabar Sejuk, Komunitas Teman Baik, Queer Archive, Lokahita Yogyakarta, LBH Apik, and Persatuan Waria (Trans Women Union).
“Despite the recent news on the persecution and criminalization of LGBTQ individuals, Pelangi Nusantara believes that Indonesia is not run by bigotry. There is no place for discrimination and persecution based on religious beliefs. Love is love,” Pelangi Nusantara founder Ketut told Coconuts Bali.
Fresh on their minds were several recent that had sparked renewed hatred towards their community in Indonesia. In the past few weeks alone, a married gay couple appearing in a popular podcast sparked renewed calls for criminalization of same-sex relations in Indonesia, as well as giving rise to homophobic sentiments among the general public. Then, there was a harmless video of gay men being affectionate with each other at a coffee shop in Jakarta that went viral, which prompted their arrest and the temporary closure of the establishment.
Indonesians’ homophobia has even escalated beyond borders. Last year, a gay couple in Thailand was harassed online by Indonesian netizens just because they put their wedding photos on Facebook.
But the get-together was a day for celebration – and it was an intimate one. The event began with attendees joining together to wave a huge rainbow flag to symbolize their proud hopes for the future.
That was then followed by performances by drag queens lip-syncing anthems such as Todrick Hall’s Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, and This Is Me, by Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble. LGBTQIA+ singer-songwriter Kai Mata also performed at the event.
The weekend gathering also includes a screening of Balada Srikandi (Srikandi’s Tale), a short documentary by QLC Bali that highlights the struggles and hopes of the trans women community in Bali – especially during the pandemic.
Venon Sa’id Ali, 28, one of QLC Bali’s coordinators who also produced the documentary, said that they hoped it could shine a light on the plight of trans women and how they are in dire need of help.
“Many trans women in Indonesia do not have access to education or jobs since a lot of them left their families at such a young age due to stigma and discrimination,” they said.
Venon said that the June 5 event was a limited get-together that was only known to those who were invited – thus ensuring their safety.
“We made it as safe and comfortable as possible,” they added.
Alena Perez, 31, a trans woman who was featured in the documentary and also performed at Pelangi Nusantara’s Pride event, hoped that many people would see LGBTQIA+ Indonesians as equals.
“We’re all humans,” she said.
Why Bali?
When asked about the reason why they held the event in Bali, Ketut said, “Because, coincidentally, we are living in Bali. If we lived in Jakarta, we would have held it in Jakarta.”
Venon, on the other hand, expressed that they personally felt Bali was “a little bit safer” as there are more open-minded people who choose to appreciate the LGBTQIA+ community rather than discriminate against them.
“Bali also has many venues where the owners accept anybody so making any event is safer,” Venon said. Alena agreed, chiming in, “While not all Balinese people accept [us], the majority welcome the rainbow community around them.”
While Bali’s locals have a reputation for being more nonchalant about minority groups (including LGBTQIA+ people), members of that community are understandably careful about putting any labels on the island.
In January 2021, an American woman was deported from the country following a series of tweets that included her citing Bali as “queer-friendly.” Indonesian queers quickly took to Twitter to express their concerns that the controversy would incite more repercussions towards them – even in Bali.
Read also: Indonesian queers fear repercussions from Kristen Gray controversy
Taking lessons from that controversy, it’s understandable that LGBTQIA+ citizens in Bali are reluctant to commit to making the island the bastion of positive representation for the maligned community. When we asked organizers whether they’re hopeful that they can stage Pride Month celebration in Bali for years to come, Ketut simply answered, “We hope so.”
Venon was more upbeat. “Of course [we’re hopeful]. I’m certain we can hold even bigger [Pride Month] celebrations in the future.”
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