Lip-sync contest for transvestites<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): What a stage! Whitney Houston, Diana Ross,
\nConnie Francis, Celine Dion and some local dangdut singers,
\nincluding Cici Paramida, shared a stage, performing their best.
\nBut halt! They were all fakes. It was a lipsync contest for
\ntransvestites.<\/p>\n
This is the second of such contests, dubbed Pentas Sejuta
\nBintang or Stage of Million of Stars. Dozens of gorgeous
\ntransvestites -- they look more attractive that the average woman
\n-- took part in the event, held at New Stardust 2001 Disco and
\nBar, at Sarinah building on Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"The event has become something 'sacred' for the
\ntransvestites," said Iwan of Is&I Club, the organizer. "They can
\nperform and feel that they have somehow been recognized by the
\npublic," he said.<\/p>\n
Some 40 transvestites were expected to participate in this
\nyear's contest.<\/p>\n
Last year's contest attracted some 30 participants and was
\nheld at the less prestigious Moonlight Disco in the capital's
\nChinatown. Unlike several other nightspots in the city, which
\nhave predominantly gay visitors only on certain nights, every
\nnight is a gay night at Moonlight Disco.<\/p>\n
"We found Stardust to be much better. We're also very glad
\nthat Stardust provides Rp 6 million in prizes," he said.<\/p>\n
"We are specializing in entertainment for the transvestite and
\ngay community. The market is suggesting, as I understand it, that
\ntransvestites and the gay community in general, everywhere, are
\nspending more for entertainment," he said.<\/p>\n
The contest is held in five weekly sessions this month. The
\nfirst three sessions are selection stages. The final is on this
\ncoming Thursday.<\/p>\n
"Every Thursday in June has been dedicated to the
\ntransvestites," said Iwan.<\/p>\n
He said that in the first session, only four transvestites
\nparticipated. The number doubled in the second and third weeks.<\/p>\n
"There's no promotion for the contest. Just like gossip, it is
\nspread from mouth to mouth. But we're convinced that the event
\nwill be even more successful," he said.<\/p>\n
Iwan, who is planning to hold other contests like Miss
\nTransvestite, said that transvestites have it in their nature to
\nshow off. "They want to show what they have, particularly their
\nbeauty," he said.<\/p>\n
And the response of the audience is encouraging.<\/p>\n
Stardust's manager Samsyuddin agreed that the event was
\nexpected to grab more guests.<\/p>\n
He said that some 300 guests came to the club every Thursday
\nnight when the contest was held.<\/p>\n
"Usually less people come here, except on Friday night," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Stardust includes a restaurant, disco and karaoke. Disco time
\nusually starts at 10 p.m. until late. Most of the guests on
\nThursday night are of the gay community.<\/p>\n
During the lipsync contest, the juries judge the participants'
\nperformance, lipsyncing skills, dress and spirit in determining
\nthe model singer.<\/p>\n
Most participants tried their best to perform well.<\/p>\n
Take Monica, 28, who performed Celine Dion's The Power of Love
\nduring a session. She dressed just like the real singer and
\nperformed in very high spirits.<\/p>\n
She told The Jakarta Post that she took part in the event
\nbecause it was a rare chance for transvestites to "go public".<\/p>\n
"It's a good event. Transvestites like me can express
\nourselves freely and we feel that the public acknowledges us,"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
She admitted that most people still label transvestites as
\nweird, unwanted creatures.<\/p>\n
"But here we are. Believe it or not, we do exist. I have to
\nadmit that in many ways, public treatment of us depends on
\nourselves. I mean, how we act and behave will cause reactions. So
\nthrough such an event like this contest, we have the chance to
\nshow that we have skills. Not just at being prostitutes as people
\nknow," she said.<\/p>\n
There's been a social destructiveness against transvestites.
\nIn many societies, people express fear and apprehension when
\ntalking about transvestites.<\/p>\n
Many transvestites, meanwhile, must suppress their desire to
\ndress like a girl or to play with girls, and to avoid the company
\nand games of boys. Often, their parents pressure them to do what
\nfeels wrong for them and does not fit with their image of
\nthemselves. As transvestites, or confused children at an earlier
\nstage, have a hard time fitting in, they often become isolated
\nand many are loners who suffer from depression.<\/p>\n
It's common to hear about transvestites being undermined,
\nbeaten, and, most of the time, ostracized by family and friends.
\nDiscrimination against them also occurs in greater society.<\/p>\n
Transvestites are people whose self perception does not match
\ntheir physical bodies. Many people mistakenly believe
\ntransvestites are gay, but transsexualism is not about sexual
\norientation; it's about gender identity.<\/p>\n
Sexologist Boyke Dian Nugraha said that the simplest way to
\ndefine transvestites is as a woman who's trapped in a male body.<\/p>\n
"Who they are inside does not match who they are physically,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
There are a number of categories in transgenderism or people
\nwho are gender dysphoric. A transsexual is a person whose sexual
\nidentification is entirely with the opposite sex; or a person who
\nhas undergone or about to undergo a sex change operation. A
\ntransvestite is someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual
\nrole of the opposite sex. A cross dresser is also someone who
\nadopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex.<\/p>\n
Most Indonesians first heard of transsexualism in 1973, when a
\nman named Iwan Rubianto traveled to Singapore for a sex-change
\noperation. After the surgery, Iwan took the name Vivian
\nRubiyanti.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lip-sync-contest-for-transvestites-1447893297",
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