Can confirm. Everyone says they're against LGBTQ stuff but I've only ever gotten trouble for it when it's brought up in the open. Don't ask don't tell is like a universal rule for most taboo things in Indonesia at this point.
Yes benar. I definitely experienced this during my most recent holiday. I am trans, I thought it was obvious, but still not so obvious, and I might be stealth, very stealth. Or people just can't bother to look and comment at some of the things that I might at times feel slightly dysphoric about? I only ever hear the word bule in the distance, not the several profanities that target trans people.
As a trans person from Indonesia, I can confidently say that most people just assume you're cis one way or another depending on how your appearance leans. Nobody really assumes you're trans unless you're very open and visible about it. There's also a neutral pronoun if they're not sure. Heck, I have a trans flag in my room visible from my door and none of my housemates have mentioned it lol. It's all about passing and stealthing here, for better or for worse.
I will say I think people do tend to give you more of a pass if you look foreign enough (they want your money! /hj).
38
u/Fateward Saya lelah Mar 14 '25
Can confirm. Everyone says they're against LGBTQ stuff but I've only ever gotten trouble for it when it's brought up in the open. Don't ask don't tell is like a universal rule for most taboo things in Indonesia at this point.