Surat Terbuka kepada Radio Buku atas Pernyataan Diskriminatif

Perihal: Pernyataan diskriminatif dan tidak etis yang telah dilakukan oleh Radio Buku.

Yth:

Radio Buku,

Pada tanggal 20 April 2013, sekitar jam 21:00, Radio Buku menulis status Twitter: Bagi yang jomblo dan orientasi sex kacau, mari kita rayakan malam minggu ini dengan filsafat #FilsafatKakiLima @ Noorazmy.

Pernyataan “Sexual Orientasi KACAU” adalah sebuah kata diskriminasi terhadap hak Seksual Orientasi, Identitas Gender serta Ekspresi Gender.

Lebih mengejutkan adalah reaksi dari Admin Radio Buku yang menjawab dengan kalimat “Ato kamu merasa terdiskriminasi? Syukur deh :p” *pernyataan lengkap di Twitter terlampir di surat ini

Jawaban tersebut sudah mengarah kepada cyber bullying karena sebagai sebuah Akun Radio Buku yang notaben adalah sebuah gerakan kesadaran masyarakat dengan motto “Mendengarkan Buku, Membuka Cakrawala”, reaksi yang terjadi bukanlah sebuah pencerahan cakrawala tapi sebuah tindakan yang tidak etis dan cyber homophobia bullying.

Saya sebagai seorang pecinta buku dan filsafat sangat memahami dan mendukung motto dari Radio Buku, tapi tidak dengan tindakan diskriminatif dan tidak etis yang dilakukan melalui pernyataan “Orientasi Seksual Kacau” dan jawaban respon dari Radio Buku.

ASEAN SOGI Caucus: We are ASEAN

Statement of the ASEAN SOGI Caucus regarding the recent ACSC/APF event in Brunei where certain sectors were prevented to join the civil society event. 

We, theASEAN SOGI Caucus[i] are deeplyoutraged and concerned by the decision of the National Organizing Committee(NOC) of Brunei Darussalam's to restrict discussions and limit civil societyspaces at the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ ASEAN People’s Forum 2013(ASCS/APF) for selective groups of people whose opinions and views are notaligned with the state's views, namely sexual orientation and gender identityand gender expression (SOGIE), sex work, sexual and reproductive health rights.

We aredisappointed that even in spaces that are meant to foster and uphold democracyand human rights principles by and for civil society organizations, specificsectors of society are being discriminated against and are restricted.

People of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity as well as sex workers and advocates of sexual and reproductive rights are banned and given conditions from organizing educational workshops that promote understanding and address the human rights violations that we are subjected to because of our identity and orientation.

Parliamentary petition to repeal 377A: not just any other petition

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/parliamentary-petition-to-repeal-377a-not-just-any-other-petition/

By Choo Zheng Xi

Published by The Online Citizen on October 12, 2007

In the most formal challenge to Singapore’s gay sex laws yet, Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Siew Kum Hong will be sponsoring a petition in Parliament calling for the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code. The petition was initiated by lawyer George Hwang and gay media company Fridae.com owner Dr Stuart Koe.

377A is the section of the Penal Code which prohibits “gross indecency” between men.

The petition calls for the repeal of 377A on the basis that it contravenes section 12 (1) of the Constitution.

Section 12 (1) states: “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law”.

The petition requests that Parliament ‘extend equal protection to all Singaporeans in respect of their private consensual sexual conduct, regardless of their sexual orientation’.

Section 377A Challenge Can Proceed: Court of Appeal

http://www.sayoni.com/lgbt-rights/2226-s377a-court-of-appeal

This article is by Indulekshmi Rajeswari, who was the head of M Ravi's legal team in the case.
Today was an absolutely historic day in the fight for LGBT rights in Singapore. The Court of Appeal decided to allow the constitutional challenge against s377A to go ahead, reversing the decision of the High Court.

At around 11am today, the Court of Appeal of Singapore released their decision regarding the hearing that took place almost a year ago, in 2011. I reported on the hearing back then, and it is useful reading for those who wish to know the background on this case.

In the 106-page judgment, the Court of Appeal explained their reasons. The reasons given are more or less consistent with the arguments of the Appellant, Tan Eng Hong. Primarily, the Court of Appeal opined the following:

Transgender people no longer considered "mentally ill" to American Psychiatric Association

By Kelly Craig

http://dot429.com

“Gender Identity Disorder” is now a term of the past as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, will be replacing the term with “Gender Dysphoria,” according to the Associated Press.

This change is a result of years of lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to change or remove the “mentally ill” characterization given to all who are transgender. Individuals may now be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria, “a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender.”

“All psychiatric diagnoses occur within a cultural context,” Jack Drescher, a New York psychiatrist and member of the APA subcommittee said. “We know there is a whole community of people out there who are not seeking medical attention and live between the two binary categories. We wanted to send the message that the therapist’s job isn’t to pathologize.”

The DSM manual’s change in this fifth edition is a huge step for the trans community, as they will no longer live under the label “disordered.” 

Unlikely Vietnam Considers Same-Sex Marriage

By MARGIE MASON Associated Press

HANOI, Vietnam July 29, 2012 (AP)

Dinh Thi Hong Loan grasps her girlfriend's hand, and the two gaze into each other's love-struck eyes. Smiling, they talk about their upcoming wedding — how they'll exchange rings and toast the beginning of their lives together.

The lesbians' marriage ceremony in the Vietnamese capital won't be officially recognized, but that could soon change. Vietnam's Communist government is now considering whether to allow same-sex couples to marry or legally register and receive rights — positioning the country to be the first in Asia to do so.

"Our love for each other is real and nothing changes regardless of whether the law is passed or not," said Loan, 31. "But when it is passed, we will definitely go get registered. I can't wait!"

Even longtime gay-rights activists are stunned by the Justice Ministry's proposal to include same-sex couples in its overhaul of the country's marriage law. No one knows what form it will take or whether it will survive long enough to be debated before the National Assembly next year, but supporters say the fact that it's even being considered is a victory in a region where simply being gay can result in jail sentences or whippings with a rattan cane.

"I think everyone is surprised," said Vien Tanjung, an Indonesian gay-rights activist. "Even if it's not successful it's already making history. For me, personally, I think it's going to go through."

Vietnam seems an unlikely champion of gay-rights issues. It is routinely lambasted by the international community over its dismal human rights record, often locking up political dissidents who call for democracy or religious freedom. Up until just a few years ago, homosexuality was labeled as a "social evil" alongside drug addiction and prostitution.

Same sex co-living is considered in the revision of law on marriage and family.

On June 7, the Institute for Social, Economic and Environmental Studies (iSEE) announced that they welcome the addition of same sex relationship to the draft of amended Law on Marriage and Family, which supposedly will be presented to the National Assembly in the near future.

 

This is the first time same sex co-living is considered for the draft of the amended law since the 2000 Law on Marriage and Family (article 10, clause 5) which prohibits marriage between same sex couples.

According to the official correspondence sent by the Ministry of Justice to related ministries and offices, there are still many opposite views on same sex marriage. There are only more than 20 countries and territories that legalized same sex marriage.

Also according to Ministry of Justice, community of gay and lesbian tend to expand [in VN] and the demand for marriage or co-living increase. From individual freedom points of view, the rights for same sex marriage need to be acknowledged. However, due to the sensitivity of the topic and customs of Vietnamese people, it is too early to acknowledge same sex marriage in VN now.

However, according to the Ministry of Justice, regulations need to be supplemented to solve matters related to same sex co-living, such as properties and adopted children of same sex family and [these regulations need to be added] to the draft of amended Law on Marriage and Family.

"I ONLY REQUIRE FAIRNESS FOR EVERYONE."

Thursday, July 26, 2012 17:14

Whose idea was taken from his speech at the conference Le Quang Binh consultations on the ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights had occurred.

Sincerely representatives Intergovernmental Committee on ASEAN human rights!

Dear ladies, gentlemen!

I want to start with a question why do we need a Bill of Rights in the context of so many cultural differences, economic and social development levels and political systems among the ASEAN countries ? The answer is that we have a common goal which is to protect human rights and freedoms of all citizens of ASEAN. We need mechanisms to protect human rights because we know that there are groups and individuals vulnerable than other groups, especially women, the disabled, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, homosexual, but calculated and transgender.

There are millions of ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples in ASEAN. They are often marginalized, stigma, discrimination by specific cultures, different lifestyles, beliefs and traditions especially community ownership of land and natural resources. Their livelihoods are often threatened and destroyed by the mining projects, hydroelectric power, armed conflict and resettlement. In general, ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples are the poorest, most vulnerable and human rights violated their most vulnerable. Therefore, I call on ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights to ensure the rights of ethnic minorities in land ownership by individuals or communities as they wish, be informed and consulted and agree in advance when mining projects, hydroelectric and migration is performed.ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights should ensure the right of minorities to preserve and develop their culture such as language, local knowledge and methods of traditional public administration. 

Mau dibawa kemana gerakan LGBTTIQ Indonesia?

Tak perlu saya jelaskan panjang lebarpun juga teman teman sudah tau kalau Gerakan LGBTIQ dari awal selalu mengibarkan bendera Hak Asasi Manusia. Kita berjuang untuk persamaan Hak, menghilangkan segala bentuk diskriminasi gender dan sekualitas, mencoba menghilangkan bentuk pemikiran berbasis Patriaki dan menghadiran pemikiran yang berbasis persamaan gender dan sekualitas.

dokumentasi : Viena Tanjung; IWD 2011

Lalu mau dibawa kemana gerakan LGBTIQ Indonesia ke depan? Dengan segala macam bentuk pendiaman paksa yang kita terima hingga sampai persetujuan Indonesia dalam Hukum Mati berdasarkan Orientasi Seksual.

Gerakan kita diserang dari segala macam penjuru diskriminasi yang bertentangan dengan Hak Asasi Manusia hingga membuat kita kecolongan dengan diskriminasi dalam bentuk lain, contohnya dengan adanya FTA antara Uni Eropa – India, yang mengakibatkan harga obat generic India tidak dapat lagi dibeli dengan harga murah, tapi harus mengikuti harga jual Uni Eropa, sedangkan obat generic ini adalah obat untuk HIV yang dibeli oleh Pemerintah Indonesia. Lalu apa yang kita lakukan? Kita berdemo tentang masalah subsidi obat HIV yang merupakan masalah HAM? Kan jadi ironis, karena kita kebakaran jenggot pada saat kebakaran, tapi diam duduk manis pada saat api mau disulut di depan mata kita.