For transgender people in Indonesia, being able to live peacefully without facing judgement and discrimination is already a major challenge, let alone pursuing their dreams openly.

Several transwomen, however, have shown that the sky’s the limit as they have successfully broken through the glass ceiling by claiming their place in public office and serving in positions that allow them to make impactful decisions.

In a small village in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), transwoman Hendrika Mayora Victoria was elected as the chairperson of the village consultative body (BPD) in March this year, defeating six other male candidates.

The win did not come easily for Hendrika – affectionately called Bunda Mayora – who had to fight for acceptance in her Catholic-dominated community through devotion to the church, as well as women, the elderly and children.

“Facing apathy, I remained focused on my work so people slowly begin to see that transpeople are not stupid, jobless, despicable sinners, and that we have the potential to help others,” Bunda Mayora told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

As a child, Bunda Mayora entered a seminary school in Merauke, Papua, where her parents migrated, before taking vows to be a Catholic brother. In 2008, she moved to Yogyakarta to undertake pastoral education in a theology department.

During those years, she suffered from depression as she grappled with her faith and self-identity. After a long struggle, she decided to leave her consecrated life in the monastery and took a chance to become a teacher in Merauke.

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