Caring for Queer Rights in Indonesia and Beyond
Community, Care, and Transnational Solidarity
Workshop with Kamilia Manaf and Ferdiansyah Thajib
As conservative and authoritarian forces gain strength globally, spaces for queer activism in Indonesia are shrinking. While queer lives face increasing criminalization, crucial international funders are withdrawing support. At the same time, queer people—like other marginalized Indonesians—face the daily challenge of securing a livelihood. Family support often comes at the cost of self-repression and invisibility. In this context, queer communities become vital networks of care, though greater visibility too often leads to persecution.
In this workshop, we invite you to join in to discuss queer community building, community care, and transnational solidarity. Kamilia Manaf will share insights from more than 20 years in the Indonesian LBQT movement, as reflected in her essay-memoir Kongkow Lez—a film club and discussion group for lesbians, bisexuals, trans* and queer people (LBTQ) in Jakarta in 2007/2008. Ferdiansyah Thajib will reflect on queer practices of care from across the Indonesian archipelago.
Looking beyond Indonesia, we want to explore the conditions, challenges, and limits of care as a political practice, while investigating sustainable strategies on how to sustain queer life, strengthen LGBTQ+ communities, and advance queer rights.
Join us after the workshop for a nurturing get-together over some Indonesian snacks.