Author Herlina brings taboo issue out of the closet in debut novel

Author Herlina brings taboo issue out of the closet in debut novel

Jock Paul, Contributor, Jakarta

A mere 21 years of age, bespectacled and wearing an Islamic
headscarf, Herlina Tien Suhesti seems an unlikely figure to
emerge as a champion of the gay community.

At a recent seminar in Purwokerto, Central Java, on
discrimination against gays, lesbians and transsexuals in the
Marriage Law, many of those in attendance were eager to meet the
author of Garis Tepi Seorang Lesbian (The Margin of a Lesbian).

The novel, a story of two young women battling social
condemnation of their relationship, has done well; the first
print of 3,000 copies sold quickly, and publisher Galang Press
did a second print run only two weeks later.

It's not the first novel in recent years to deal with
homosexuality in Indonesian society. Singer-author Dewi Lestari's
Supernova had at its core the relationship between two male
lovers, and made the crossover from a "gay" novel to a mainstream
publishing success, selling more than 50,000 copies.

Nevertheless, a nonsensational approach to a relationship
between women is quite unusual.

Although progress may have been made in acceptance of gays in
urban areas like Jakarta and Surabaya, for many Indonesians
homosexuality remains a taboo, especially because of religious
sanctions against the lifestyle.

Many gays and lesbians are forced to live a lie, hiding their
sexual preference from family, coworkers and the community around
them. But the problems faced by gays, lesbians and transsexuals
are not necessarily the same -- with women, for example, they
must also confront sexism and the pervasive disregard in
Indonesian culture for female sexuality.

Of course, the inevitable speculation is that the work is a
cry from the heart, a thinly veiled autobiography of the young
author herself.

Herlina says that she is not a lesbian, and she is now used to
defending herself against the argument that she could not have
written a work about something so foreign to her life.

She is not shy to admit that before coming to Yogyakarta, she
knew nothing about the gay and lesbian communities. Herlina was
born and raised in Ngawi, a small town in East Java, where the
importance of family and Islam were instilled in her.

But after she arrived in the city to study Indonesian and art
at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Herlina said she got to know
lesbians -- and most importantly, grew to understand the
discrimination they face.

"I write from what I observe," she said. "And I spent a lot of
time observing, hanging out with and learning about lesbians."

A lot of the discrimination comes from misunderstanding or
ignorance, she said, pointing to her own attitude when growing up
in Ngawi.

Having become more interested in the lesbian community,
Herlina spent the past year attending workshops and support
groups for the community, and used the insight and research she
gathered to write a few short stories about lesbians.

In March, she submitted an anthology of short stories
featuring lesbian characters to Galang. The publisher liked her
writing, but did not want to publish a collection of short
stories, and offered Herlina the opportunity to write a book.

Before the book hit the shelves, Herlina had to warn her
parents.

"I am lucky that my parents are quite open-minded and
supportive," Herlina said.

Dede Oetomo, a professor at Airlangga University in Surabaya,
and the country's leading gay rights advocate, said that the
success of the book, and the fact it was written by a young
Muslim woman, were both positive signs that lesbians were
becoming more accepted and more visible in society.

Herlina said that she drew on her observations of people,
situations and relationships to gather writing material.

"Writing has always allowed me to express what I was feeling
and what I was learning and thinking," she said.

"And in this case, it has allowed me to make people -- readers
-- better understand lesbians."

She now wants her writing to reach as many people as possible.

"I am not concerned with making money or royalties, but I do
want people to read my writing, that is what is important to me,"
she said.

The speed at which Herlina wrote her first novel is as
impressive as its initial success.

She completed her novel in five days and four nights,
forsaking sleep and only taking breaks to pray, shower and drink
tea.

"I just got in the right mood and did not want to stop," she
said.

In the end, fatigue did catch up with her. Herlina was sick
the day after finishing the book, and spent the next week in bed.

Her unorthodox writing method seems to have worked. Along with
the initial success of the novel, she already has an established
publisher, whose name she will not disclose, that wants her to
write a sequel.

She knows that many people will continue to point out the
seeming conflict presented by her devout Muslim faith and her
support of a lifestyle condemned by most major religions.

"I want people to read this book and know that this is normal,
and this is what lesbians are like. If somebody reads this book
and it does not change their opinion, I'll be disappointed."