In Indonesia, being LGBTQ is viewed as ‘un-Indonesian and a Western import’. Saskia Wieringa wants to change that
- Most Indonesians view the LGBT identity as ‘un-Indonesian and a Western import’, and about half of the country says they don’t deserve respect as human beings
- But, anthropologist and sexual rights specialist Saskia Wieringa said that gender fluidity was present in different indigenous societies throughout Indonesia
“Homophobia in Indonesia today is a form of postcolonial amnesia,” said anthropologist and sexual rights specialist Saskia Wieringa.
The Dutch academic with more than 40 years of research experience is no stranger to stirring up debate in Indonesia, the country she calls her second home.
“I was barred from entering the country by [President] Suharto’s regime for 13 years after my study of Gerwani history was published,” she said, referring to her book, Sexual Politics in Indonesia.
Gerwani (Indonesian Women’s Movement) was a progressive mass organisation founded in 1950 focused on women empowerment. By 1963, it boasted 1.5 million members. Affiliated with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), Gerwani was targeted by the military in the 1965-1966 anti-communist purge, which claimed between 500,000 and 1.5 million lives.
Wieringa’s forthcoming book, due out next year, celebrates her other passion: the history of Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LBT) movement in Indonesia.
“It’s an overdue debt that I’m so pleased to be able to repay,” she said.
