Empowering Young Transgenders in Indonesia

There are around 20 people gathered here at the opening of this new beauty salon.

The salon was founded by Swara, a group of young transgenders in Jakarta.

Kamelia who leads the group explains why this salon is important for them.

“Most of our friends are working in this beauty world. That’s why we created a beauty salon so everyone can learn from each other here... so then they can open their new salons.”

This pink salon is located in a densely populated area in the eastern part of Jakarta.

Anik Tunjung Wusari is from the Indonesia for Humanity Foundation, which funds the salon.

She says that initially they were actually thinking about starting a different line of business.

“At first we thought that creating a beauty salon will only strengthen the stereotype of transgenders in Indonesia. Beauty salon and transgenders are identical. But the main idea here is to ensure that they can have any jobs they want... like any of us. We don’t decide what they have to be... it depends on whether they’re ready or not. It’s their first step, and it’s good that they have friends to back each other up because starting something new is never easy.”

With the beauty salon, the group is empowering its members, especialy the young ones, trying to tackle discrimination against their community.

They also hold regular meetings to discuss topics that are important for them. 

One of the main topics discussed is protection, says Kamelia.
 
“Many of the young transgenders can’t fully accept themselves. And this makes them vulnerable to becoming victims of physical abuse... both by senior transgenders or by the police. The group Swara is here to educate people about our community. Transgenders need more information about sexuality, gender, human rights, and HIV/AIDS.”

Many of Indonesian transgenders are pushed into sex work, work in the informal sectors or on the streets.

22-year-old Novi makes her living from singing on the streets.

She often face discrimination while working – even from the people that live near her rented house.

A few months ago, Novi and her friends were thrown out of their home because they were seen as trouble makers.

“When there’s a fire in our neighborhood, or anything else, they blame us. We have become a traget. They were doing Koran recitation sessions, and suddenly they said ‘throw out, burn the transgenders.... they’re trouble makers!’ Well that depends on the person right?”

She now lives in Jakarta with fellow young transgender, Alexa.

The 24-year-old won the Miss Young Transgender two years ago, but she keeps that a secret from her family in West  Nusa Tenggara.

“When I’m home, I’m back to basics.. as a man. Everytime I go back home, my parents and family expect me to look like a man, because I was born as a man. That’s how the society works.”

Alexa then joined Swara, a group of LGBT activists that provide a safe space for the transgender community.

Swara provides training and support for young transgenders as well as human human rights education to both to the community and broader society.

Luluk Surahman is the founder of the group.

“One of the activities held by Swara is education for young transgenders trough Transchool or transgender school. It’s a training that touches on issues of health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, sex, gender and human rights issues.”

An estimated 3,000-strong community of transgenders now live in Jakarta.

Through Swara, the young ones are becoming more empowered... with new knowledge and awareness of HIV/Aids and discrimination, plus new skills.

Nancy Iskandar heads the Transgender Forum in Jakarta. She says improvements like this will change how the society perceive transgenders.

“Society can accept us if we have skills, especially skills that are needed by society. They will respect us more, even though we’re transgender. But transgenders without any skills will end up on the streets, singing or selling their body... and that could create tensions within society. There are some hardline groups who don’t understand us...”

But the most important factor is accepting oneself, says Muhammad Aloy or Rere.

He went to Transchool – the transgender school set up by Swara – and it has become a life-changing experience.

“As a transgender, I often asked myself, why am I like this? But after the Transchool, I can accept myself. This is who I am, that it’s not a sin. What’s not right is changing your sex or using a silicon injection. This is who I am... what can I do? And I’m not complaining about my condition... I’m proud of myself.”

Alexa and Rere say they hope the new salon will help create a more positive image of the transgender community in Indonesian society.

“We were born on this earth as a human being. The only thing that makes us different is sexual orientation – I’m a homosexual, I’m attracted to men, and I play a role as a female. This doesn’t have anything to do with norms or religions or sins.. like we were told all the time. Any human being can sin.”

For Rere, it’s also about the rights of all humans to be happy and free.

“I hope the transgender community can join society.. we’re also human. We have the right to live, to be happy, to be equal. Why must we be discriminated against or shunned?”