Brings a lot of memories
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Three simple rules
Yatna introduced me to his law of short story creation,
1. Who
2. Doing What
3. For What
He made several novels already whist I’m still stuck with my first page, more likely my first sentence. Find out more about Yatna in his webpage.
1. Who
2. Doing What
3. For What
He made several novels already whist I’m still stuck with my first page, more likely my first sentence. Find out more about Yatna in his webpage.
Monday, April 06, 2015
The imitation game and to sue the criminalization on love
Jakarta 4.4.2015, Suarakita’s latest movie screening and discussion was held in their HQ in kalibata area. The imitation game was just an elicited for the discussion on “to sue the criminalization on love”.
I’m not going to make a review on imitation game, you can easily find that on google.
Our discussion was conducted by Tunggal Pawestri, who works at Hivos in Jakarta with her ongoing project is about inter-religion marriage. You can read further about Alan Turing from her point of view right here.
Out of so many people who were close to LGBT community, Tunggal has the most honest objective opinion. I met a lot of person claiming that they have no objection towards gay people but when a member of his or her family is gay then the whole story changes, whether you could be disowned, or being isolated due to shaming the family. Tunggal has no opinion if her children will be gay, but one thing for sure she did teach her daughter of other marriage option; not just a man and a woman, but can be woman to woman, although the idea that her daughter might be bullied at school frightened her of the lesson that she tried to teach. She’s not oppose nor against, for me that is the fairest I’ve heard, unlike the tramp next door. Lol.
Long story short, there is no silver lining on this case. For five hundred years LGBT was treated as criminals. Until recent years several laws was revoked but that doesn’t change the fact that the LGBT community still have to struggle to obtain equality. All of the convicted before 2003 had their DNA sample taken and collected among other felonies such as pedophile etc.
Teguh Iman asked whether a gay person should reach AlanTuring’s level just to be accepted as a gay person, the discussion answered that question but all I have in my mind was “we need a new plague”.
How can someone be criminalized because of love? Just because your religion said so?
Well fuck you and fuck your religion too!!!
.
I’m not going to make a review on imitation game, you can easily find that on google.
Our discussion was conducted by Tunggal Pawestri, who works at Hivos in Jakarta with her ongoing project is about inter-religion marriage. You can read further about Alan Turing from her point of view right here.
Out of so many people who were close to LGBT community, Tunggal has the most honest objective opinion. I met a lot of person claiming that they have no objection towards gay people but when a member of his or her family is gay then the whole story changes, whether you could be disowned, or being isolated due to shaming the family. Tunggal has no opinion if her children will be gay, but one thing for sure she did teach her daughter of other marriage option; not just a man and a woman, but can be woman to woman, although the idea that her daughter might be bullied at school frightened her of the lesson that she tried to teach. She’s not oppose nor against, for me that is the fairest I’ve heard, unlike the tramp next door. Lol.
Long story short, there is no silver lining on this case. For five hundred years LGBT was treated as criminals. Until recent years several laws was revoked but that doesn’t change the fact that the LGBT community still have to struggle to obtain equality. All of the convicted before 2003 had their DNA sample taken and collected among other felonies such as pedophile etc.
Teguh Iman asked whether a gay person should reach AlanTuring’s level just to be accepted as a gay person, the discussion answered that question but all I have in my mind was “we need a new plague”.
How can someone be criminalized because of love? Just because your religion said so?
Well fuck you and fuck your religion too!!!
.
The Fox Exploits the Tiger's might
 |
| Paul and Kyo, director of Parts of the hearts |
The first week of the month, April 3, 2015, Kineforum celebrated yet another misbar, it’s an acronym for gerimis bubar or in a better lack of translation would be when it rains it ends. The event will be held from 3rd to 26th of April. The first day of the opening played Suci sang Primadona directed by Arifin C Noer, the second movie Parts of the heart directed by Paul Agusta, and the last show of the day on 19.30 PM played two movies; The fox exploits the tiger’s might directed by Lucky Kuswandi and the movie Kisah Cinta yang asu directed by Yosep Anggi Noen.
I did my research before I attended the screening on the fox exploits the tiger’s might, it is a Chinese folktale on a fox that was going to be eaten by a tiger, then the fox claimed that he was mighty and fierce that the tiger should not eat him, as a demonstration he took the tiger to a nearby village which the villagers flee but not because they were afraid of the fox but merely on who was walking behind the him. The story tells us about a stolen power, how someone can take advantage of it.
The Fox exploits the Tiger’s might:
The movie was opened with a jerkoff session scene by Aseng, a teenage something with a raging hormone and probably still questioning on his sexual identity. The movie tells us that it take place in a military town involving a Chinese family struggling with the military oppression, they need to pay an amount of money just to continue to run on their business. As the movie continues I stumbled upon several bias scenes, the way Aseng looked on the army men training whether they fascinate him in a sexual way or they build a killing emotion towards them, and another scene where David had a sex fantasy with Aseng which involved Eva Arnaz, a sex bomb in the 80s, how it portrayed Aseng’s desire to put his dick on David’s ass and also to take turns on pleasuring them self with Eva.
 |
| Q&A session |
Kisah Cinta yang Asu:
A lot of foul words were spitted along the movie like asu (dog) or bajingan (bastard), I was hail from Jogjakarta where this film was taken but grew up in Jakarta, I don’t know in what level is this foulness can be tolerated by the Jakartensis but for me it’s pretty gruesome. The movie tells us the story about a prostitute and a biker riding an RX King, and his name is Erik King, meet up and fondling each other, I don’t really understand the story line of this movie – I just completely loss – but it ends up with the prostitute burning her boyfriend’s bike.
.
Monday, August 06, 2012
Lipstik and Cinta itu Budi
This is the second week (4/8/2012) that Ourvoice played a movie about LGBT in Ramadhan hence last week, Saturday (28/07/2012) played a movie about gays and lesbians in the eyes of Islam in ‘Jihad for love’ thus this week Ourvoice not only played one, but two movies. “Lipstik” about the life of a transgender living in the society with a foster son named Kekah who brought up religiously and started to questioned the proportion of his faith for having a transgender parent and the second movie is a documentary “Cinta itu Budi” about Cinta, a transgender who is uniquely stand out from any transgender in majority, without having a blush of makeup nor high heels but she epitomized the word beautiful in her own way, the documentary vividly tells her story from her friend’s opinion, and her life as a faithful Muslim yet living as a transgender.
Ourvoice invited three speakers for discussing the movie after breaking the fast, the first speaker is Jen Katleya, a faithful devotee of Muslim, a hijab-wearer transgender from Bogor, the second one is Dewi Nova, a poet, a writer, and the founder of Perempuan Berbagi, last but not least Lia Toriana, graduated from University of Indonesia majoring in political science.
Jen shared her opinion about the movie “Lipstik” that Muslim scholars provoked his mass to act anarchist which is not entitled in Islam which claims that the religion brings grace that God is all gracious and merciful. She criticized a part of the movie when a Muslim scholar mentioned that God created day and night, black and white, male and female thus transgender is against nature, “then who who created the transgender if not God himself? and in between day and night there are dusk and dawn, between black and white there are grey and other color gradation” said Jen.
In terms of ‘against nature’, Jen wittily asked why women who have pale lips colorized them with lipstick, “so to speak, circumcision is also against nature” added Jen.
The second speaker, Dewi Nova, enlightens the participants about gender, that sexuality is constructive, can be molded, and attached to hierarchy. How the religious interpretation on transgender will show us that it has a strong dependence on politics, religion, and economics, “thus it will put us to a place where gender is liquid” explained Dewi.
According to Dewi sexuality is uncategorized but we must understand the meaning of political identity therefore the government will know what are the needs for gay, lesbian and transgender.
The last speaker Lia explained the audience about ‘politics or the politicization of the body’, similar with gender our body also influenced by politics, and determined what is good and bad, and constructed how we look on what is beautiful.
“Beauty is painful” according to Josep, a thirty something gay man from Bogor, after he saw a picture of a woman wearing high heels with veins popping out from her legs.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” explained Djohan, 27, according to him beauty only exist in the minds of people who valued beauty which are differ from people to people.
On the last session, Diana, one of the audience shared a story how people in some part of Indonesia are powerless against this type of politics, “it is excruciatingly painful to see a woman on the edge of death but prohibited to have a blood transfusion because they said it is haram or illegitimate, it is our body and we have every rights on every inch of it” said Diana.
Discrimination on sexuality and gender are systematic, every elements are linked due in today’s political condition the transgender are the most vulnerable because they are easily seen from their appearance but what was seen does not represents the true form of reality, a couple of transgender standing in the pitch dark of night living as a sex worker does not purportedly means all transgender are sex workers, some works in a beauty parlor, while some will do anything to stay survive. It will be a different story if they were given the chance to work in the formal sector, the governments are obligated to wipe out the prejudice as written on the constitution that every citizen has the right to obtain a decent education and a decent job, after all the transgender are also a tax payer.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
... Because After 64 Years
 |
| John and Lou in Beirut, 1952, and in 2006. (Photo: Courtesy of Lou Halsey and John Morgan) |
When the Columbia Library closed each night at ten, it was the custom of John Spofford Morgan, who was studying for a master’s in international affairs, to hop on the subway and head downtown to the New Verdi on West 72nd. Back then, there were two kinds of bars for gay men, he says: pickup joints and old-friends joints. The New Verdi was the latter, but it turned into the former when at around 10:30 on May 17, 1947, Louis Halsey walked in. “Love at first sight,” says Lou now. “Was it?” John wonders. “For me it was slower.” In any case, Lou and John spent the night together, just as they have spent most nights in the 64 years ensuing. Last month, they got married.
John is 94, recovering from a broken hip but otherwise as hale and handsome as Lou, 88, says he always was. One snapshot shows the pair on a beach in Beirut in 1952. Lou looks like Tony Curtis, glossy and pompadoured. John looks like JFK except, as his mother used to complain when people compared their families, “we have chins.”
Both served in the Navy in World War II, but on different oceans, as in a way they were from different worlds on land. John, who still speaks in the accent of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century elite, worked as an economist. Lou, of Hungarian-immigrant stock, cut hair for decades at the Westbury Hotel. He wears rings and bright colors; John emphatically doesn’t.
But being gay was a great equalizer then. And being married is a great equalizer now. “People say, ‘So if you’re married, where’s the certificate?’ ” Lou explains. “Now we have it.” The pair ignored domestic partnership when it came along (“A halfway step,” says John), and since they had already invested in the complicated legal work-arounds—trusts, powers of attorney—needed to protect one another, they didn’t see the point of claiming marriage rights in, say, Iowa. But when the law passed here in June, they knew they would take the step. “Just to see it in black and white,” says Lou. For John, “it was more like finishing something.”
The small ceremony, with a minister and three witnesses, was held in their Village apartment on November 11, a date they chose because they have for years noticed the time 11:11 on the clock by the bed. They did not exchange rings and got no gifts, “except bourbon!” Lou says. “But he”—he waves at John—“started to cry.”
“Did I?” John wonders.
Source
Saturday, October 22, 2011
All the good guys are taken
It was rainy and I still remember how it felt like that day. Cold and lonely with a little pint of warmth hence the shiver drove through but I was smiling, a crazy sense of indescribable expectation, I was on a date, not just a date, it was my second date.
The sidewalk was packed with wet pedestrians, people getting off from their cars and the valet parking guy storming out with big size umbrellas. I was sitting in the bar waiting for you looking out on the window watching people who got caught up in the rain, I was hoping to have a romantic song in the background but my head kept on playing tom’s diner by susanne vega.
It was my third glass of coke when the bartender asked me if I want another one, alas I said yes, I’ve been sitting there for two hours, while he winked he added a little bit of rum to my glass. Tell me Mr. Bartender how many times have you seen someone waiting for his date to come but didn’t show up? He smiled and told me to go home.
The rum kicked in and the anger builds up so I called him instead.
No response
Then a text hits me back
“I’m sorry but my wife is here, she wants me to stay with her”
Sigh…
Thursday, October 20, 2011
My deepest condolences
In loving memory of Chiphet’s mother passed away on sat 15 Oct 2011 18.40
The funny thing is, through all these years I’m hanging out in your place, I never know your mother’s name, for me she’s just a sweet and loving ‘tante’.
My deepest condolences :’(
Sunday, January 23, 2011
the perfect man
Josh made a comment about the pic above which i used it as my profile pic in facebook.
"the perfect man has a smile like this"
It's hard to believe that the perfection isn't human,
while we lurks over battlefield of love in a club or dating sites we only get a 5 minutes whoopie.
*
Saturday night, I'm all alone in my room again, too tired to go out and stuck in the middle of my marathon moviez about a ninja, how to lose a guy in 10 days, friends, and ice age. Just a random pick.
a buzz telling a text message coming in from my cellies. I'm still using cellies, yes I'm weird I dont like crackberries the same thing with gay dating shit due I refused an invitation to go to club from a friend, I don't really like noisy places. you told me about the cute guys there, pick one and ready to go. No thanks but I already had my random pick today. *smiling* Two gays two different worlds.
I can vividly picture this in my mind,
you, drinking your beer moving to the rhythm of the beat, and flirt to this really cute guy wearing a white t shirt.
me, holding my pillow watching crappy movies.
you, walking tipsy on your way to his place for a crazy night in a lala land.
me, in bed alone jerking off watching porn.
in the morning we got up and thinking we're happy and all right with our life.
you, sitting on his bed with a hangover and a tad of pain on your ass.
me, eating my sandwich and coffee watching a cute jogger running with his dog and thinking about having one of my own.
while you still digging over piles of clothes looking for your underwear, i'm sober enough to think that our life sucks. maybe i'm just lazy, too lazy to find the right one, and if josh was right that the perfect man has a smile like that is a teddy bear well i'm too lazy to go to toys r us.
confession made, i'm just butt lazy.
good night folks.
Friday, January 21, 2011
My January 2011
In my cold and damp room I sat there thinking about the trilling year I had in 2010.
A lot of things changed, I like tea then I need my daily caffeine boost just to stay awake in the office, and now I’m here with a can of root beer.
I know it’s kinda late to talk about this but hey, let’s talk about my New Year resolution; don’t have one.
I’m still focusing on my last year resolution, to be more honest with myself, for all the people who let me down and use me in an unmentionable way, so brutal that it leaves a scar in my heart.
I’ve been telling myself to write an email to them and tell them how I feel, I didn’t do it.
I don’t know why, though I’m sure they don’t give a shit so why bother.
*
The company that I work for is changing into a concentration camp, I gave my yearly financial statements report and just realized that the boss wants the company profitless. While we confront him he told us that it’s not our problem to think about the profit all we have to do is make more revenues. What do you think we are, a five year old?
He’s avoiding tax; smart. But a company without a heart and treat the employees like slaves; insane.
i think it's a lot more reasonable to use the profit in a form of a bonus or increasing the salary instead of buying expensive furniture (for his wife).
i think it's a lot more reasonable to use the profit in a form of a bonus or increasing the salary instead of buying expensive furniture (for his wife).
*
I was chatting with my friend on facebook early on and told me that two of my friends are resigning, and he too is thinking about moving to a new place. I’ve been working here for more than two years now, the place sucks but the team is great. I couldn’t find any other place that I can easily come out as a gay person and they accept me with an open heart. They are more than a family.
I can still feel the goosebumps on my shoulder running through my arms.
I’m thinking about pursuing another career in Bali or moving back to Jakarta.
I love my friends
And now I’m scared
Thursday, June 24, 2010
flood
So there I was on a coffee break, chatting with some friends.
my fellow nicotine junkiest that is.
in a fire escape on the16th floor
under the no smoking sign, no wait.
that would be,
under the 1000 bucks fine sign board.
So hows hour holiday?
pretty okay, why?
boy you sure missed a lot of things
like what?
and a riot of laughter fills the air.
Orchard got fucked
my fellow nicotine junkiest that is.
in a fire escape on the16th floor
under the no smoking sign, no wait.
that would be,
under the 1000 bucks fine sign board.
So hows hour holiday?
pretty okay, why?
boy you sure missed a lot of things
like what?
and a riot of laughter fills the air.
Orchard got fucked
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
feel and be
I am the light who dwells in the night,
i am the darkness that traps in daylight madness.
i am a Saint and Satan and something in between.
I am the pain of penetration yet i am the pleasure of orgasmic ejaculation.
i am the maple leaf that turns redishing and i am the seedling green sprout of spring.
i dont know who i am and what ive became.
it is love, i simply feel and be.
Bali, June 19th 01.
i am the darkness that traps in daylight madness.
i am a Saint and Satan and something in between.
I am the pain of penetration yet i am the pleasure of orgasmic ejaculation.
i am the maple leaf that turns redishing and i am the seedling green sprout of spring.
i dont know who i am and what ive became.
it is love, i simply feel and be.
Bali, June 19th 01.
Our changes
During my first week assignment in Singapore I was living in hell, everything moved so damn fast on this island. I woke up early automatically, even way early than my roommate from swiss the country of punctuality. Take the bus at 7:30 hit to queenstown alight at tanjung pagar then walk to my office lunch at 2 dinner at 7 then went home at 9 if I’m lucky. A lot different from my previous life, change a lot.
During these days a friend of mine said goodbye to me. A very good friend indeed, we went to the same junior and senior high together, bad boys for life. From this insensitive heart of mine I thought it was just another holiday. He went to china for a few days of getaway. And that was it. Our last conversation, I hope I’m wrong.
During those growing up process between watching porn and chemistry lab we are unseparatable, we talked till late at night in a mosque watching the men raised their sarongs during their wudlu, then giggled just by watching their fuzzy hairs on their legs, yeah I know it’s silly.
Time flies as the notorious metro mini altered into somewhat more sophisticated. Nasi uduk altered into a cup of coffee and a bun of Danish roll. People change?
Changes derive from many factors, friends, family, lifestyle, or even boredom?
Endless text messages and emails with no reply, silent over me while you gladly greet your friends on countless social network -well just a few. New life new friends everythings new, i hardly recognize you. Our works stole our time, but not our soul? Lifestyle differ from the past, who am i kidding with?
If you asked me, I would love to eat meatballs again in jl. Pramuka, and I can still have nasi uduk in Singapore although they call it nasi lemak. Do we need to change?
I was viewing the construction site across aljunied where the Indian guys were sweaty and yummy doing the site. I smiled, thinking that you might enjoy this view. Facebook is on, as I scroll down your uploaded pictures and carefully read your friend’s comments on your trip to south Africa watching the world cup.
We got separated miles away but it’s not my fault, obviously you got a bigger pay slip than me but I’m not complaining. We have new friends but don’t you miss me?
We don’t have to change, and I don’t wanna change. So what’s your excuse?
During these days a friend of mine said goodbye to me. A very good friend indeed, we went to the same junior and senior high together, bad boys for life. From this insensitive heart of mine I thought it was just another holiday. He went to china for a few days of getaway. And that was it. Our last conversation, I hope I’m wrong.
During those growing up process between watching porn and chemistry lab we are unseparatable, we talked till late at night in a mosque watching the men raised their sarongs during their wudlu, then giggled just by watching their fuzzy hairs on their legs, yeah I know it’s silly.
Time flies as the notorious metro mini altered into somewhat more sophisticated. Nasi uduk altered into a cup of coffee and a bun of Danish roll. People change?
Changes derive from many factors, friends, family, lifestyle, or even boredom?
Endless text messages and emails with no reply, silent over me while you gladly greet your friends on countless social network -well just a few. New life new friends everythings new, i hardly recognize you. Our works stole our time, but not our soul? Lifestyle differ from the past, who am i kidding with?
If you asked me, I would love to eat meatballs again in jl. Pramuka, and I can still have nasi uduk in Singapore although they call it nasi lemak. Do we need to change?
I was viewing the construction site across aljunied where the Indian guys were sweaty and yummy doing the site. I smiled, thinking that you might enjoy this view. Facebook is on, as I scroll down your uploaded pictures and carefully read your friend’s comments on your trip to south Africa watching the world cup.
We don’t have to change, and I don’t wanna change. So what’s your excuse?
Monday, June 14, 2010
miss home
Saturday, May 22, 2010
A tale of Shade of Grays
I met the most adorable couple today. Peter and George. They’ve been together for 47 years. George is in a wheelchair. Peter takes care of him. He cooks for him, cuts his steak for him. He helps him up the stairs.
They’re still in love. Not like all over each other in love. Old people in love. The way you finish each other’s sentences in love. The way you tease each other in love. The way you roll your eyes at each other in love.
I was introduced to George and Peter through my friend Justin. Justin’s my hairdresser. He’s straight. He’s been my hairdresser for 16 years. Really. My brother took me to Justin’s for my 18th birthday. I’m 34 now. Almost 35. I guess that means I know Justin almost 17 years. That’s a long time.
I love Justin. He’s family. Justin loves me too. Says I’m special. I don’t think I’m special, though it’s nice to hear.
Anyway. Back to George and Peter. They invited Justin and me to brunch at the Lowell Hotel. Have you ever been to the Lowell Hotel? It’s up on 63rd and Madison. It’s beautiful. Old. Classy. Foie gras and caviar kind of classy. Beluga. I actually had the foie gras. It was amazing. Like butter. Didn’t have the Beluga. Fish eggs. Yuck.
We went on a walk after brunch. Me, Justin, Peter, George. Justin pushed George’s wheelchair. I walked along with Peter. We walked and walked and walked. We walked until we stepped right into the Central Park Zoo. We saw seals. Polar bears too. Then we sat on a bench, watched people go by. We watched and watched and watched and watched. It was one of those perfect days. Sunny, clear, like God was in a good mood. We sat there watching. We watched until Peter said it was time for George to take a nap.
Justin, me, Peter, George then walked back to their apartment, helped George up the stairs. Wheelchair was heavy. I wondered how Peter and George manage when Justin’s not around. I said my good-byes, then took the E-train back to Chelsea.
On the train, I turned on my ipod. Then smiled all the way back home.
I met the cutest couple today. 47 years. Perfect. Like God was in a good mood.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
If tomorrow starts without me
with Frank Sinatra tuning in the background singing I did it my way
and David Romano's stuff to be read before they take me 6 feet under
If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you,
And each time that you think of me you know I miss you too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
For all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do.
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had it's through.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,
I'd say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow.
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
So if tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me, please know you’re in my heart.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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Saturday, April 11, 2015
Three simple rules
Yatna introduced me to his law of short story creation,
1. Who
2. Doing What
3. For What
He made several novels already whist I’m still stuck with my first page, more likely my first sentence. Find out more about Yatna in his webpage.
1. Who
2. Doing What
3. For What
He made several novels already whist I’m still stuck with my first page, more likely my first sentence. Find out more about Yatna in his webpage.
Monday, April 06, 2015
The imitation game and to sue the criminalization on love
Jakarta 4.4.2015, Suarakita’s latest movie screening and discussion was held in their HQ in kalibata area. The imitation game was just an elicited for the discussion on “to sue the criminalization on love”.
I’m not going to make a review on imitation game, you can easily find that on google.
Our discussion was conducted by Tunggal Pawestri, who works at Hivos in Jakarta with her ongoing project is about inter-religion marriage. You can read further about Alan Turing from her point of view right here.
Out of so many people who were close to LGBT community, Tunggal has the most honest objective opinion. I met a lot of person claiming that they have no objection towards gay people but when a member of his or her family is gay then the whole story changes, whether you could be disowned, or being isolated due to shaming the family. Tunggal has no opinion if her children will be gay, but one thing for sure she did teach her daughter of other marriage option; not just a man and a woman, but can be woman to woman, although the idea that her daughter might be bullied at school frightened her of the lesson that she tried to teach. She’s not oppose nor against, for me that is the fairest I’ve heard, unlike the tramp next door. Lol.
Long story short, there is no silver lining on this case. For five hundred years LGBT was treated as criminals. Until recent years several laws was revoked but that doesn’t change the fact that the LGBT community still have to struggle to obtain equality. All of the convicted before 2003 had their DNA sample taken and collected among other felonies such as pedophile etc.
Teguh Iman asked whether a gay person should reach AlanTuring’s level just to be accepted as a gay person, the discussion answered that question but all I have in my mind was “we need a new plague”.
How can someone be criminalized because of love? Just because your religion said so?
Well fuck you and fuck your religion too!!!
.
I’m not going to make a review on imitation game, you can easily find that on google.
Our discussion was conducted by Tunggal Pawestri, who works at Hivos in Jakarta with her ongoing project is about inter-religion marriage. You can read further about Alan Turing from her point of view right here.
Out of so many people who were close to LGBT community, Tunggal has the most honest objective opinion. I met a lot of person claiming that they have no objection towards gay people but when a member of his or her family is gay then the whole story changes, whether you could be disowned, or being isolated due to shaming the family. Tunggal has no opinion if her children will be gay, but one thing for sure she did teach her daughter of other marriage option; not just a man and a woman, but can be woman to woman, although the idea that her daughter might be bullied at school frightened her of the lesson that she tried to teach. She’s not oppose nor against, for me that is the fairest I’ve heard, unlike the tramp next door. Lol.
Long story short, there is no silver lining on this case. For five hundred years LGBT was treated as criminals. Until recent years several laws was revoked but that doesn’t change the fact that the LGBT community still have to struggle to obtain equality. All of the convicted before 2003 had their DNA sample taken and collected among other felonies such as pedophile etc.
Teguh Iman asked whether a gay person should reach AlanTuring’s level just to be accepted as a gay person, the discussion answered that question but all I have in my mind was “we need a new plague”.
How can someone be criminalized because of love? Just because your religion said so?
Well fuck you and fuck your religion too!!!
.
The Fox Exploits the Tiger's might
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| Paul and Kyo, director of Parts of the hearts |
The first week of the month, April 3, 2015, Kineforum celebrated yet another misbar, it’s an acronym for gerimis bubar or in a better lack of translation would be when it rains it ends. The event will be held from 3rd to 26th of April. The first day of the opening played Suci sang Primadona directed by Arifin C Noer, the second movie Parts of the heart directed by Paul Agusta, and the last show of the day on 19.30 PM played two movies; The fox exploits the tiger’s might directed by Lucky Kuswandi and the movie Kisah Cinta yang asu directed by Yosep Anggi Noen.
I did my research before I attended the screening on the fox exploits the tiger’s might, it is a Chinese folktale on a fox that was going to be eaten by a tiger, then the fox claimed that he was mighty and fierce that the tiger should not eat him, as a demonstration he took the tiger to a nearby village which the villagers flee but not because they were afraid of the fox but merely on who was walking behind the him. The story tells us about a stolen power, how someone can take advantage of it.
The Fox exploits the Tiger’s might:
The movie was opened with a jerkoff session scene by Aseng, a teenage something with a raging hormone and probably still questioning on his sexual identity. The movie tells us that it take place in a military town involving a Chinese family struggling with the military oppression, they need to pay an amount of money just to continue to run on their business. As the movie continues I stumbled upon several bias scenes, the way Aseng looked on the army men training whether they fascinate him in a sexual way or they build a killing emotion towards them, and another scene where David had a sex fantasy with Aseng which involved Eva Arnaz, a sex bomb in the 80s, how it portrayed Aseng’s desire to put his dick on David’s ass and also to take turns on pleasuring them self with Eva.
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| Q&A session |
Kisah Cinta yang Asu:
A lot of foul words were spitted along the movie like asu (dog) or bajingan (bastard), I was hail from Jogjakarta where this film was taken but grew up in Jakarta, I don’t know in what level is this foulness can be tolerated by the Jakartensis but for me it’s pretty gruesome. The movie tells us the story about a prostitute and a biker riding an RX King, and his name is Erik King, meet up and fondling each other, I don’t really understand the story line of this movie – I just completely loss – but it ends up with the prostitute burning her boyfriend’s bike.
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Monday, August 06, 2012
Lipstik and Cinta itu Budi
This is the second week (4/8/2012) that Ourvoice played a movie about LGBT in Ramadhan hence last week, Saturday (28/07/2012) played a movie about gays and lesbians in the eyes of Islam in ‘Jihad for love’ thus this week Ourvoice not only played one, but two movies. “Lipstik” about the life of a transgender living in the society with a foster son named Kekah who brought up religiously and started to questioned the proportion of his faith for having a transgender parent and the second movie is a documentary “Cinta itu Budi” about Cinta, a transgender who is uniquely stand out from any transgender in majority, without having a blush of makeup nor high heels but she epitomized the word beautiful in her own way, the documentary vividly tells her story from her friend’s opinion, and her life as a faithful Muslim yet living as a transgender.
Ourvoice invited three speakers for discussing the movie after breaking the fast, the first speaker is Jen Katleya, a faithful devotee of Muslim, a hijab-wearer transgender from Bogor, the second one is Dewi Nova, a poet, a writer, and the founder of Perempuan Berbagi, last but not least Lia Toriana, graduated from University of Indonesia majoring in political science.
Jen shared her opinion about the movie “Lipstik” that Muslim scholars provoked his mass to act anarchist which is not entitled in Islam which claims that the religion brings grace that God is all gracious and merciful. She criticized a part of the movie when a Muslim scholar mentioned that God created day and night, black and white, male and female thus transgender is against nature, “then who who created the transgender if not God himself? and in between day and night there are dusk and dawn, between black and white there are grey and other color gradation” said Jen.
In terms of ‘against nature’, Jen wittily asked why women who have pale lips colorized them with lipstick, “so to speak, circumcision is also against nature” added Jen.
The second speaker, Dewi Nova, enlightens the participants about gender, that sexuality is constructive, can be molded, and attached to hierarchy. How the religious interpretation on transgender will show us that it has a strong dependence on politics, religion, and economics, “thus it will put us to a place where gender is liquid” explained Dewi.
According to Dewi sexuality is uncategorized but we must understand the meaning of political identity therefore the government will know what are the needs for gay, lesbian and transgender.
The last speaker Lia explained the audience about ‘politics or the politicization of the body’, similar with gender our body also influenced by politics, and determined what is good and bad, and constructed how we look on what is beautiful.
“Beauty is painful” according to Josep, a thirty something gay man from Bogor, after he saw a picture of a woman wearing high heels with veins popping out from her legs.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” explained Djohan, 27, according to him beauty only exist in the minds of people who valued beauty which are differ from people to people.
On the last session, Diana, one of the audience shared a story how people in some part of Indonesia are powerless against this type of politics, “it is excruciatingly painful to see a woman on the edge of death but prohibited to have a blood transfusion because they said it is haram or illegitimate, it is our body and we have every rights on every inch of it” said Diana.
Discrimination on sexuality and gender are systematic, every elements are linked due in today’s political condition the transgender are the most vulnerable because they are easily seen from their appearance but what was seen does not represents the true form of reality, a couple of transgender standing in the pitch dark of night living as a sex worker does not purportedly means all transgender are sex workers, some works in a beauty parlor, while some will do anything to stay survive. It will be a different story if they were given the chance to work in the formal sector, the governments are obligated to wipe out the prejudice as written on the constitution that every citizen has the right to obtain a decent education and a decent job, after all the transgender are also a tax payer.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
... Because After 64 Years
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| John and Lou in Beirut, 1952, and in 2006. (Photo: Courtesy of Lou Halsey and John Morgan) |
When the Columbia Library closed each night at ten, it was the custom of John Spofford Morgan, who was studying for a master’s in international affairs, to hop on the subway and head downtown to the New Verdi on West 72nd. Back then, there were two kinds of bars for gay men, he says: pickup joints and old-friends joints. The New Verdi was the latter, but it turned into the former when at around 10:30 on May 17, 1947, Louis Halsey walked in. “Love at first sight,” says Lou now. “Was it?” John wonders. “For me it was slower.” In any case, Lou and John spent the night together, just as they have spent most nights in the 64 years ensuing. Last month, they got married.
John is 94, recovering from a broken hip but otherwise as hale and handsome as Lou, 88, says he always was. One snapshot shows the pair on a beach in Beirut in 1952. Lou looks like Tony Curtis, glossy and pompadoured. John looks like JFK except, as his mother used to complain when people compared their families, “we have chins.”
Both served in the Navy in World War II, but on different oceans, as in a way they were from different worlds on land. John, who still speaks in the accent of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century elite, worked as an economist. Lou, of Hungarian-immigrant stock, cut hair for decades at the Westbury Hotel. He wears rings and bright colors; John emphatically doesn’t.
But being gay was a great equalizer then. And being married is a great equalizer now. “People say, ‘So if you’re married, where’s the certificate?’ ” Lou explains. “Now we have it.” The pair ignored domestic partnership when it came along (“A halfway step,” says John), and since they had already invested in the complicated legal work-arounds—trusts, powers of attorney—needed to protect one another, they didn’t see the point of claiming marriage rights in, say, Iowa. But when the law passed here in June, they knew they would take the step. “Just to see it in black and white,” says Lou. For John, “it was more like finishing something.”
The small ceremony, with a minister and three witnesses, was held in their Village apartment on November 11, a date they chose because they have for years noticed the time 11:11 on the clock by the bed. They did not exchange rings and got no gifts, “except bourbon!” Lou says. “But he”—he waves at John—“started to cry.”
“Did I?” John wonders.
Source
Saturday, October 22, 2011
All the good guys are taken
It was rainy and I still remember how it felt like that day. Cold and lonely with a little pint of warmth hence the shiver drove through but I was smiling, a crazy sense of indescribable expectation, I was on a date, not just a date, it was my second date.
The sidewalk was packed with wet pedestrians, people getting off from their cars and the valet parking guy storming out with big size umbrellas. I was sitting in the bar waiting for you looking out on the window watching people who got caught up in the rain, I was hoping to have a romantic song in the background but my head kept on playing tom’s diner by susanne vega.
It was my third glass of coke when the bartender asked me if I want another one, alas I said yes, I’ve been sitting there for two hours, while he winked he added a little bit of rum to my glass. Tell me Mr. Bartender how many times have you seen someone waiting for his date to come but didn’t show up? He smiled and told me to go home.
The rum kicked in and the anger builds up so I called him instead.
No response
Then a text hits me back
“I’m sorry but my wife is here, she wants me to stay with her”
Sigh…
Thursday, October 20, 2011
My deepest condolences
In loving memory of Chiphet’s mother passed away on sat 15 Oct 2011 18.40
The funny thing is, through all these years I’m hanging out in your place, I never know your mother’s name, for me she’s just a sweet and loving ‘tante’.
My deepest condolences :’(
Sunday, January 23, 2011
the perfect man
Josh made a comment about the pic above which i used it as my profile pic in facebook.
"the perfect man has a smile like this"
It's hard to believe that the perfection isn't human,
while we lurks over battlefield of love in a club or dating sites we only get a 5 minutes whoopie.
*
Saturday night, I'm all alone in my room again, too tired to go out and stuck in the middle of my marathon moviez about a ninja, how to lose a guy in 10 days, friends, and ice age. Just a random pick.
a buzz telling a text message coming in from my cellies. I'm still using cellies, yes I'm weird I dont like crackberries the same thing with gay dating shit due I refused an invitation to go to club from a friend, I don't really like noisy places. you told me about the cute guys there, pick one and ready to go. No thanks but I already had my random pick today. *smiling* Two gays two different worlds.
I can vividly picture this in my mind,
you, drinking your beer moving to the rhythm of the beat, and flirt to this really cute guy wearing a white t shirt.
me, holding my pillow watching crappy movies.
you, walking tipsy on your way to his place for a crazy night in a lala land.
me, in bed alone jerking off watching porn.
in the morning we got up and thinking we're happy and all right with our life.
you, sitting on his bed with a hangover and a tad of pain on your ass.
me, eating my sandwich and coffee watching a cute jogger running with his dog and thinking about having one of my own.
while you still digging over piles of clothes looking for your underwear, i'm sober enough to think that our life sucks. maybe i'm just lazy, too lazy to find the right one, and if josh was right that the perfect man has a smile like that is a teddy bear well i'm too lazy to go to toys r us.
confession made, i'm just butt lazy.
good night folks.
Friday, January 21, 2011
My January 2011
In my cold and damp room I sat there thinking about the trilling year I had in 2010.
A lot of things changed, I like tea then I need my daily caffeine boost just to stay awake in the office, and now I’m here with a can of root beer.
I know it’s kinda late to talk about this but hey, let’s talk about my New Year resolution; don’t have one.
I’m still focusing on my last year resolution, to be more honest with myself, for all the people who let me down and use me in an unmentionable way, so brutal that it leaves a scar in my heart.
I’ve been telling myself to write an email to them and tell them how I feel, I didn’t do it.
I don’t know why, though I’m sure they don’t give a shit so why bother.
*
The company that I work for is changing into a concentration camp, I gave my yearly financial statements report and just realized that the boss wants the company profitless. While we confront him he told us that it’s not our problem to think about the profit all we have to do is make more revenues. What do you think we are, a five year old?
He’s avoiding tax; smart. But a company without a heart and treat the employees like slaves; insane.
i think it's a lot more reasonable to use the profit in a form of a bonus or increasing the salary instead of buying expensive furniture (for his wife).
i think it's a lot more reasonable to use the profit in a form of a bonus or increasing the salary instead of buying expensive furniture (for his wife).
*
I was chatting with my friend on facebook early on and told me that two of my friends are resigning, and he too is thinking about moving to a new place. I’ve been working here for more than two years now, the place sucks but the team is great. I couldn’t find any other place that I can easily come out as a gay person and they accept me with an open heart. They are more than a family.
I can still feel the goosebumps on my shoulder running through my arms.
I’m thinking about pursuing another career in Bali or moving back to Jakarta.
I love my friends
And now I’m scared
Thursday, June 24, 2010
flood
So there I was on a coffee break, chatting with some friends.
my fellow nicotine junkiest that is.
in a fire escape on the16th floor
under the no smoking sign, no wait.
that would be,
under the 1000 bucks fine sign board.
So hows hour holiday?
pretty okay, why?
boy you sure missed a lot of things
like what?
and a riot of laughter fills the air.
Orchard got fucked
my fellow nicotine junkiest that is.
in a fire escape on the16th floor
under the no smoking sign, no wait.
that would be,
under the 1000 bucks fine sign board.
So hows hour holiday?
pretty okay, why?
boy you sure missed a lot of things
like what?
and a riot of laughter fills the air.
Orchard got fucked
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
feel and be
I am the light who dwells in the night,
i am the darkness that traps in daylight madness.
i am a Saint and Satan and something in between.
I am the pain of penetration yet i am the pleasure of orgasmic ejaculation.
i am the maple leaf that turns redishing and i am the seedling green sprout of spring.
i dont know who i am and what ive became.
it is love, i simply feel and be.
Bali, June 19th 01.
i am the darkness that traps in daylight madness.
i am a Saint and Satan and something in between.
I am the pain of penetration yet i am the pleasure of orgasmic ejaculation.
i am the maple leaf that turns redishing and i am the seedling green sprout of spring.
i dont know who i am and what ive became.
it is love, i simply feel and be.
Bali, June 19th 01.
Our changes
During my first week assignment in Singapore I was living in hell, everything moved so damn fast on this island. I woke up early automatically, even way early than my roommate from swiss the country of punctuality. Take the bus at 7:30 hit to queenstown alight at tanjung pagar then walk to my office lunch at 2 dinner at 7 then went home at 9 if I’m lucky. A lot different from my previous life, change a lot.
During these days a friend of mine said goodbye to me. A very good friend indeed, we went to the same junior and senior high together, bad boys for life. From this insensitive heart of mine I thought it was just another holiday. He went to china for a few days of getaway. And that was it. Our last conversation, I hope I’m wrong.
During those growing up process between watching porn and chemistry lab we are unseparatable, we talked till late at night in a mosque watching the men raised their sarongs during their wudlu, then giggled just by watching their fuzzy hairs on their legs, yeah I know it’s silly.
Time flies as the notorious metro mini altered into somewhat more sophisticated. Nasi uduk altered into a cup of coffee and a bun of Danish roll. People change?
Changes derive from many factors, friends, family, lifestyle, or even boredom?
Endless text messages and emails with no reply, silent over me while you gladly greet your friends on countless social network -well just a few. New life new friends everythings new, i hardly recognize you. Our works stole our time, but not our soul? Lifestyle differ from the past, who am i kidding with?
If you asked me, I would love to eat meatballs again in jl. Pramuka, and I can still have nasi uduk in Singapore although they call it nasi lemak. Do we need to change?
I was viewing the construction site across aljunied where the Indian guys were sweaty and yummy doing the site. I smiled, thinking that you might enjoy this view. Facebook is on, as I scroll down your uploaded pictures and carefully read your friend’s comments on your trip to south Africa watching the world cup.
We got separated miles away but it’s not my fault, obviously you got a bigger pay slip than me but I’m not complaining. We have new friends but don’t you miss me?
We don’t have to change, and I don’t wanna change. So what’s your excuse?
During these days a friend of mine said goodbye to me. A very good friend indeed, we went to the same junior and senior high together, bad boys for life. From this insensitive heart of mine I thought it was just another holiday. He went to china for a few days of getaway. And that was it. Our last conversation, I hope I’m wrong.
During those growing up process between watching porn and chemistry lab we are unseparatable, we talked till late at night in a mosque watching the men raised their sarongs during their wudlu, then giggled just by watching their fuzzy hairs on their legs, yeah I know it’s silly.
Time flies as the notorious metro mini altered into somewhat more sophisticated. Nasi uduk altered into a cup of coffee and a bun of Danish roll. People change?
Changes derive from many factors, friends, family, lifestyle, or even boredom?
Endless text messages and emails with no reply, silent over me while you gladly greet your friends on countless social network -well just a few. New life new friends everythings new, i hardly recognize you. Our works stole our time, but not our soul? Lifestyle differ from the past, who am i kidding with?
If you asked me, I would love to eat meatballs again in jl. Pramuka, and I can still have nasi uduk in Singapore although they call it nasi lemak. Do we need to change?
I was viewing the construction site across aljunied where the Indian guys were sweaty and yummy doing the site. I smiled, thinking that you might enjoy this view. Facebook is on, as I scroll down your uploaded pictures and carefully read your friend’s comments on your trip to south Africa watching the world cup.
We don’t have to change, and I don’t wanna change. So what’s your excuse?
Monday, June 14, 2010
miss home
Saturday, May 22, 2010
A tale of Shade of Grays
I met the most adorable couple today. Peter and George. They’ve been together for 47 years. George is in a wheelchair. Peter takes care of him. He cooks for him, cuts his steak for him. He helps him up the stairs.
They’re still in love. Not like all over each other in love. Old people in love. The way you finish each other’s sentences in love. The way you tease each other in love. The way you roll your eyes at each other in love.
I was introduced to George and Peter through my friend Justin. Justin’s my hairdresser. He’s straight. He’s been my hairdresser for 16 years. Really. My brother took me to Justin’s for my 18th birthday. I’m 34 now. Almost 35. I guess that means I know Justin almost 17 years. That’s a long time.
I love Justin. He’s family. Justin loves me too. Says I’m special. I don’t think I’m special, though it’s nice to hear.
Anyway. Back to George and Peter. They invited Justin and me to brunch at the Lowell Hotel. Have you ever been to the Lowell Hotel? It’s up on 63rd and Madison. It’s beautiful. Old. Classy. Foie gras and caviar kind of classy. Beluga. I actually had the foie gras. It was amazing. Like butter. Didn’t have the Beluga. Fish eggs. Yuck.
We went on a walk after brunch. Me, Justin, Peter, George. Justin pushed George’s wheelchair. I walked along with Peter. We walked and walked and walked. We walked until we stepped right into the Central Park Zoo. We saw seals. Polar bears too. Then we sat on a bench, watched people go by. We watched and watched and watched and watched. It was one of those perfect days. Sunny, clear, like God was in a good mood. We sat there watching. We watched until Peter said it was time for George to take a nap.
Justin, me, Peter, George then walked back to their apartment, helped George up the stairs. Wheelchair was heavy. I wondered how Peter and George manage when Justin’s not around. I said my good-byes, then took the E-train back to Chelsea.
On the train, I turned on my ipod. Then smiled all the way back home.
I met the cutest couple today. 47 years. Perfect. Like God was in a good mood.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
If tomorrow starts without me
with Frank Sinatra tuning in the background singing I did it my way
and David Romano's stuff to be read before they take me 6 feet under
If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you care for me, and how much I care for you,
And each time that you think of me you know I miss you too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
For all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do.
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you.
I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had it's through.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for a while,
I'd say goodbye and hug you and maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized that this could never be,
For emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow.
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.
So if tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me, please know you’re in my heart.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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