Becoming a Lesbian as Something Predestined

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1. Becoming a Lesbian as Something Predestined

One representative of defining a lesbian as something predestined is found in the Indonesian language short story entitled “Putus”. This short story strongly implies and explores, that sexual orientation is something that God has ordained and thus it cannot be changed. Being a lesbian is viewed as a permanent sexual orientation. In the Indonesian language short story the word “takdir” or “nasib” destiny is often used to describe a situation which has religious meaning. As illustrated in “Putus” by NV, a teenage lesbian, Sarah is portrayed as someone who considers that being a lesbian is something that has been predestined by God or that is inborn. She believes that she has been born to be that way. She uses this argument when she tries to defend herself to her brother: Brother, you do not be petty. God did not create something for being contradicted. No one would wish to be born end up like me. If I undergo what God has outlined where lies the fault in it? P, 130 72 There is a deeper reason why the lesbian character in this story considers that to become a lesbian is something predestined. The concept of predestination is an issue in the Indonesian language short story which also contains elements of religious faith. Predestination is the belief that people have no control over events because these things are controlled by God or fate. 73 Predestination is the theory or belief that everything that happens has been decided in advance by God and 72 “Mas, kamu jangan picik. Tuhan tidak menciptakan sesuatu untuk dikontradiksikan. Tidak ada yang berharap dilahirkan bernasib seperti aku. Jika aku menjalani apa yang telah Tuhan gariskan dimana letak kesalahannya?” 73 Cambridge Advantage Learner’s Dictionary, 3th ed. 50 that humans cannot change it. 74 This predistination belief is clearly portrayed in “Putus” through Sarah characterization. She argues that she has become a lesbian because it is part of God’s Predestination. In other words, becoming a lesbian is not a mistaken action because she was born as a lesbian exactly the way God has predestinated her to be. But this story also offers different view in contrast to religous doctrine in general, that is strongly against homosexuality. This story seems to declare that becoming a lesbian is not only simply predestination from God. Thus, since it is part of destiny it means that Sarah is right and what she does is not a sin. As such, this story is strongly related to religious values especially that of Islam, since the main lesbian character Sarah is a Moslem. Sarah defines her feelings and sexual desire as her fate. The way she defines it can be understood as religious belief. Since one of last 6 pillars of faith Rukun Iman in Islam is Belief in the Divine Decree either be it good or bad, after 1 Belief in God 2 Belief in Scriptures 3 Belief in Angels 4 Belief in Prophets, and 5 Belief in Life after Death. Through its lesbian character, this story tries to criticize society and Islam to prove that becoming a lesbian is not something negative. They do this in order to show those who normally judge homosexual people, as a sinner who will end up in hell. Since as a Moslem, she only does what God has predestined to her; therefore, it is not her fault. She has no control over the matter that she has been predestined to be born as a lesbian. 74 A S Hornby, Oxpord Advance Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, 5th Ed, Oxpord Newyork: Oxpord University Press, 1995, p. 908. 51 In “Rahasia Bulan” by Clara Ng, the same term predestination or “takdir in the Indonesian language short story is also found. They view their desire for the same sex as predestination. Diana has been married with her husband for seven years and has a kid. She later falls in love with a woman named Estella and have been together for five years. She mentions that predestination which causes them to fall in love and commits to this same sex relationship. “Heat waves crashing, intertwining, forcing the two women had to surrender to the call. Destiny drags them”. RB, 37 75 This story tries to deliver that emotional and sexual desire between human whether it is the same or the opposite sex is part of destiny.

2. Becoming a Lesbian as Natural, Normal, Unchangeable and Not a Mistake