• Sadly, the Day coincided with the inhumane and degrading punishment inflicted  to two men convicted of having consensual same-sex sexual relations (liwath) under the Aceh Islamic Criminal Code. More info here

Read the article here.

In Malang, the Kojigema Institute had planned to hold the event  ‘Celebrate Our Gender’ on May 17, but due to intense intimidation and threats ahead of IDAHOT the talk show event had to be CANCELLED.

In a joint statement the organisers say that on May 15 and May 16 members of the organising team received several phone calls in which they were urged not to hold the event and “two of KI members received an SMS from someone on behalf of FPI East Java to cancel the talk show because it is considered contrary to the values of Pancasila. They threatened to disband the activity if the committee continued the activity.” As the local police offered no protection and show no interest in pursuing any investigation, the team decided to cancel the event and held a press conference in which they released the joint statement.

Read the full joint statement by the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Surabaya, Kojigema Institut (KI), FAMM Indonesia here.

Article in the The Jakarta Globe 

IDAHOT plans for Indonesia

Many activities took place but not all have been promoted openly.

These activities are organized collectively by Arus Pelangi with members of Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia especially the ones based in Jakarta including GWL-INA, Suara Kita, SWARA, QMunity, YIFOS, Ardhanary Insitute, Pelangi Mahardika, nd many others.

A rainbow run (street action) during Car Free Day on 17 May 2015. Find a BBC article about the day here
On 20th a public discussion on the role of the state in dealing with cases on violence and discrimination towards LGBTI in Indonesia.

Suara Kita (Our Voice) has organised a meeting with student groups and transgender groups to discuss their plans for IDAHOT 2015. The result is to invite as many groups as possible to commemorate IDAHOT 2015, not only LGBT groups but also non-LGBT groups, such as minority religious groups, women groups etc. Each of the groups is invited to celebrate May 17 within their context and resources.

The aim of Suara Kita was to raise public awareness of Homophobia and Transphobia and what May 17 stands for. The groups have therefore decided not to focus on a specific theme to enable as many groups as possible to create their own way to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

There was a vast programme of activities all over Indonesia with the involvement of Suara Kita and various other groups which you can find here.

Some examples of actions are:

• Transgender women were visiting schools to talk about HIV/Aids and have a beauty demo. Watch the video here.
• Meeting and screening. Watch the video here
• Still in the framework of the campaign Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2015 # IDAHOT2015ID there was a public discussion on the theme “Participation of State in Handling Cases of Violence against LGBTIQ community in Indonesia ‘
  on Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 at the cafe Tjikini, street Cikini Raya 17, Central Jakarta.
  speakers:
  1. Commissioner of the National Committee of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai
  2. The National Committee of Women’s Commissioner, Budi Wahyu
  3. Members of the House of Representatives Commission III *
  4. Staff Expert Cabinet Secretary (Cabinet Secretary) Jokowi-JK *
  5. Legal Aid Foundation, Moch Ainul Yaqin.
  6. Forum LGBTIQ Indonesia

As last year, IDAHOT 2015 will also be documented in one activity report. The report will be available in English and Indonesian online and in print. We will keep you updated.

Suara Kita is a Indonesian organisation that works towards LGBT rights through media and community building. You can follow them on Twitter of Facebook and read their Annual Report 2014 here.

LGBTI organization GAYa NUSANTARA in Surabaya held three events to celebrate IDAHOT this year. The series of events is the following::

1. Appearance in local television: GN – SBOTV with the theme “Homophobia against LGBTI Youth”
There were 3 speakers for this event, namely: Edyth Revanatha (transgender activist from GN), Wibi Radimas (LGBTI teens), and Astrid Wiratna, Psi (Psychologist). The event emphasized that many teenagers LGBTI now experience the effects of homo / bi / trans-phobia. This situation also requires them to get the environment that respects their identity.
Wibi also shared his experience related to homophobia. Later Mrs. Astrid joined by talking about what homo / transphobia it, what caused it to happen and the impact they have. This event was closed by Edyth who provided more infomartion about IDAHOT and GAYa NUSANTARA.

2. Public lecture “Introduction to Queer Studies” by Hendri Julius in FIB UNAIR. This public lecture was attended by students and UNAIR from various departments and from outside UNAIR. In this public lecture Hendri discussed the development of queer studies. Recording of the event can be downloaded here and here

3. Hendri Yulius as author of “Coming out” talked about his book.

In Jakarta, members of the LGBTQI community and allies celebrated IDAHOT with rainbow colours in the streets. You can find images of the celebrations in Jakarta here.

The commemoration of the IDAHOT 2014 took place in at least 17 cities in Indonesia, from Sumatra to Papua, and from May 7 to May 16.

The events took place in 13 Indonesian regions (Medan-North Sumatra, Lampung-Sumatra, Jakarta-Java, Bandung-West Java, Solo-Central Java, Cirebon-West Java, Kupang-East Nusa Tenggara, Manado-North Sulawesi, North Minahasa-Sulawesi, South Minahasa-Sulawesi, Gorontalo-Sulawesi, Palu-Central Sulawesi, and Papua) was organized by Suara Kita, although an IDAHOT event was cancelled in one region (Lombok-West Nusa Tenggara) due to security issue. They were extremely diverse, ranging from public discussion at universities, hearing with state agency, community discussion, community gathering, press release, LGBT movie screening, road rally, radio-television talkshow, solidarity act to help low-income group, and consolidation-evaluation of the 2014 IDAHOT events.

The events involved 29 organizations and communities whose backgrounds were not only from LGBT community but also from women groups, religious groups (both Muslim and Christian), student groups, research/study groups, worker activists, environmental activists, pluralism activists, and media. Overall, the 2014 IDAHOT events ran well as planned, although a public discussion in Medan had a minor disturbance.

The highlights of the conducted events include the discussion on the impact of a particular well-known Islamic party towards the LGBT rights movement in the country, and a movie screening of ‘Tales of Waria’, a documentary about the Indonesian transgender community. Activists also created an online video campaign which popularised the issues faced by trans* communities in the country.

Coordinated by Suara Kita, Indonesia’s LGBT-themed media and journalist group, the whole list of IDAHOT events in Indonesia can be seen from the agenda below:

At the end of the 2014 IDAHOT, a evaluation and consolidation meeting was held, gathering some of executive organizations in the 2014 IDAHOT in Jakarta. Due to limited resources, only organizations from Jakarta (Java), Manado, Tomohon, and Palu (Sulawesi) were invited to come. The consolidation meeting evaluated the 2014 IDAHOT events and made plans for the next IDAHO in 2015. Hopes are that more participants would contribute to the event with more varied backgrounds such as students, activists, and government agencies.

All 2014 IDAHOT events will be compiled into a book (both in English and Indonesian version) that will be distributed to various individuals and entities (NGOs, universities, LGBT communities, government agencies, foreign embassies, donor organizations, and general public) either in hard and soft copy form.

Public discussion in Medan on May 23

Public Discussion at the Muslim University in Jakarta on May 26

Photo: IDAHOT 2014 program – Suara Kita

The events are coordinated by Suara Kita (Our Voice), an LGBT organization that focus on journalism and media in Indonesia. They are trying to involve more groups from tehir network in order to make IDAHOT and LGBT rights more visible and into a mainstream issue.

The following actions have been confirmed so far:

In Jakarta: a movie screening at Kapal Perempuan (a women rights-themed NGO), public lectures at 5 universities (State University of Jakarta, Atmajaya University, National University, Art Institute of Jakarta and Indonesia University), and radio talkshow at the Green Radio and KBR 68H.

In Bandung (West Java): a gay march on car free day at Dago street and LGBT-themed public discussion at the Catholic University of Parahyangan

In Bandar Lampung (Lampung): a public lecture and movie screening at the Lampung University and movie screening within LGBT Communities

In Medan (North Sumatera): public lecture and movie screening at the State University of Medan and the Sumatera Utara University

In Menado (North Sulawesi): Movie Screening and LGBT-themed public discussion

In Kupang: movie screening and LGBT-themed public discussion

In Solo: LGBT-themed public discussion at Jejer Wadon (a women rights-themed NGO)

For the complete agenda of all events, go to here.

For updates and more details on the program and the organisation, please visit Suara Kita’s website.

#LoveLifeRespectID
#LoveLifeRespectID releases their first video web-series campaign, named “Berbeda ??” (different??) in the week of IDAHOT. The first video web-series tells the story of Stigma & Discrimination to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in Indonesia. This three minute video highlights the rights to Freedom of Expression.
“Freedom of Expression rights of LGBT people in Indonesia must be strengthened”, said Setia Perdana, the project coordinator of the video web-series campaign.

#LoveLifeRespectID is a set of seven videos web-series about Gay, Transgender and other men who have sex with men in Indonesia. This project is initiated by GWL-INA network with a support from ISEAN Hivos program.

The overarching 2013 IDAHO message in Indonesia is ”Stop Homo/Trans-phobic Bullying and any form of violence and discrimination against LGBT persons!”

Series of Activities that will be conducted are:
1. Online Media Campaign using the Global Hashtag #IDAHO2013 and the National Hashtag #IDAHO2013ID starting from 1 May 2013,
2. Street action in Jakarta: Carnival, Street Parade, and Flashmob,
3. Public signing of a white banner with Indonesia’s 2013 IDAHO message during street action in Jakarta,
4. Handout of leaflet & rainbow souvenirs during all events in Jakarta,
5. Launching of a Two Years report on Cases of Violences and Discriminations against LGBT persons in Indonesia. This event will take place in Jakarta,
6. Book re-launching ”the Rights to Work of Transgender People is the State’s Responsibility”. This event will take place in Jakarta,
7. LGBT In campus seminar in Medan,
8. LGBT Gathering, Viral Campaign, and LGBT Goes to Campus in Jogjakarta,
9. LGBT Gathering, Musical Performance, and Film Screening in Makassar, and
10. Public performances, talk show, testimony, and LGBT night in Surabaya.

The overarching 2013 IDAHO message in Indonesia is ”Stop Homo/Trans-phobic Bullying and any form of violence and discrimination against LGBT persons!”

Series of Activities that will be conducted are:
1. Online Media Campaign using the Global Hashtag #IDAHO2013 and the National Hashtag #IDAHO2013ID starting from 1 May 2013,
2. Street action in Jakarta: Carnival, Street Parade, and Flashmob,
3. Public signing of a white banner with Indonesia’s 2013 IDAHO message during street action in Jakarta,
4. Handout of leaflet & rainbow souvenirs during all events in Jakarta,
5. Launching of a Two Years report on Cases of Violences and Discriminations against LGBT persons in Indonesia. This event will take place in Jakarta,
6. Book re-launching ”the Rights to Work of Transgender People is the State’s Responsibility”. This event will take place in Jakarta,
7. LGBT In campus seminar in Medan,
8. LGBT Gathering, Viral Campaign, and LGBT Goes to Campus in Jogjakarta,
9. LGBT Gathering, Musical Performance, and Film Screening in Makassar, and
10. Public performances, talk show, testimony, and LGBT night in Surabaya.

One of the target groups for this year’s activities is schools, where homophobia and transphobia are rampant.

The activities – carried out under the umbrella of the Indonesian LGBTIQ Forum – include:

 Radio talk shows: The LGBTIQ Forum will collaborate with a number of radio stations to educate people about homophobia and transphobia.

 A road show to schools and universities: In line with this year’s IDAHO campaign theme “Fighting homo/transphobia IN and THROUGH education”, the LGBTIQ Forum will draw attention to the homophobia and transphobia that are so prevalent in schools, colleges and universities. They will hold discussions and distribute leaflets at selected senior high schools, the National Islamic University, and the University of Indonesia, where they will screen the recent film “Sanubari Jakarta”.

 A drag king and drag queen show: To celebrate the complex sexual orientation and gender identity diversity, the LGBTIQ Forum will hold drag contests for lesbian tomboys dressed as feminine/queens, and for transgender women/effeminate gays dressed as machos. This is to underscore the fact that sexual orientation and gender identity can be very fluid.

 LGBTIQ Pride: A demonstration will be held in the center of Jakarta, with people carrying placards related to “Love is Love” and wearing colorful dresses as a symbol of diversity.

 LGBTIQ Cycling: A bike ride or walk around the city center wearing pink T-shirts will be held. The only message on show will be the words “Love is Love”, along with a rainbow flag.

Participating organizations are:

Ardhanary Institute Arus Pelangi Our Voice GWL-INA Yayasan Inter Medika Kresna Duta Foundation Institute Pelangi Perempuan HerLounge Perempuan Mahardhika Yayasan Srikandi Sejati Sanggar Waria Remaja

As organisers put it : “IDAHO 2011 has shown that LGBT organisations are able to overcome their trauma and regain space to express themselves in the face of mounting conservatism of the Indonesian society. No security incident occurred during the various activities. To increase the visibility of LGBT remains the best strategy to open more space for LGBT.

All detailed information in the report below.