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LGBT groups empowered by writing training

Jakarta Post - April 21, 2015

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Syamsul Huda M. Suhari, Gorontalo – Dea, 32, sits in a circle with friends discussing her experience of being spurned by society. She and her colleagues discuss being harassed and mocked for their life choices, which they say society deemed deviant. Conversation eventually turned to the success of recent writing training.

"The training was very useful to us, so we know how to write well and correctly. We can voice who we really are," said Dea, a transgender woman who works as a kindergarten teacher in Gorontalo.

No less than six lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations from five cities in Sulawesi attended the writing class, held for three days from April 17 to 19 in Gorontalo.

The six LGBT groups involved in the training session were Sanubari in North Sulawesi; Tomohon Berdikari and Bitung Transgender and Gay Society in South Sulawesi; Maleo Palu in Central Sulawesi; and Binthe Pelangi and Indonesia Transgender Association from Gorontalo.

The writing class was initiated by the Suara Kita organization, an NGO based in Jakarta focused on sexual issues in the country.

Suara Kita director Hartoyo told The Jakarta Post that the training was technically aimed at providing basic writing skills to the participants so they would be able to communicate, on paper, their experiences during the commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), which will be held on May 17.

According to Hartoyo, data on violence experienced by members of the LGBT community in the country is lacking, and equipping them with writing skills, will help them report on cases of violence and harassment, as well as provide advocacy for their colleagues.

"We will also take advantage of the occasion to consolidate and strengthen the networks between organizations and LGBT groups outside Java. The training session will be followed by online mentoring," Hartoyo said.

He added that LBGT concerns, which remain controversial in Indonesia, were further hampered by the presence of the mainstream media, which used LGBT issues to raise ratings, only covering stories that involved violence against members of the LGBT community.

According to Hartoyo, stories written by members of the LGBT community themselves will capture their experiences with more accuracy. "We only wish to express that people's sexual identities vary. Every person should be respected and the state is obliged to provide protection," said Hartoyo.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/21/lgbt-groups-empowered-writing-training.html.