S

everal months ago, my friends in the United States changed their Facebook profile photos. All of them were different, but they had the same element: a pink equal sign against a stark red background. They were challenging the US Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that at that time, barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex civil unions.

On June 26, the US Supreme Court ruled DOMA was unconstitutional. It also destroyed California'€™s Prop. 8. My friends in San Francisco posted photos of people marching in front of City Hall, which was bathed in rainbow lights '€” the symbol of homosexuality. My heart wept and I did something unheard of: I deactivated my Facebook account for a while.

Then recently, Thailand began its talk of legalizing same-sex marriage. Vietnam followed suit. I also learned that, apparently, Singapore had already held two gay pride marches. My heart wept again.

Everywhere I see the world is changing. From different parts of the planet has come news of victory for my people '€” homosexuals. Yet from other parts, this news was tainted with whispers of abuse, persecution and murder. Some were new. The others were reminders of unsolved cases.

It seems to me, however, that Indonesia will remain unchanged. We are savages who refuse to abandon our warring ways and instead strive to keep our traditions isolated and intact, free from foreign influence. As I write this, my fellow countrymen who are Muslims are celebrating their victory. They have defeated temptation during the holy month of Ramadhan. From my house, I can hear prayers from a nearby mosque and the ceaseless sound of fireworks, which frighten my cats.

For you see, celebrating pride, which is a stepping stone toward recognizing the rights of homosexuals and the transgender community, means showing our existence, showing us as a part of the country, as tax-paying citizens and, most importantly, as human beings.

If you say that Indonesia has many other problems that have to be solved first, that means you are denying our existence as humans. You are writing us off as lower creatures, as those who are not worthy of your time and energy. As those who need to wait, wait, wait, until other issues get mended and get fixed. But more problems will inevitably arise, and you will tell us to wait yet again.

My Muslim countrymen are celebrating their victory. They might remember that centuries ago, when they were the minority, their own people were persecuted; but now that they are victorious and powerful, they are doing the same to us.

My heart weeps as it longs for the day when I, an Indonesian homosexual, will also be victorious and recognized as a human being who has the right to live and love and celebrate that life and love without fear.

Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta
Jakarta