157 Social environment is a medium through which culture takes place. Homosexuals,
like any other people, experience the values and standards of living, as dictated by culture. Both explicit and implicit discrimination and homophobia are carried out
mainly by religious extremists and those who choose to reinforce the social standard values. While subtle discrimination and marginalization occur in daily
life among friends, neighbor, family, at work or school. There are some discriminations portrayed in the stories, which are discussed further below:
1. Being Treated Badly or Unfriendly
“Sing If You Are Glad” by Rachel Green narrates how a lesbian couple, whom has been living together for almost six years are still treated badly and
impolitely by their neighbours. How many years have we lived here?’
‘Between five and six’. ‘Right, and how many times have we had eggs thrown at our windows
and ‘poofters’ spray painted on the door in the night? ‘We got egged last year.’ SIYG, 18
This couple and their house have become the target of social harassment. People throw eggs at their windows to show their hatred toward this homosexual couples.
In their conversations in this story, this lesbian couple not only discuss how the society treats them, but also the gay couple who live around the houses.
‘THANK GOD WE AREN’T GAY,’ said Linda... ‘Them poor buggers at number sixteen got egged again last
night. I saw him trying to wash down the walls with an ‘osepipe an’ broom this morning.’ SIYG, 15
This narration explains that gays are often treated even worse than lesbian couples. Throwing eggs to these homosexual couples in this society indicates that
158 socially they are not accepted. People are not pleased to have them as part of their
social circle. This story depicts a conflict that happens at night. We know this because they show the gay, whose head is bald, was wearing a gown and slippers.
SIYG, 15 The society members in this story seem to show that though they hate these homosexual couples, somehow they tolerate their existence around them.
Yet, they want this couple to behave and not to expose their homosexuality. The same case scenario is experienced by the lesbian couple in this story who got eggs
in their windows last year because they did not give the kids any sweets at Halloween. SIYG, 18 However, the society in this story is illustrated to be more
tolerant to lesbians than gays. “THANK GOD WE AREN’T GAY,” Said Linda
‘Anyway, you can talk,’ said Mel. “Thank God we aren’t gay” indeed. What are we, if not gay?’
‘We’re lesbians, Melanie. It’s different.’ ‘How is being a lesbian different? We still fornicate just like they
do.’ ‘But our fornication is socially acceptable. ... People think
lesbians are sweet. Our kind, anyway.’ ‘What other kinds are there?’
‘I don’t want to hear anything about the butchfemme dichotomy, either’.
‘Militant lesbians,’ Said Linda. ‘Dykes. People get frightened by the spiky haircuts and political slogans. It’s all in your face then.
People like us are looked upon as spinsters who don’t have husbands.’ SIYG, 17-18
In an Indonesian language short story “Menggapai Langit Ke-Tujuh” by Estha Vadose, it is depicted that the lesbian character experiences bad treatments from
the society because of her sexual orientation. It is portrayed that concealed and unspoken homosexuality may be tolerated to exist to some degree within certain
elements of Indonesian society. Explicit homosexual identity is regarded as an
159 illness sakit and is the target of social exclusion, violence, and other forms of
physical, psychological and emotional persecution. Actually, she and Rey have been thinking to have their own
home, or at least rent a small house, because there is a feeling of unsecure toward the owner of the boarding if they both have to
stay in one room much longer. They are worried about the others and the owner of the boarding house if they find their
relationship. Kirana does not want to cause social conflicts with people around who up to these days still do not accept the
presence of same-sex couples. It‘s still fresh in her memories how she got unpleasant treatment from the neighborhood who knows
that she the same-sex lover in her hometown. MLK-7, 109- 110
179
Even though this story does not narrate in detail how society treats the lesbian badly, like in the English language short story above, this story illustrates
that lesbians also get unpleasant treatment from their social life. The lesbian
character, Kirana explains that living together with her partner can create social conflict if the society finds that they are a lesbian couple. She mentions that the
existence of the same sex relationship is not acceptable. Thus, she and her partner need to be extra careful in hiding their relationship, thus they want rent a house
rather than staying in the same room in a boarding house with other girls. In Indonesia, the issue whether lesbian couples need to come out is
becoming problematic. The process of coming out becomes difficult because
179
‘
Sebenarnya sudah beberapa kali ia dan Rey membicarakan untuk memiliki rumah sendiri, atau minimal mengontrak sebuah rumah kecil, karena ada persaan tidak enak dengan pemilik kos
jika ia dan Rey harus tinggal lebih lama lagi, khawatir hubungan ia dan Rey diketahui oleh penghuni dan pemilik kos. Kirana tidak ingin menimbulkan konflik sosial dengan orang sekitar
yang mungkin sampai detik ini masih tidak menerima kehadiran pasangan sejenis, dan sampai saat ini masih segar dalam ingatan Kirana dulu di tempat asalnya ia mendapatkan perlakuan
tidak menyenangkan dari lingkungan sekitar yang mengetahui bahwa dirinya mencintai sesama jenis.
160 homosexuality is mainly unacceptable. It can also cause social conflict. It is
considered as abnormal, an illness and the most importantly it is not suitable with Indonesian standard moral value, culture and social life. People sometimes seem
to know that there are homosexual couples who live around them, but they pretend that they do not know. However, there are also parts of society, who
cannot tolerate their existence at all. If they know there are homosexual people around them, they will gather the people to catch them and send them away from
their environment. They are considered as having a negative influence to the area where they live because this homosexual sin.
2. Lack of Legal Responsibility and Legitimate Rights for Each Other
