The Indonesia Bethel Protestant Church (GBI) in North Jakarta has called on members of its congregation to respect and protect the rights of waria, an Indonesian term for transgender people, regardless of their condition.

Reverend Minarto Jonathan said during a sermon he delivered in the church on Tuesday night that this particular group deserved equal treatment, just like any other members of society. Even if they have taken a different path or committed a sin, it does not mean they should be treated differently, he insisted.

“Everyone has a past and deserves a chance for a better future,” he said. “Jesus Christ descended to this world for all of us, [who are all] sinners,” Minarto added.

The event was attended by some 150 waria residing in Jakarta, many of whom are elderly and have encountered a great deal of adversity throughout their lives, including rejection by their
families.

The elderly are among the most vulnerable members of the group, since they are often in a frail physical condition and cannot work, according to Indonesian Waria Communication Forum (FKWI) chairwoman Yulianus Rettoblaut.

She estimated that there were some 13,000 transgender individuals living in Jakarta, many of whom are often discriminated against or face difficulties in finding jobs, even in the informal sector.

A joint study by the University of Indonesia (UI) and the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry on transgender people in Greater Jakarta in 2015 found that medical practitioners and fellow patients often treated them with contempt.

According to the FKWI there are at least 830 transgender people aged 60 and over in Jakarta alone.

The acceptance and help from churchgoers is especially welcome, given that they often face troubles even after they die. Minarto said that he was often asked to assist at the funeral of a waria because they were rejected somewhere else.

Until recently waria were largely accepted in Indonesian society and their role in the entertainment industry was well-received by the public. However, they have begun to face constant hostility fueled by growing anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sentiment, particularly at election times, when politicians exploit the issue for electoral gain.

A survey commissioned by Jakarta-based pollster Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting revealed in January that 87.6 percent of more than 1,200 respondents regard the LGBT community as a threat, while 81.5 percent believe it offended their religion.

In November, seven transgender people in Sumur Utara, Klender, East Jakarta, were ordered by residents to leave a boarding house they had lived in for years, accusing them of prostitution.

Also last month, dozens of men attacked two waria in Bekasi, West Java, after they had arrived for a late-night gathering with fellow transgender people.

The growing negative sentiment has also forced the annual Miss Waria beauty pageant to be conducted behind closed doors, when it used to be held in public.

“Building a good relationship with churches is getting more important than ever. Outside, negative sentiment about the LGBT is worsening. Hopefully we can learn about life and get accepted,” Yulianus said.

“Let’s reflect on ourselves. We are getting older but what have we prepared?” she added.

To house the elderly, Yulianus has set up the Rumah Anak Raja social shelter, which literally means house of the king’s child, in Pancoran Mas, Depok, West Java. The two-story shelter is designated to house elderly transgender people who are struggling to earn a living in their old age and are abandoned by society.

Given the limited space, those who are sick are prioritized for a room at the shelter but they may only stay for three weeks.

“It’s not easy [to manage the house], particularly because of the financial issues,” Yulianus said.

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