Transsexuals enhance AIDS awareness<\/p>\n
By Sulistyo Budi N<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Every city has its hangouts for transsexuals,
\nwhere they can be seen sauntering along the street or waiting in
\ndark parks late at night, often dressed up in garish, in-your-
\nface attire.<\/p>\n
Marginalized and often the object of public ridicule, many
\ntranssexuals (although most have not had a sex change operation,
\nthey identify themselves as transsexuals) are forced to earn a
\nliving through prostitution, with a large number either ignorant
\nof the danger of HIV\/AIDS or choosing to overlook it.<\/p>\n
In order to reverse this trend, a group of transsexuals in
\nYogyakarta have taken action by establishing Pawama, a group
\nintended to educate others about the dangers of unprotected sex.<\/p>\n
Established in 1994, the group is led by Vinolia, also a
\ntranssexual. She has also joined the Lentera Sahaja AIDS
\neducation program run by the Yogyakarta chapter of the Indonesian
\nPlanned Parenthood Association (PKBI).<\/p>\n
Vinolia and her colleagues use the peer counseling approach,
\nvisiting the haunts of transsexuals to explain safe sex practices
\nand the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.<\/p>\n
Vinolia, 40, who prefers not to use her real name, first
\nrealized the dangers of HIV in this country in 1993. Students in
\nthe School of Medicine at Gadjah Mada University had already
\nreported that it was marginalized groups, including prostitutes,
\nwho were at high risk of contracting HIV, which leads to AIDS.<\/p>\n
Lentera Sahaja convinced Vinolia of the risks.<\/p>\n
\"The targets include groups such as transvestites, gays and
\nsex workers,\" Vinolia said.<\/p>\n
\"People working in the field at that time met with me and --
\nas I don't want the public to have a negative image of the world
\nof transsexuals -- I made up my mind, at my own initiative, to
\njoin them as a volunteer. I have been warmly welcomed.\"<\/p>\n
The director of the family planning association chapter,
\nKusminari, is delighted by the efforts of transsexuals to make
\nothers aware of the consequences of promiscuous sex, particularly
\nin Yogyakarta, which is the country's second-largest tourist
\ndestination after Bali.<\/p>\n
\"I can convey the most basic information to the clients,\"
\nVinolia said of the group, which now includes 250 transsexuals.<\/p>\n
\"They have now changed their habits; before they never used
\n'caps' (condoms) during sexual intercourse, but now they have
\nstarted telling their customers to use one.\"<\/p>\n
She added that many transsexuals were now no longer reluctant
\nto have regular medical checkups.<\/p>\n
However, it is not an easy job. Members of Pawama have been
\nsubjected to verbal and physical abuse by homophobes, or those
\nwho see their efforts as \"meddling\" in the lives of others.
\nSeveral years ago they were harassed and chased along Jl. Kapas,
\nnear the district court office, by a group of people dressed in
\n\"ninja\" clothing.<\/p>\n
PKBI's coordinator of transsexual advocacy Wuwun Widiawati
\nsaid that in recent months there have been more reports of social
\nand psychological abuse of transsexuals.<\/p>\n
Wuwun also mentioned several incidents involving armed
\npersonnel that have occurred around Bank Indonesia on Jl. P
\nMangkubumi, the North Square on Jl. Abu Bakar and near the
\nMadukismo sugar factory. Some transsexuals have been beaten up
\nand the target of hit and run attacks by people on motorbikes,
\nWuwun added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/transsexuals-enhance-aids-awareness-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}