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.

It was during her second time living in Yogyakarta where she met some inspiring priests and transgender figures, after which she finally decided to live as her true self as a female in early 2018.

“I lost everything and survived by busking on the streets and nyebong [sex work]. I confronted thugs and experienced constant intimidation. And even as a woman, I was not considered beautiful as I was from the East,” she said.

Despite the difficult life she had led, Bunda Mayora said she was happier than ever and tried hard to find peace in her relationship with God.

In early 2019, she went back to NTT as her new self and keenly worked for the village, becoming a member of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) and was actively involved in parenting counseling activities. She was later appointed as Kangae district’s regional coordinator.

In everything she did, Bunda Mayora tried to involve the transgender community as much as she could.

Seeing her talent and dedication to developing the village, other locals – especially the mothers she had helped – proposed her as a candidate to chair the BPD earlier this year.

After only a week of campaigning, Bunda Mayora was elected to the position and assumed important tasks including designing village regulations and overseeing the use of village funds and the performance of village officials.

With her authority, she seeks to create inclusive policies, taking into account the interests of marginalized communities.

Bunda Mayora has also established Fajar Sikka, a community that accommodates transgender people, indigenous women and disabled workers, whom she helps to become financially independent by imparting job skills.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has paralyzed the economy, Bunda Mayora and Fajar Sikka regularly collect donations and distribute food to the disadvantaged, including transgender elders and people with HIV/AIDS.

“The ceaseless discrimination and hardships I have experienced have actually made me more sensitive in making fairer policies for the powerless,” she said.

A similar tale also comes from the island city of Ternate in North Maluku, where well-respected transwoman Kety Haji Jalla has inspired many by serving as an educator and political activist.

Formerly a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Kety was elected to represent the province in the House of Representatives in 2009, but only served for less than a year.

“I got out after a friend was caught for corruption, fearing I might go down a similar path if I had stayed in that world. Later, I received many offers to return, but I declined,” Kety told the Post.

However, stepping away from the national legislature has not stopped Kety from engaging in politics. She has supported public office seekers from across eastern Indonesia, while running and teaching at educational foundations.

“This year, I am involved in the campaign team for a Ternate mayoral candidate, preparing for the year-end regional elections. I always encourage fellow transpeople, especially the younger ones, to jump into politics,” she said.

At her cosmetology foundation LKP Ranny in Ternate, Kety teaches around 1,000 students aged 18 to 45, getting them ready for professional and entrepreneurial work. She is also a beauty instructor at a vocational training center (BLK).

Kety has earned her place as a dedicated educator, with prestigious recognition from the government in her pocket. She said she had been invited to the State Palace five times from 2011 to 2016 for being named as one of Indonesia’s best teachers.