Miss Transvestite 2007 Emily and Miss Lipsing 2008 Akela join a protest (JP)
Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Ienes Angela remembered back to a long time ago when she sat in a church and felt uncomfortable. It was an unpleasant experience. She felt as though she didn't belong because people were staring at her.
"All I wanted to do was worship God, but they treated me like I didn't belong. So I gave up on going to church," said the slim, tall and tanned transvestite.
"I cannot understand why so many people view waria (transvestites) as not being human. We have basic rights just like them," Ienes, 34, told The Jakarta Post.
Ienes said it was hard to uphold her rights in most aspects of life, not just at church.
Seeking employment in the formal sector was a difficult task, she said.
Work opportunities in the formal sector for transvestites are limited, with most employers reluctant to have waria in their offices. With such restrictions, Ienes said many waria were forced to work as prostitutes or street singers to survive.
She said once she applied for a position as a telemarketer with a company in Jakarta. The job involved selling hotel memberships to people via the telephone.
"The manager told me the company would employ me only if I agreed to cut my long hair and dress in male clothing," she said. "What do such jobs have to do with appearance? I didn't need to meet customers face-to-face."
Ienes Angela remembered back to a long time ago when she sat in a church and felt uncomfortable. It was an unpleasant experience. She felt as though she didn't belong because people were staring at her.
"All I wanted to do was worship God, but they treated me like I didn't belong. So I gave up on going to church," said the slim, tall and tanned transvestite.
"I cannot understand why so many people view waria (transvestites) as not being human. We have basic rights just like them," Ienes, 34, told The Jakarta Post.
Ienes said it was hard to uphold her rights in most aspects of life, not just at church.
Seeking employment in the formal sector was a difficult task, she said.
Work opportunities in the formal sector for transvestites are limited, with most employers reluctant to have waria in their offices. With such restrictions, Ienes said many waria were forced to work as prostitutes or street singers to survive.
She said once she applied for a position as a telemarketer with a company in Jakarta. The job involved selling hotel memberships to people via the telephone.
"The manager told me the company would employ me only if I agreed to cut my long hair and dress in male clothing," she said. "What do such jobs have to do with appearance? I didn't need to meet customers face-to-face."