Beyond Binary Performers
22 images Created 15 Jun 2015
In Indonesia, most populous muslim country, transvestites get discriminated in many levels. Transvestites can not find jobs and their existence in the society regarded as outsiders. Only few can survive with entrepreneurship, else ended up into prostitution.
The laws in Indonesia does not protect the transvestites people but it does not criminalised them too. Indonesia is predominately Muslim and Christian country, which are mostly conservative, influence the national laws making. The Laws only accommodate male and female genders. In case of sexual orientation and gender identity, most discrimination is aimed at transgender women. As reported by UNDP in collaboration with US-AID in 2014, no laws in Indonesia mentioning transvestite since they are recognised as male.
In a small town, one hour ride from Surabaya second largest city in Indonesia, transvestites find their home, a place to express their feeling and get income at the same time. That place is Ludruk Karya Budaya, a traditional art form of folklore theatre community which telling javanese daily life stories with love and friendship theme. The art form emerged from working class and for working class. Uniquely, this group members are males and transvestites; no woman. In total fifteen transvestites join this folklore group. They all come from the neighbouring cities.
At the early birth of this group in 1969, all the members are male. In a folklore drama that required woman characters, are played by male in woman appearance. Goes along with time, this role is played by transgender who emerged along with the pop culture in early 1980’s.
Many of the transvestites play folklore theatre since they were still in junior high school. Yanti, who also run beauty salon business said that she played ludruk in junior high school and dressed as a girl after school. Even during school, she wore lipstick and grew hair.
Ririn Agustine, one of the transvestite who joined the group in 2005 said that she will play in ludruk until the last breath. From the earning she got from ludruk, Ririn could bought paddy field, a house and jewellery from her job in traditional folklore theatre. She also sent her two sisters to school until they got married.
The future seems promising for them. But this group is struggling so hard. TV invasion and online streaming has decreased the interest of the people for watching the folklore. Year by year the number of the hire declines. Ludruk Karya Budaya has to improvise to survive for the sake of many things.
The laws in Indonesia does not protect the transvestites people but it does not criminalised them too. Indonesia is predominately Muslim and Christian country, which are mostly conservative, influence the national laws making. The Laws only accommodate male and female genders. In case of sexual orientation and gender identity, most discrimination is aimed at transgender women. As reported by UNDP in collaboration with US-AID in 2014, no laws in Indonesia mentioning transvestite since they are recognised as male.
In a small town, one hour ride from Surabaya second largest city in Indonesia, transvestites find their home, a place to express their feeling and get income at the same time. That place is Ludruk Karya Budaya, a traditional art form of folklore theatre community which telling javanese daily life stories with love and friendship theme. The art form emerged from working class and for working class. Uniquely, this group members are males and transvestites; no woman. In total fifteen transvestites join this folklore group. They all come from the neighbouring cities.
At the early birth of this group in 1969, all the members are male. In a folklore drama that required woman characters, are played by male in woman appearance. Goes along with time, this role is played by transgender who emerged along with the pop culture in early 1980’s.
Many of the transvestites play folklore theatre since they were still in junior high school. Yanti, who also run beauty salon business said that she played ludruk in junior high school and dressed as a girl after school. Even during school, she wore lipstick and grew hair.
Ririn Agustine, one of the transvestite who joined the group in 2005 said that she will play in ludruk until the last breath. From the earning she got from ludruk, Ririn could bought paddy field, a house and jewellery from her job in traditional folklore theatre. She also sent her two sisters to school until they got married.
The future seems promising for them. But this group is struggling so hard. TV invasion and online streaming has decreased the interest of the people for watching the folklore. Year by year the number of the hire declines. Ludruk Karya Budaya has to improvise to survive for the sake of many things.
