Riris: They think that we are going to conquer the world

From 2015 until 2017, there are at least 9 discrimination cases which happened in Indonesia academic institutions.

Riska Carolina still remembers clearly the incident which happened two years ago. At that time, she got a motorcycle accident and be taken to the hospital. She is still able to feel how rude her brother’s fist when landed on her face — in the hospital. Her arms were in the cast and bandage when her brother punched her indignantly.

“My elder brother and sister have known that I am a lesbian — I don’t even know how they knew that — but they kept quite before that motorcycle incident occurred,” Riris, what she’s usually called as, tells. 

Riska Carolina when she is being interviewed by our team on Monday, 29th May 2017
(UMN / Chicilia Inge)

She was heartbroken and decided to go strolling by her motorcycle. Because of crying and she couldn’t see the street obviously, she fell down from her motorcycle. 

“They said that it was the most stupid thing ever. But after the accident, they act normal. Moreover, they are now more open with me,” admits this woman who got her master degree in law from University of Indonesia in 2014.

Riris, who is now working as a marketing manager and general affair in a company based in Jakarta, is one of the various gender and sexual minority (shortly said as various minority) member, and she is anxious with the phenomenon occurred in Indonesia academic institutions which discriminate the various minority groups.

The data which is published by Rappler Indonesia based on the report from SGRC Indonesia

Based on the report from Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia, which is published by Rappler Indonesia, from 2015 until 2017, there are at least 9 discrimination cases which happened in Indonesia academic institutions. The latest is in the beginning of April, a state university in Padang required that new students have to submit LGBT-free Statement Letter. It causes some pros and cons from the society. Thus, the university management revised the requirements. 

Being LGBT because of the lack of religion education?

"My mum is an ustazah [female teacher of Islam], and she is quite strict in teaching religion,” Riri speaks haltingly while scratching her head.

She admits that she has finished reading the Al Qur’an through to the end for three times. But, she is perplexed that there are so many people blame her by saying she is lack of religion education. 

“Just mention what you think I don’t know [about religion], and I know. Just name it,” says Riri, a 27-year-old woman. She concludes that being an LGBT is not because of the lack of religion education.

Not only that, she sometime hears people who say that it is because of her parents. And she extremely doesn’t agree with that. 

“Don’t ever blame my parents. They are really great. I was born in a religious family and live on an easy street. I never lack affection [from my parents],” Riri utters.

She believes that she was born in this way. It is because her family had ever brought her to a psychiatrist, psychologist, and even to ruqyah [spiritual healing], trying to heal her. But those all didn’t work. As the time flies, Riri’s family starts to understand that Riri is just the way she is. 

Being an LGBT is not because of social connection, either

Another confession comes from Arung Samudra, a psychology student in University of Indonesia. Arung tells that he had realised that he is “different” from his friends since he was just a little boy.

Arung Samudra is telling his experience on Sunday, 28th May 2017
(UMN / Vireza Waditra)

“Perhaps since we were just a kid, we haven’t known yet what sexual orientation is,” Arung tells. “But, I do remember, since I was in kindergarten or elementary school, I started to realise that I like boys more than girls.”

He officially confessed his sexual orientation to his parent when he was 16 years old. At the time, he was a high school student in Singapore and went back home in holiday. 

“I told my mum, ‘Mum, I think I am a gay,’ and at the time, actually I had a big expectation towards my mum because she’s more open-minded than other’s parent,” he recounts gently. 

But he did not get what he has expected before, and felt little bit disappointed. 

“It became more pathetic when my mum informed my dad,  meantime I was not comfortable yet to reveal it to my dad,” he says. “It caused awkwardness at that time and for some months ahead, we talked less,” he continues. 

Arung tells that he was little bit lucky because at the time, he had to go back to Singapore, so there was no big conflict occurred. But when he had to come back again to Indonesia, he and his family had to face this reality that he couldn’t be what his parents expected, like marriage and giving them grandchild. 

“I just hope that they could accept me, just the way I am, although it is little bit hard,” Arung speaks slowly.

The confession from Arung proves that being an LGBT is not because of social connection, either. He was just a little kid since he realised. At the time, there was no dating application, neither social media. 

Riris also agrees with this fact. She fell in love for the first time with her friend —a girl — since she was just in elementary school, too.  

“Connection? It sounds like mobile phone,” she says jokingly while laughing. 

“We are just a minority group, but… oh my goodness! A lot of people think that we are an infectious disease that can infect others by just winking,” vigorously, she explains. “They think that we are going to conquer the world.”

Some various minority members live in tolerant society, but some do not

Arung feels grateful because he lives in a tolerant society. His parents slowly but sure start to understand him, so do his friends. Even less he studies in psychology department which observes about various human’s behaviour.

But in the reality, not all various minority members live in a tolerant society like he does. A friend of him, for example. When his friend was eating in public place, someone came and asked him if he was a man or woman, and also top or bottom [as a receptive or penetrative position in having sex].

“It is not something which is appropriate to tell in public place. It’s privacy,” Arung emphasises. 

What Arung experiences is also happens in Riris’ life. She also lives in a tolerant society. But, when first her mum knew that she is not a heterosexual, her mum was shocked and fainted. But, as the time goes by, her mum and also her family can accept her sexual orientation. Her mum does not say that her sexual orientation is true, but her mum neither restrict her choice. 

“I have once been expelled from my house by my brother and sister, but my mum held me back,” she tells.

LGBT is not a mental disorder

Firmansyah, the co-founder of Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia, reveals that LGBT is not a mental disorder. 

Firmasyah, the co-founder of SGRC Indonesia, explains that
homosexuality and heterosexuality are not mental disorders, at a cafe in Kemang
on Sunday, 28th May 2017. (UMN / Vireza Waditra)

“First of all, I need to distinguish between LGB and T. LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) is sexual orientation, while T (transgender) is a gender identity,” Firman clarifies. 

“Lesbian, gay, and bisexual have been removed from Diagnosis and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders (DSM), or in Indonesia we adopt DSM to PPDGJ (Pedoman dan Penggolongan Diagnostik Gangguan Jiwa) which also mentions that bisexuality and homosexuality are not mental disorders,” he elaborates. 

Firman explains that LGBT is called as various gender and sexual minority, along with asexual, pansexual, and intersex. He emphasises that various minority groups are also citizens which have  equal rights in education, like other citizens have. 

How should we treat LGBT according to religion perspective? 

Parlindungan Siregar, public services and information division in Masjid Istiqlal Jakarta, has his own opinion. 

“In my opinion, this is a disease which is not destined. Thus, we needn't hate them nor being indifferent,” he elucidates wisely. 

“We just need to heal them. Healing them means, we have to prevent, by not supporting, not being indifferent, nor hating them,” Parlindungan says.

He elaborates that if we support them, it can be expanding. If we are being indifferent, we show the ignorance to the society. He associates this phenomenon with drug users who need rehabilitation. 

One of the student's activities at a university in Bogor.
(UMN / Chicilia Inge)

Despite of various perspective about LGBT, we as human which have humanity inside, should not execrate the various minority member. If we want to use religion to judge LGBT is allowed or prohibited, remember that religion also teaches us to respect others. There is no religion which teaches us to hate and discriminate human beings. Let the relationship between various minority member with God becomes their own business. 

One thing that we have to realise, the various minority members are also citizens which have equal rights with us, to live their life, as well as to get education access. 

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Writer: Wirawan (00000016076) & Bella Viona (00000016096)

Translator: Wirawan
Photographer: Vireza Waditra (00000015626) & Chicilia Inge (00000015435)
Videographer: Ellen Riveren (00000016226) & Mohamad Arief (00000016182)

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