New Film Offers a Rainbow of Jakarta Stories

Source: theJakartaGlobe.com

If the French have “Paris Je T’Aime” and Americans have “New York, I Love You,” Jakarta may soon have its own cinema-inspired motto exclaiming its love and celebrating its lovers.

“Sanubari Jakarta” (“Jakarta Deep Down”), a new movie featuring 10 short films by 10 different directors, opens today. The film portrays lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender relationships throughout Jakarta.

Produced by Fira Sofiana and actress Lola Amaria, “Sanubari Jakarta” is a collaboration between the Kresna Duta Foundation (a film organization), the Ardhanary Institute (supporters of diverse sexualities) and the Ford Foundation (social change advocates). Dimas Hary, from Kresna Duta, said “Sanubari Jakarta” championed the cause of the underrepresented and persecuted LGBT community in Jakarta.

In Yogyakarta, Religion Meets LGBT Rights

Source: theJakartaGlobe.com

In early March, the case of Daniel Zamudio, a 24-year-old gay man from Chile who was attacked and tortured, led to a public outcry not only in Chile but around the world. Zamudio died of his injuries three weeks after the attack.

This incident was a painful reminder that prejudice and hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) is still widespread in many parts of the world, and Indonesia is no exception. Indonesia’s LGBT community has gained visibility in the past decade, mostly due to the country’s transition to democracy, but it has also experienced more public disapproval as many LGBT people have stopped hiding and are now fighting for equality. Though they have made progress, they are still seen by many as “threatening,” “abnormal” or “sinful.”

To prevent this kind of prejudice and discrimination, the Yogyakarta-based Youth Interfaith Forum on Sexuality (YIFoS), a group of young men and women with different sexual orientations and religious backgrounds, has organized a youth camp in Yogyakarta to foster discussion about these issues.