Surabaya – A Transparent Evening Dress Competition which should have been held in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday November 24 has been abruptly cancelled. The cancellation has been confirmed directly by the Royal Plaza management and the organisers.
Royal Plaza Surabaya General Manager Vicky Ratih confirmed that the event should have been held at her venue but was definitely cancelled.
"The event should [have been held] on November 24, next week [but] has been cancelled", said Ratih when sought for confirmation by CNN Indonesia on Monday November 21.
Ratih however was reluctant to explain the reason for the cancellation and claimed that she was unable to provide any further explanation.
"Sorry, we can't provide much of an explanation, because we don't want this to become a polemic and instead publicise the presence of trans women itself", she said.
One of the organisers whose name and phone number was included in the poster advertising the event, Charla, also said that the event was cancelled. They also said that they were no longer part of the organising committee.
"I'm no longer on the committee. Because the event was totally cancelled, thank you", said Charla when contacted via an SMS message.
Earlier, the East Java United Islamic Community Movement (GUIB) expressed its opposition to the event saying that it promoted sin. This was conveyed by East Java GUIB Secretary General Mohammad Yunus who said that the competition must be closed down.
"The organisation of this competition has the potential to give rise to social desease which will impact on the spread of sin, undeniably it could become a basis for the distribution of narcotics and other illegal drugs, drinking alcohol, gambling, sexual deviation, hidden prostituting, the promotion of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and other immoral behaviours", said Yunus through a written release sent to CNN Indonesia. (frd/isn)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was " Kontes Busana Transpuan Batal Digelar usai Diprotes Keras Ormas Islam".]