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3. Being a Lesbian is Viewed as Forbidden Love Cinta Terlarang and
Sin
Some Indonesian language short stories portray that the lesbian characters view of being a lesbian as a sin and forbidden love cinta terlarang. Being
homosexual is considered as a sin because of religious doctrine; thus, religion is against homosexuality in general. From the beginning of human creation by God,
Adam and Eve, the only blessed love and sexual relation is the one between a man and a woman, as husband and wife. In “Menggapai Langit Ke Tujuh” by
EsthaVadose, the lesbian character honestly acknowledges her feelings, sexual orientation and relationship with her partner as her sins dosa-dosaku. “My big lie
to my mother will probably never be paid by me, but I hope God still hear all prayers and forgiveness requests for my sins this far”. MLKT, 111
86
The same depiction is also found in “Hari Ini Esok dan Kemarin” by Maggie Tiojakin, where the lesbian character mentions her sexual desire and
sexual intercourse with her lover as a sin. “I am staring the wall of the motel where I and she had often left those sin paths. Narrow. Unsightly”. HIEK, 37
87
As narrated in the story this lesbian couple normally meets secretively. They usually travel somewhere and spend time together in a motel. They have to hide
their relationship because the narrator has a husband. The lesbian character in “Mengapai Langit Ke Tujuh” explains that her
homosexual relationship is considered as forbidden love relationship.
“
Marion is
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‘Kebohongan ku yang besar pada ibu ku mungkin tidak akan pernah terbayarkan oleh ku, namun aku berharap Tuhan masih mendengar segala do’a dan permohonan ampunan untuk dosa-
dosaku selama ini.
87
“Ku pandangi kamar motel di mana aku dan dia telah sering meninggalkan jejak dosa. Sempit. Tak sedap dipandang”.
59 the one knowing every detail of Kirana’s life story and her love journey of that has
been deemed forbidden, illegal, unblessed”. MLK-7, 111
88
The same issue is also portrayed in
“
Bukan Hari Kemarin” by Nisrina Lubis. A lesbian couple, a street musician woman, named Tia and the narrator who works as an office staff in
one of companies unexpectedly is engaged in relationship. They meet every night in the bus on the way home from office. They get down from the bus together and
Tia always accompanies the narrator walking up to reaching her home, either walking behind or beside her, often without saying a word during the walk.
However, one night when the narrator reaches her home, doubtfully the narrator openes her fence and Tia also follows her to get into the house. In that night, they
introduce each other and talk a lot. Since that night, the street musician woman always stops in the narrator home before she goes home and always lands her kiss
on her cheek or sometimes on her lips. “Ohh…I need to talk to Tia privately. I consider my relationship
with her is not a common friendship. Don’t we always have mutual desire to always meet each other? She always looks into
my eyes romantically, the ways which are different to the way she looks at Gito or other people. And the kisses which she sometimes
does on my lips. Also some intimacies which almost lead us into the wave of a forbidden romance... Oh, I want to ask for clarity.
BHK, 53
89
The issue of considering the same sex love as “forbiden love” relationship because of the fact that this kind of love relationship and sexual intercouse is
88
‘Marionlah yang selama ini mengetahui tiap detail kisah hidup dan perjalanan cinta Kirana yang selama ini dianggap terlarang
89
“Aku ingin bicara empat mata dengannya. Selama ini aku mengangap hubungan ku dengan Tia bukan sekedar pertemanan biasa. Bukankah kami sama-sama punya keinginan untuk selalu
bertemu walau tidak janjian terlebih dahulu? Tia selalu menatap ku dengan hangat. Bukankah dia berbeda cara saat menatap Gito dan orang lain? Juga dengan ciuman yang sesekali mendarat di
bibir ku? Juga beberapa keintiman yang hampir membuat kami nyaris terhanyut dalam percintaan terlarang…Oh, aku ingin meminta kejelasan”.
60 forbidden by religion, are not supported by family, not accepted by society, by
culture, by law and by the state. Above all it does not belong to a heterosexual relationship. Those lesbian characters actually know and realize what they are
doing is wrong and sinful, but they just cannot fight for their feelings and desire. They know this act is forbidden. Consequently, they perceive their relationship as
forbidden love relationship cinta terlarang and consider it as a sin.
4. Being a Lesbian is Being Different