The following is an excerpt from The Jakarta Globe. For the full article, follow the link at the end of the page.
Despite living under the same roof for years, Fachri (not his real name) thought his father had no clue that he was gay. But around five years ago, when he borrowed his father’s Koran to research a project, he was surprised to find certain verses underlined in pencil.
They were about God’s wrath toward people who committed acts of sexual deviance during the time of Prophet Luth (or Lot), the Islamic equivalent of the Sodom and Gomorrah text in the Bible.
Growing up in a religious family that adheres to Islamic teachings, it was not the first time Fachri had come across the verses. It was sort of touching, he said, how his father seemed to want to know him better, although he wished it was not through the religious text he despised.
“The text was one of the reasons why I decided to renounce my religion. I have lost faith in any kind of religion because it excludes us, condemns us,” said the 31-year-old advertising executive. “It creates an absolute border, whereas a human being is a complex thing.
“Why should I embrace religion when it doesn’t accept us? Why should I adhere to Islam, or any religion for that matter, when there is no space for me?”
In Indonesia, where religion plays a dominant role in society and where 90 percent of the population is Muslim, homosexuality is not punishable by law but condemnation of homosexuality has been voiced by many religious leaders, not only Islamic.
Muslims praying in a mosque.
A scene from A Jihad for Love, an
award-winning documentary about gay Muslims.
Despite living under the same roof for years, Fachri (not his real name) thought his father had no clue that he was gay. But around five years ago, when he borrowed his father’s Koran to research a project, he was surprised to find certain verses underlined in pencil.
They were about God’s wrath toward people who committed acts of sexual deviance during the time of Prophet Luth (or Lot), the Islamic equivalent of the Sodom and Gomorrah text in the Bible.
Growing up in a religious family that adheres to Islamic teachings, it was not the first time Fachri had come across the verses. It was sort of touching, he said, how his father seemed to want to know him better, although he wished it was not through the religious text he despised.
“The text was one of the reasons why I decided to renounce my religion. I have lost faith in any kind of religion because it excludes us, condemns us,” said the 31-year-old advertising executive. “It creates an absolute border, whereas a human being is a complex thing.
“Why should I embrace religion when it doesn’t accept us? Why should I adhere to Islam, or any religion for that matter, when there is no space for me?”
In Indonesia, where religion plays a dominant role in society and where 90 percent of the population is Muslim, homosexuality is not punishable by law but condemnation of homosexuality has been voiced by many religious leaders, not only Islamic.
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can you at least try and pace your articles....what is it with the obsession with the muslims, indonesia and malaysia ....can you take a break...how about gerard butler's butt for a change...
get the gist?
The main reason for Chistians not being gay friendly is the writings of St Paul. He has recently been outed as a closet gay similar to Hoover in the USA who persecuted gays. There is a long history of gays in the church contributing a great deal from painting and sculpture to scripture. The church has a real problem because it is in denial.
It may be similar in all the other great religions.
While it merely highlights the Muslims of Indonesia, I think Dina Zaman in her book, 'I Am Muslim', posted an interview with a lesbian who states the same stance.
And I am sure that this is not limited to simply Muslims, but every religion.
I respect that.
too tired and sleepy to write anymore ... but keyword is ... "interpretation" ... of religious views and texts ... thats gotta be worked on ... for this time and age ... and people and place ...
good nite zzz
my best boyfriends are indonesians
my best vanilla sex i had with indonesians
my best raunchy sex i had with indonesians
my best girl friends are indonesians
I hope this stays like this...
Consequently, Muslims in Indonesia have a choice to renounce their religion and be free to follow just the laws of the State, instead of that of both the State and Islam. Individuals like Farchi can then face both himself and others more genuinely, instead of having to wear a thick mask and to feel constant guilt as a sinner.
Great, isn't it, for a country as rural and religious as Indonesia where more than 90% of the people are Muslim to condone homosexuality under their state law? Disheartening, isn't it, for a country as developed and secular as Singapore to keep 377a when virtually ALL other developed countries had removed their 377a-equivalents? USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada.......you name it.
Talking about conservativeness, I really can't see how Singaporeans could be more conservative than Indonesians. Neither can I see why 377a must stay in our books in order to please (only) those whose faiths view it as a sin, when Indonesia has already proven that their significantly more religious, conservative population CAN condone homosexuality under state law. Hence, the case of Indonesia simply tells us that the reason given by Singapore's government for keeping 377a (being that the majority in Singapore are conservative) is invalid.
“The text was one of the reasons why I decided to renounce my religion. I have lost faith in any kind of religion because it excludes us, condemns us,” said the 31-year-old advertising executive. “It creates an absolute border, whereas a human being is a complex thing.
“Why should I embrace religion when it doesn’t accept us? Why should I adhere to Islam, or any religion for that matter, when there is no space for me?”
These statements are strong and well-said.
It seems like some people here are in the same mind as the Singapore authorities who I see as trying to suppress any kind of dialogue about being gay and Muslim by banning A Jihad for Love at the last minute.
But I read that the film will be shown at the upcoming Freedom Film Festival this month in 4 cities in Malaysia
2-4 OCTOBER 2009, The Annexe, Central Market KL
9-11 OCTOBER 2009, Han Chiang College, Penang
23-25 OCTOBER, Sekolah Menengah Chung Hua No.1, Kuching
30 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER, Tropical Inn, Johor Bharu
freedomfilmfest.komas.org
You ask "why do we gay people always wrapped around our life with this issue?" . Because from Jamaica to Iran, from Texas to Moscow, people use religion as an excuse to murder, execute, beat and imprison us, to fire us, lie about us, deny us access to medical treatment, ban us from TV and cinema, and to impose their anti-gay rules and laws on us. And they claim immunity from criticism and exemptions from anti-hate legislation, by saying it's their "religion" or shrug and say "it's written".
Sure, if you're lucky enough to be in a place where you think such things do not directly impact your life, you can get by; but why not spare a thought for the less fortunate?
If it really doesn't bother you that Aceh nearly had the death penalty for gays because of some religious extremists in your faith, maybe one day it will, when you are more directly affected.
transexual in indonesia is a common,not being condemned but they're in very low level in society.
if we talk bout religions,especially religions based on abraham's inheritance,homosexual is prohibited...
no clue at all
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