ISEAN seeks TGF Round 10 funding

[Received from Laurindo Garcia, HIV programs manager of Fridae.com, 2010-08-21]

Dear Expert Reviewers, Supporters, Advisors and Partners of the ISEAN-Hivos Multi-Country Proposal Initiative for MSM, TG and HIV in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste,

You will be pleased to hear that our Round 10 proposal was submitted on-time to the GFATM Secretariat in Geneva after our Core Proposal Writing Team spent the past week making final preparations together in Jakarta.

While we wait for the decision to come from the GF TRP this December, we firmly believe that the proposal writing process was a significant and valuable experience that galvanised our member community organisations and representatives while solidifying linkages with stakeholders region-wide. 

Some of the significant milestones include:

• Three Regional Consultations for the Proposal Working Group (2 in Jakarta, 1 in Kuala Lumpur) that began in February 2010
• Needs Assessments, national consultations and focus group discussions for MSM, TG and HIV in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste
• A team of consultants and expert reviewers from around the world contributing their time and energy to develop a multi-country Global Fund proposal in less than 6 months
• Solid support from the world's largest NGO supporter of LGBT issues, Hivos (from their International and Southeast Asia Regional Offices), as well Asia's largest LGBT media and ICT social enterprise, Fridae
• Committed partnerships with the UNDP's Regional Centre
• Technical assistance and support from The Alliance, APCOM, CSAT/Seven Sisters, TSF SEAP and UNAIDS
• Confirmed endorsement from CCMs in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste on an innovative community-led initiative
• Community organisations and groups among the four countries more engaged at a regional level, with a clear understanding of how cooperation and collaboration can support mobilisation at the national level

We have witnessed a remarkable effort, especially in view of the fact that the first ever Regional Consultation for MSM and TG in Insular Southeast Asia took place in August last year prior to ICAAP IX in Bali - thanks to our friends at GAYa NUSANTARA and APCOM with support from UNDP and UNFPA, and coordination by UNESCO. This is a stellar effort for a network that is only 12 months and 2 weeks old!

PDFs of the Final Proposal, Sections 1-5 and the Performance Framework, can be downloaded HERE.

We wish to thank everyone for the goodwill they have shared with our member organisations, this has benefited the network as a whole - without your assistance and friendship, none of this would have been possible.

In particular we wish to thank our lead proposal writers Paul Adams, Nicholas Bates and Agus Sudaryanto, as well as Saba Moussavi, for their professionalism, tireless commitment, good humour and sleepless nights. Special appreciation goes to Kwasi Boahene, Ben Witjes and Shita Laksmi who are exemplary examples of Hivos' commitment to our community in pursuit of human rights for all.

 In the short-term, there's a more lot in-store:

• We will have a steering committee deliver a report on Governance issues for the network by October.
• In addition we will see the first consultation for young MSM, TG and HIV in Asia and the Pacific this September, where representatives from our next generation of leaders from Insular Southeast Asia will share their ideas for the future with their colleagues from the broader region.
• ISEAN aims to have another consultation of the full network before the end of the year, with the view of formalisation by ICAAP X in 2011.

Regardless of the Global Fund outcome this coming December, ISEAN and its members have a clear vision of what it can achieve.

We are confident that we will see better health and human rights outcomes for waria, mak nyah, pondans, ah kua, badings, baklas, gay men, bisexuals, other MSM and transgender people in our region in the near future.

Expect more news from us soon.

Cheers!

Laurindo

ISEAN Coordinator

Homophobia in Aceh

[Posted by Dede Oetomo on AP-Rainbow mailing list, 2010-08-19. Cited Jakarta Globe, 2010-08-18 as source]

Acehnese Gays Face a Climate of Fear and Abuse

Dewi Kurniawati

Banda Aceh. It doesn’t take much to notice “Echa,” a transvestite who lives in Banda Aceh. With his masculine figure and flamboyant make-up, he instantly draws attention. 

And so does the fact that he is wearing a short dress with a plunging neckline to one of the city’s popular coffee houses instead of a headscarf and other conservative Muslim attire. Of course, Echa is a man so he poses a dilemma for the morality police. 

His baritone laugh echoed through the coffee shop when a reporter asked about the absence of a headscarf. “The Shariah Police are confused about what they want to do with me. I am enjoying my freedom,” he said. 

That freedom has to be struggled for daily, however. Echa is the executive director of Violet Grey, a nongovernmental organization that provides assistance to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents of Aceh. 

In a country where homosexuality is taboo and where many Indonesians still refuse to acknowledge gay people, it’s especially challenging for an organization such as Violet Grey to operate in Aceh, which is allowed to implement partial Shariah law. 

Continuously living in the shadows, gays, lesbians, and cross-dressers are seen as a disgrace to the province’s self-proclaimed “religious society.” Not surprisingly they suffer frequent discrimination and often abusive treatment. 

“We were born as Muslim, as Acehnese. Is it true that we are not part of Islam?” asked “Toni,” a gay activist and member of Violet Grey. 

“In Aceh, the implementation of Shariah touches on symbols such as headscarves or changing street names to Arabic letters without really addressing people’s desires of prosperity and justice. I think we are in the process of Talibanization.” 

Toni grew into his homosexual identity when he was studying at an Islamic boarding school at the age of 14. “I thought by studying in a pesantren [Islamic boarding school] , it would cure my homosexuality.” 

He was wrong. “In an Islamic boarding school, where life is segregated by gender, I met my first love,” he said, laughing. 

Toni added that when Islamic boarding schools separate boys from girls as a way to prevent promiscuity, it actually enables some boys to discover their homosexual identity. 

“Because of this segregation, aside from finding our sexual orientation, we were also sexually abused by our classmates, seniors and even teachers,” Toni said. 

“That is why the rape of boys is not considered a huge issue compared to [the rape of] girls here in Aceh.” 

Shariah, which is obsessed with keeping unmarried men and women apart, at first ignored homosexuality here. 

The province’s Qanun, a local Islamic bylaw implemented in 2003, forbids illicit sexual relations between men and women. 

Homosexuality was not mentioned, so the gay community actually found a safe haven within the bylaw. 

However, homosexuality was specifically addressed in a contentious revised provincial bylaw, or Qanun Jinayat, that was passed by the provincial legislature in October 2009. 

The bylaw, which Governor Irwandi Yusuf has refused to sign and officials in Jakarta have asked to be withdrawn, would punish homosexuals with 100 cane lashes. 

The bylaw also says adulterers should be stoned to death. 

“I hope the Qanun Jinayat will never be implemented, because that means there is no more room for us,” said “Faishal,” another member of Violet Grey. 

Whatever the law says, Violet Grey claims that homosexuals and transsexuals have been repeatedly harassed and intimidated by Shariah police officers. 

In one infamous case in 2007, a local gay man named Hartoyo was abused by Shariah Police officers after a raid on his house, sparking widespread public anger. 

Hartoyo and his partner were told to strip naked and then were beaten by police officers. They were released two days later after being instructed to sign a statement agreeing to stop homosexual behavior. 

Hartoyo reported the incident to the National Commission for Human Rights. 

“The case was closed and the police officers who tortured him only got minor punishments,” Echa said. In the wake of that case, Aceh’s gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transexuals are finding it harder to gain basic rights. 

“Most transsexuals work in beauty salons, but even there, the Shariah police wouldn’t allow them to touch women because we are considered men,” Echa said. 

Marzuki Abdullah, head of the provincial Shariah Police force, said that homosexuality is forbidden in Aceh, despite the absence of a local bylaw. 

“We don’t want to see transvestites standing on the street,” Marzuki said. 

“We consider them men, and they should dress accordingly.” 

There are currently 6,300 Shariah Police officers patrolling Aceh’s towns and villages on the lookout for “immorality,” which keeps the gay and lesbian community hiding in the shadows. 

However, the members of Violet Grey haven’t lost their resolve. 

“We just want to be acknowledged as human beings. We are Acehnese and we are also Muslim, so please respect our basic rights,” Echa pleaded. 

Toni added: “We were born Acehnese and we love Aceh. We won’t leave just because of the Shariah Law.”

Back in Yogyakarta

[Posted by Dede Oetomo on AP-Rainbow mailing list, 2010-08-13]

Activists say fundamentalists stoke public fears

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post

International researchers and activists gathered in Yogyakarta to network and develop better strategies to advocate sexual rights.

The International Policy Dialogue was held from Monday to Wednesday and carried the theme “Bridging the Gap Between Sexuality Research and Advocacy for Sexual Rights”.

The dialogue was the first international meeting to discuss issues in gender and sexuality after the International Lesbian and Gay Alliance Conference in Surabaya was abruptly cancelled in March due to intimidation from a radical Islamic group.

Participants discussed the sexual rights of women and lesbians, homosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT) people.

Sexual rights activist Soe Tjen Marching — who edits the Surabaya-based Bhinneka, a magazine which focuses on pluralism, and Jurnal Gandrung, a newly launched journal on sexuality — said in her presentation that intimidation and acts of violence by fundamentalist groups, such as the Islam Defenders front (FPI), have created a public fear, which is the dominant factor in determining people’s behaviors and decisions.

“Public fear can indeed work to the favor of fundamentalist groups. It can be their biggest ally,” she said.

“The fundamentalists don’t have to do a single thing sometimes. The public already responds on their behalf,” she added.

For example, two universities in Surabaya refused to accept Bhinneka and Jurnal Gandrung because they did not want to be seen as supporting or facilitating discussions of sexuality due to fear of the religious fundamentalists, Soe Tjen said.

Human rights activist Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said that the cancellation of the Surabaya conference was example of discrimination against LGBT rights. Radical groups base their arguments on morality, culture and religion, she said.

Gadjah Mada University’s policy studies center head Muhadjir Darwin said the public believes that sexual orientations that differ from heterosexuality are immoral.

“They just have a different sexual orientation from the dominant group,” he said.

Nursyahbani, who is also the coordinator of the Kartini Asia Network, said organizers chose Yogyakarta to host the workshop to commemorate the Yogyakarta Principles.

In 2006, international human rights activists in Yogyakarta defined universal principles for international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Yogyakarta principles say: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Human beings of all sexual orientations and gender identities are entitled to the full enjoyment of all human rights”.

The Policy Dialogue was organized by Kartini and SEPHIS (South-South Exchange Program for Research on the History of Development) with the collaboration of Center for Population and Policy Studies of Gadjah Mada University.

Hartoyo — an activist who was once tortured and humiliated by police in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam due to his sexual orientation — said he was lonely in his struggle for rights and has yet to see many LGBT people fight for their rights due to discrimination.

Nursyahbani said the workshop aimed to bridge the gap between research on sexuality and advocacy at the grassroots level.

Several scholars have said that research on sexuality is a long process, which sometimes do not meet the need of fast action in the part of advocacy groups.

Researchers and activists agreed that research on sexuality is an important for advocacy groups.

Utopia guides to gay SG, MY, IN

World's First Guide to Gay and Lesbian Life in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia

Which country is home to Asia's fastest growing openly homosexual sub-culture? Would you believe tiny Singapore? With more than 30 openly gay businesses in the tourist-friendly Chinatown neighborhood alone, Singaporean entrepreneurs are feeling free enough to fuel a huge boom in the city-state's pink economy.

But which country do gay Singaporean's think has the hottest scene going? They point to their neighbor, Malaysia. Indeed, though still largely underground, Malaysia's gays and lesbians have a steadily growing number of restaurants, clubs, spas and gyms that openly welcome them and world-class venues are popping up in even small cities like Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

Singapore's other neighbor, Indonesia, while commonly known as having the world's largest Muslim population, also has some of Asia's longest-running homosexual activist groups and a wide variety of traditional alternative sexualities that are an integral part of Indonesia's cultural mosaic.

The Utopia Guide to Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia reveals for the first time in print the fascinating and variegated queer lifestyle of these countries in one hefty volume filled with a surprising wealth of information. Listed within are contact details for organizations and businesses that are popular with both local and visiting homosexuals, including accommodation, bars, discos, spas, and restaurants. A special section of the book highlights groups, clubs, and spaces that are especially welcoming for women. Hundreds of tips and warnings from locals and visitors provide first hand insights for both frequent visitors and armchair explorers.

Commenting on the surprising abundance of gay life in a very conservative region, Singaporean gay activist, Alex Au, writes in the book's preface, "The reason for this contradiction may be because, despite the political or religious rhetoric, at the social level, the people of these countries are tolerant and hospitable."

Indonesia's first gay pride celebration took place in Surabaya, on June 25, 1999. Singapore's first public festival, Indignation, took place during the month of Aug in 2005 and is set to repeat this year with expanded activities and a higher profile.

But despite growing advances in personal freedoms, activists in all three countries continue to encounter official obstacles. In 2006 Singapore government officials awarded a large grant of public money to a homophobic Christian group that attempts to straighten out gays. In March this year Kuala Lumpur police tried to crack down on businesses that cater to gay customers by fining owners for petty license violations, bringing criticism from local AIDS/HIV educators.

The Utopia Guide to Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia provides a remarkable insider's glimpse at the vibrant, everyday life enjoyed by gays and lesbians in Southeast Asia.

The book is available for sale now in printed and electronic form at www.utopia-asia.com/utopiaguide/ and will also be available in bookstores internationally and from popular online book resellers in May.

A pioneer on the Internet, Utopia has been Asia's most popular resource for gays and lesbians since 1994. Utopia's website is located at www.utopia-asia.com and more information about Utopia may be found at www.utopia-asia.com/utopiais.htm

"These fun pages dish out the spice on even the most buttoned-up spots in Asia." -- TIME Magazine TIME Traveler

"A really good place to start looking for information... excellent coverage of gay and lesbian events and activities across Asia." -- Lonely Planet

[Posted by Paul Causey on AP-Rainbow mailing list, 2010-06-26]

Indonesia: Islamist groups attacking LGBT meetings

Homophobia on the rise

Recent attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender meetings reveal the growing influence of Islamist groups and highlight unequal protection of citizenship rights

Jamison Liang

In recent months, Indonesia has witnessed demonstrations against two conferences aiming to discuss the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The first occurred in response to the fourth regional meeting of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), scheduled to take place in Surabaya, East Java on 26-28 March 2010 and supported by Indonesia's leading LGBT organisation, GAYa NUSANTARA. A month later in Depok, West Java, a workshop on transgender issues sponsored by the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) found itself in the same predicament.

Full Story HERE.

Inside Indonesia 100: Apr-Jun 2010

[Posted by Dede Oetomo on AP-Rainbow mailing list]

Increased testing asked for male sex workers

[Posted by Jan Wijngaarden on msm-asia Google Group, 07 October 2008]

Bali Foundation Calls for Increased Testing To Curb HIV Among Male Sex Workers

The Gaya Dewata Foundation -- a group focused on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection education, support and treatment in Bali -- recently called for increased STI testing among male sex workers who have sex with both men and women, the Jakarta Post/Asia News Network reports. Although an HIV/AIDS and STI outreach program launched in 2006 by the foundation has reached as many as 360 male sex workers, foundation representatives said the increasing number of men in this particular group could contribute to the spread of HIV and other STIs. The group said that the high risk of HIV among this particular group of sex workers largely is because they switch between male and female partners and are very mobile, the Post/Asia News Network reports.

The number of male sex workers who switch between male and female partners is increasing, and the foundation has focused its support services on serving this particular group. According to the foundation's director Vivi, the decrease in the number of STIs recorded among male sex workers visiting foundation clinics is a result of "intensive support, such as education and free medication." Bali has recorded 2,208 HIV/AIDS cases, 133 of which occur among men who have sex with men, according to the Bali Commission for AIDS Handling (De Suryani, Jakarta Post/Asia News Network, 10/4).

Asylum for Indonesian transgender

[Attributed to The Jakarta Post, 10 August 2008; posted by GAYa Nusantara on ap-rainbow Yahoo! Group, 25 August 2008]

U.S. grants asylum in Indonesian transgender case

Sun, 08/10/2008 10:26 AM Lifestyle

The United States granted, for the first time, an asylum claim to an Indonesian transsexual last month, an activist said.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights organization Arus Pelangi founder King Oey, said that Michelle Saraswati, 42, formerly known as Michael Setiabudi, won her case at the San Fransisco Immigration Court in July.

Michelle, a graduate from Trisakti University school of architecture, came to the United States in 1998 as a gay man. She stayed illegally after her work visa expired in 2001 and after her asylum claim as a gay man was rejected in 2005.

In August 2006 she was arrested for violation of immigration rules. She appealed and her case was re-opened as a transgender.

King acted as an expert trial witness by telephone, describing the quality of life of transgender people here.

Lack of laws and legal recourse in Indonesia for transgender discrimination and limited employment opportunities for transvestites was her main justification to seek asylum in the United States.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah when contacted on the matter said that Michelle had been seeking asylum since 2001.

"We are still checking whether her claim has been granted or not," Faizasyah said.

Fellow gay Indonesian Paul Amro Yuwono residing in San Fransisco, who helped Michelle in her case, told The Jakarta Post through email that support from the LGBT community in San Fransisco was strong.

Their network succeeded in collecting money to bail Michelle out of jail.

Paul said that he flew to Indonesia to collect letters from the LGBT community here and from friends to support Michelle's case.

"I had a mixed reaction from them. Some of them were too scared to do so and some of them were angry at me for supporting this case. They thought I was being a traitor and (that) I looked down on my own country," Paul said in his email.

"The only person who willingly helped to write a witness letter was a good friend of mine, Vina Gracia who is a transgender herself. She wrote a letter telling about her life struggle in Yogyakarta and Jakarta as a transgender," Paul said.

He added that support also came from Gaya Nusantara founder Dede Utomo, KRT Daud Wiryo Hadinegoro, film director Nia Dinata and other close friends in the GLBT Organization.

Paul said that Michelle's case could be a wake up call for the government to eliminate discrimination and do more to protect sexual minorities.

"They are loosing their own talented people. Michelle is an architect and soon she will take up a great job in a design and architecture company. Michelle is only one example."

"There are many Indonesians including GBLT and other minorities that have bailed out from Indonesia and are building a good life here in the United States," he said. --Prodita Sabarini

Islam and homosexuality

There has recently been an exchange, prompted by events in Malaysia, about paying attention to the issues raised by Islam.

Dede [Oetomo] forwarded a paper by Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia "Promoting LGBT Rights through Islamic Humanism". He said it was in Indonesian, but I am not sure what version he circulated. In any case, I attach a version in English.

Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia has impressive Islamic credentials - a graduate of the state Islamic university in Jakarta with a thesis on the Islamic state. She became a lecturer there. She is the former chair of the Indonesia Conference on Religion and Peace. She was in the Ministry of Human Rights of the national government, and is now an adviser to the Minister of Religious Affairs and an adviser to the Indonesian Women's Coalition. In 2006 she was elected to a committee of the National Commission of Human Rights. She is a member of the selection committee for candidates to be commissioners (and in that capacity supported two waria as candidates).

There is an assumption that the Koran condemns homosexuality unequivocally. But I remember when it was assumed that the Torah and the Bible unequivocally condemned homosexuality. Now both Judaism and Christianity are divided on the issue. An important study is the book "What the Bible really says about Homosexuality" which has been translated into Korean, Japanese and other languages. It is a serious examination of the biblical texts and the problems around what they mean. We need some parallel publication on Islam. In 2001 or 2002 there was a two part article in the Journal of Homosexuality on the texts in the Koran. But I don't think that has gained the audience of the book on the Bible.

Islam is now divided on the issue of homosexuality, but this is actually not well known and information is often not accessible to those whose lives are being affected by the issues.


Doug Sanders

[Download file here.]

Media bias on serial murder case

Gay rights groups slam media over bias
Indah Setiawati, The Jakarta Post, 25 July 2008

Gay groups, human rights and women groups protested at media bias putting homosexuality in a negative light through association with and negative reporting of a serial murder case allegedly committed by Verry Idham Henryansyah.

"Much of the murder coverage focused on the homosexuality of the alleged perpetrator and not on the crimes. I am gay, but I don't kill people," Hartoyo, an activist at Our Voice, an NGO that supports homosexual and bisexual males, told reporters here on Thursday.

He said his gay group was annoyed after reading experts' statements on Internet news portals and in printed media pointing the finger at homosexuals and conveying prejudice.

Verry is currently under police custody for allegedly killing five people, one of whom was mutilated in Jakarta, while the others were found in Jombang, East Java.

"How come some experts link homosexuality with cruelty in the serial murders allegedly committed by Verry? Anyone can commit murder!" he said.

Hartoyo said homosexuality was already stigmatized in this country and the highlighting of the sexual aspect to the serial murders case made this worse.

"We feel more intimidated and scared," he said.

He gave the example of a master of ceremonies in a pub in Central Jakarta, which was a gathering place for homosexuals, who kept reminding the customers to be careful, as they heard that the police were calling reinforcements.

"Please avoid holding hands in public. We have been pinpointed recently, so please be more careful," the master of ceremonies repeated several times to the pub customers, Hartoyo said.

He also regretted some experts' statements that homosexuality was a sickness and should be cured, a notion which was completely wrong, Hartoyo said.

He said some experts might not have a good understanding or might hold a completely different perspective on homosexuality.

Agustine, an activist of the Ardhanary Institute, which is concerned with lesbians and transgender issues, said news media outlets took advantage of the alleged murderer's confession that he was gay.

"Things would be completely different if the serial murder was committed by a heterosexual. Who would write newspaper headlines like 'Heterosexual kills five people,'? she said.

On behalf of Civil Care to Stop Stigma against Homosexual and Bisexual Groups she passed on her sincere condolences to the families of Verry's victims.

"We hope the news media do not link the murder, allegedly done by Verry, with emphasis on sexual orientation that points the finger at us," she said.

She said she hoped police, who were investigating the case, would still respect humanity when they questioned Verry.

"We hope police treat Verry fairly, giving him his rights as an alleged murderer," she said.

The protesting groups Thursday included groups advocating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual rights like Arus Pelangi, Transsexuals Communication Forum, Srikandi Sejati; and women groups like Institute Pelangi Perempuan, Kalyanamitra, Kapal Perempuan, Yayasan Jurnal Perempuan and Koalisi Perempuan.

Indonesia LGBT celebrate IDAHO

Indonesia: LGBT Network Celebrates IDAHO

IGLHRC works to establish freedom of speech, assembly, association and expression for LGBTI people and organizations. In many countries these rights are non-existent or exercising them is associated with severe penalties. As part of our commitment to build and strengthen alliances with other social justice colleagues, IGLHRC frequently disseminates information about activist organizations and allies from around the world. In Indonesia, LGBT activists came together to put a public and human face on the diversity of LGBT people, claiming their place in Indonesian society during that country’s first observance of International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on May 17. Members of the Indonesian LGBT Network chose the theme, "Homophobia: The Unfinished Story" for their events. Banners with this year’s theme were unfurled simultaneously in several major cities—Jakarta, Surabaya, Purwokerto, Yogyakarta and Makassar. Each city had its own activities to address homophobia, including an LGBT film screening, art exhibition, interactive radio talk show, and street actions such as marches and rallies where 100 roses and leaflets were distributed to passers-by. There were also discussions on sexual orientation, heteronormativity, hate crimes and the Yogyakarta Principles. The Indonesia LGBT Network is a coalition of five LGBT groups, which believes that communication is the “best way to establish an understanding and friendship between LGBT people and the heterosexual community.” There are plans to hold more public events in the future.

Support Q! Film Festival

Dear Friends, Q! Film Festival supporters and sympathizers,

I'm writing on behalf of Q! Film Festival to ask for your kindness to help and support the festival. Q! Film Festival has been running for 6 consecutive years and it's now entering the 7th edition this year. We are still having a difficult time to continue the festival with 75 unpaid and faithful, hardworking volunteers.

2008 will be one of the most important and challenging year. We will have to fight against the National Censorship Board, The soon-to-be launched Anti-Pornography Law and the crueler Islamic fundamentalist groups. It will be a decisive year whether we can continue in the next years to come or being shut down.

Q! Film Festival has expanded over the years by touring to other cities too. Now it's an annual event in Jakarta, Bali, and Jogjakarta. It is the only queer film festival in predominantly moslem country and one of the biggest in Asia. It has attracted more than 75,000 audience and has screened over 500 films.

We would be very grateful if you can donate some cash and spread the words to people that you think might like to help us. Any amount will be appreciated.

As a token of gratitude, for each person who donates, we will give a special membership card to be used during the festival. With this card, you are entitled to receive 2 invitations for the Opening and Closing Films + Parties, beat the queue to the films you want to watch and seated in a reserved seat (subject to availability till 10 minutes before each film starts). Your name will also be put in the catalogue (if you want it to). You might be lucky to have some freebies from us (either it's a simple T-Shirt, a dinner voucher, or a spa treatment).

Let's forget about the differences amongst us and unite to this annual event. Your presence is need at the festival. Either watching films or attending our photo exhibitions or other off-screen events. I'm attaching the press release (in English and Bahasa Indonesia) for you to have a look at the series of highlighted films and events.

Pass this around to your friends!

Once you donate, please notify me by sending an email with your name, phone number, the amount of money and also your email and mailing address.

Kind Regards,

John Badalu
Director
Q! Film Festival 2008, Aug. 8-16 (Jakarta), Aug. 21-24 (Bali)
mobile: +62 813 1661 5975

Coming soon: Q! Film Festival 2008 Jakarta, 8-16 August

The 7th Q! Film Festival organized by a non-profit organization Q-munity will be held from 08 to 16 August 2008. Showcasing around 80 films (feature, documentary and shorts) coming from more than 20 countries, the theme this year is "Naturally Different." Q! Film Festival is a leading showcase for diverse, international LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex & Questioning) film festival in Asia. In this 7th Q! Film Festival, Q-munity join forces with Kalyana Shira Foundation to present the new section: Human Rights. The highlighted films are:

• The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela (Dir: Olaf De Fleur Johannsson – Iceland/Philippines)
• I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (Dir: Tsai Ming Liang - Taiwan/France)
• My Super 8 Season (Dir: Alessandro Avellis - France)
• Spinnin' (Dir: Eusebio Pastrana – Spain)
• Sita Sings The Blues (Dir: Nina Paley - USA)
• Good Boys (Dir: Yair Hochner - Israel)
• A Very Natural Thing (Dir: Christopher Larkin - USA)
• With Gilbert and George (Dir: Julian Cole - UK)
• 881 (Dir: Royston Tan - Singapore)
• Risk, Stretch or Die (Dir: Saskia Heyden - Germany)
• The Birthday (Dir: Negin Kianfar & DaisyMohr - The Netherlands)
• Suddenly Last Winter (Dirs: Gustav Hofer & Luca Ragazzi - Italy)
• Love Songs (Christophe Honore - France)

Human Rights Section:

• Perempuan Punya Cerita (Chants of Lotus) – Dir. Fatimah T. Rony, Upi, Nia Dinata, Lasja Fawzia - Indonesia
• 9808 – Dir. Anggun Priambodo, Ariani Darmawan, Edwin, Hafiz, Ifa Ifansyah, Lucky Kuswandi, Otty Widasari, Ucu Agustin, Steve Pillar Setiabudi, Wisnu Suryapratama - Indonesia
• May – Dir. Viva Westi - Indonesia
• Suddenly Last Winter – Dir. Gustav Hofer & Luca Ragazzi - Italy
• My Super 8 Season – Dir. Alessandro Avellis - France
• Opera Tikus Got – Dir. Santosa Amin - Indonesia
• Dua Sisi – Dir. Faisal - Indonesia
• The Birthday – Dir. Negin Kianfar & Daisy Mohr – The Netherlands

Most of the events are FREE OF CHARGE and will take place in:

• Blitz Megaplex at Grand Indonesia
• Goethe Institute
• Erasmus Huis
• Galery Cemara 6
• Centre Culturel Francais (CCF) Salemba
• Kineforum
• Subtitles

This year festival will also be attended by the directors, actors as well as the organizer of film festivals from abroad, such as:

1. Julian Cole – Director (With Gilbert and George) – United Kingdom
2. Saskia Heyden – Director (Risk, Stretch or Die) - Germany
3. Ocean Leroy – Actor/Drag King Performer (Risk, Stretch Or Die) - Germany
4. Poj Anorn – Director (Bangkok Love Story) - Thailand
5. Chaiwat Thongsaeng - Actor (Bangkok Love Story) - Thailand
6. Jun Lana – Director (Roxxxanne) - Phillipines
7. Josh Kim – Director (The Postcard, The Police Box) – South Korea
8. K. Raja Gopal – Director (Lucky 7) – Singapore
9. Anita Schoepp – Director (Dedicated) - Canada
10. Petra Van Dongen – Cinemasia Film Festival Holland
11. Laura Gerber – Director Berlin Asian Hotshots Film Festival
12. Victor Silakong – Director Bangkok World Film Festival

Apart from the film screenings, the festival also has some wonderful fringe events not to be missed involving some well-known artists, like:

3 Photo Exhibitions

1. "Q! Life in Paris" by French Photographer: Amaury Grisel.
2. "Transgender in Indonesia" by Indonesian Photographer: Adi
3. "What Queer?" by several Indonesian and international professional and non-professional photographers.

Outdoor screenings will be held during weekends at Goethe Institute, where the audiences could enjoy watching movie in an open air under the stars.

A talk show called "Silat Lidah Binan" adapted from one of Indonesian television channel program, with audiences that will throw the topics to be brought up to the panelists. The panelists that have been confirmed are: Melissa Karim, Ria Irawan, Djenar Maesa Ayu and will be moderated by Alvin Adam.

There is also a small comedy operette talk show called "Rush Hour" that will be performed by non-professional actors with some well-known guest stars.

Other program is the literature event. There will be a book launch "Heterophobia", the second book of "Macho Man Ngomong Cong" – The Serial, taken from a blog author; Fa. Together with Institut Pelangi Perempuan, Q! Film Festival is also having a book discussion on poetry and short stories by lesbians.

The Festival also invites you to join the Q! Gossips. The hot topic is Homosexuality and Religion; a heated panel discussion with some religious experts. Another Q! Gossip's subject is The application of "Bahasa Binan" or Indonesian Queer's Language that has been a popular slang language from psychology and linguistic point of view.

All further completed info can be found at our website by end of July: www.qfilmfestival.org

Please pass this info to friends and lovers and ex-friends, ex-lovers that you think might be interested in our events.

See you in August!