Gayness
I was at this party tonight with a friend and was introduced to his friends/colleagues. There were these two ladies amongst them, one of them was wearing a beautiful kebaya, the other was wearing long-sleeves batik with trousers. Interesting. We chatted a bit, then they excused themselves. I was later told that they were a couple.
Well, they were the first openly lesbian Indonesian couple I met in Jakarta. Good for them. I wish I was as brave being true to myself in Jakarta.
4 comments:
Being in the vanguard most of the time equals being brave indeed. One has to face the possibility of putting at risk relations with authorities, family and friends, as well as one's career. I second your opinion: good for them. Each and everyone should have the right to be true to her- or himself.
I wonder however whether the ( liberal) (sub)culture(s) of metropolitan Jakarta doesn't (don't) counter sufficiently the traditional taboos. Away from the urban air "which makes free", I can understand cultural, social and religious prejudices prevail- but in middle and upper class Jakarta?
Btw: just for my curiosity: is the clothing the ladies choose ( kebaya + trousers), part of a symbolic language Indonesian people understand: "we are Lesbians"?
In answer for you curiosity: The dress code for the party is batik, most of the ladies wore kebaya or batik dress. So it's not really about the kebaya, but the one wearing the trousers (and men loafers) was very butch in her mannerism; I just knew instantly she was a lesbian. They work in hospitality industry, so it's more permissive, I guess. My friends in banking industry are still not 'formally' coming out (at least to most of us their Indonesian friends) but I found out from our mutual friends [and at one point our mutual crush!;)]. I believe there are a lot of people being in the Down Low, because society pressured them to marry. The grapevine in Jakarta is unbelievable.
Btw, I get this feeling that those prejudices prevail (if not worst), even in the middle and upper class Jakarta. Or, maybe I just pick the wrong crowd.
i have to say, the openness of new york to different sexualities is both a real eye opener and mind opener - having only lived in dublin and magdeburg beforehand...
@John, so are you saying you are more open and less uptight about it now?
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