Luh De Suriyani, Denpasar – Dozens of National Education University (Undiknas) students have called on the public and the local government to end discrimination against the transgendered community in Bali.
The students expressed their support for the transgendered community at a weekend seminar on the topic.
"We are seeking to understand more about legal rights abuses against transgendered groups in Bali to see what we can do to support them, including to get formal jobs," said Yoga Cahyadi from the student executive board.
Transgendered activitist Sofie said transgendered people faced difficulties working in the formal sector and getting married.
Sofie said she felt lucky to be able to live and work in Bali, having joined a transgender community group and receiving support from her family, while many of her friends were forced into sex work as they had few job opportunities in the formal sector. They were often accused of faking their identity, she added.
"I don't know how a transgendered person could find a job without being accused of faking their identity. We want to be accepted just the way we are. People shouldn't force us to cut our hair or wear men's pants," said Sofie, who said she was aware that she was different since elementary school. She said she told her family about her identity when she was in high school.
Christian Supriyadinata, chair of the Gaya Dewata foundation, told the Undiknas students about sexually transmitted diseases, symptoms of HIV infection and shared his 10-year experience as the companion of people living with HIV/AIDS in Bali.
Christian, who also coordinates counselors in Bali, said many cases of HIV/AIDS were left unrecorded because patients were reluctant to have checkups or to admit their status.
The latest data from the Bali Health Agency showed 80 percent of HIV/AIDS patients were between 15 to 40 years of age. From 1987 until April of this year, there were 4,399 reported cases of HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that the actual number could be 7,000.
"Being faithful and abstinent might be difficult for teens nowadays. They have to understand the risks and how to prevent themselves from getting infected," Christian said.
The Gaya Dewata Foundation helped 325 transgendered individuals and 1,684 homosexuals in 2010. Out of 44 transgendered people tested for HIV, five were positive. Out of 313 homosexuals tested for HIV, 28 received positive results.