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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.

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  • Mba Yeyen watches her friends on stage from a curtain during a show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 6, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140606_154.jpg
  • Transvestites perform in a folkfore perfomance in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_574.jpg
  • Transvestites performers dance as they open the show in a night market fair in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_492.jpg
  • Transvestites perform fashion show during folkfore perfomance in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 7, 2015. The group has improvised dealing with the modernity to survive. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140607_596.jpg
  • A transvestite bring snakes as she dance during the folkfore show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 7, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140607_510.jpg
  • Transvestites prepare for a show in the backstage in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_337.jpg
  • Transvestites of folkfore group apply make up before the show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_257.jpg
  • Ririn Agustine applies make up in her room before heading to perfomance arena in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_051.jpg
  • Mba Ririn Agustine poses for photograph in her room in a lodge provided by the group's owner for the transvestite in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 8, 2015. From her earning in ludruk, she could sent her two sisters to school and support them until both get married. Ririn also could bought her parent a house in her hometown and a paddy field and jewellery. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140608_161.jpg
  • Rosa poses for photographs in a room in a lodge provided by Ludruk Karya Budaya owner for the transvestites player in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. Rosa owns a salon in her hometown. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_015.jpg
  • Mba Lam (L) and Mba Win (R) pose for photograph in their room in a lodge provided by Ludruk Karya Budaya owner for the transvestites player in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 7, 2015. Both are friend since childhood. Mba Lam joined the group in 1986 and Mba Win joined one year after.  To support the daily needs, Mba Lam has a chicken farm with estiimated 100 chickens; and Mba Win sales clothes in credit. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140607_016.jpg
  • Mba Lam makes a phone call to he colleague who will play together with her in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_089.jpg
  • Ririn Agustine, in make up, prepare for going to perfomance stage in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. The folkfore group with many transvestite members only accept perfomance by request. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_146.jpg
  • Transvestites of folkfore group apply make up before the show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 7, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140607_114.jpg
  • Mba Win applies white powder over her body helped by friend during the preparation for the show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 7, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140607_255.jpg
  • Yanti learns singing from Sinden, a woman singer who sing traditional songs, in folkfore group's lodge in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 8, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140608_097.jpg
  • Mba Yanti banters with Cak Sapari, one of the founders of the folkfore group, in front of his home in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 8, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140608_119.jpg
  • Transvestite change costum in between a show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 6, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140606_272.jpg
  • Mba Yanti make a joke with one of soundman before going on stage in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_560.jpg
  • Transvestites performers dance as they open the show in a night market fair in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_477.jpg
  • Transvestites perform Remo dance as they open the show in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 6, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140606_182.jpg
  • Transvestites walk out of stage after perfoming traditional folkfore perfomance in Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, June 9, 2015. A documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
    GNJ2015D0140609_618.jpg
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