For Trans Women’s Religious Right

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Shinta Ratri

Through Pondok Pesantren (Ponpes) Waria Al Fatah, the Islamic boarding school she manages, Shinta Ratri, 60, has continues to struggle for the right of waria (trans women) to embrace and practice their faith. Despite the protest against Ponpes run by a certain group, Shinta persists with her activities.

Shinta has headed Ponpes Waria Al Fatah since 2014. Located in Jagalan village of Banguntapan district, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, the Ponpes is in the house Shinta inherited from her grandmother in the densely populated and historic Kotagede area.

Shinta said she felt that she was a woman ever since she was a child. In junior high school, she even joined the sports exercises for girls. “I knew that I was a female, but I was born a male,” she said on Monday (18/7/2022).

When her father noticed that Shinta was a trans woman, he felt doubtful. But her family finally accepted the reality, so Shinta did not have to leave her home and live on the streets, like most waria do.

“Family acceptance is something essential for trans women. If their families recognize them, waria don’t have to run away from home,” said Shinta.

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She studied at the Faculty of Biology at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, although she did not finish her degree. She also opened a silver jewelry business, but it failed following the financial crisis of 1998.

Shinta later turned to making copper jewelry for wearing at wedding ceremonies. She has continued to run this business to the present. In addition, she has been an activist, along with other trans women. She chaired the Yogyakarta Waria Union (Iwayo) from 2010 to 2016.

After Maryani died in 2014, Shinta took over the leadership of the Ponpes, which was later relocated to the house of Shinta’s grandmother in Jagalan village.

In 2008, Shinta became involved in establishing Ponpes Waria Al Fatah. The Ponpes was originally located in Notoyudan in the city of Yogyakarta, and was managed by a waria named Maryani. After Maryani died in 2014, Shinta took over the leadership of the Ponpes, which was later relocated to the house of Shinta’s grandmother in Jagalan village.

Various activities

Ponpes Waria Al Fatah has a number of regular activities. According to Shinta, on Saturdays the school runs a skills training workshop for waria to raise their living standards.

On Sundays, the Ponpes gives religion classes, such as reading the Quran, memorizing short verses and performing shalat (obligatory prayers). “Some waria cannot yet perform shalat. We teach them the shalat verses and gestures. So, we encourage Muslim waria to learn shalat,” said Shinta.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Shinta Ratri

As of this month, Ponpes Waria Al Fatah is also organizing mujahadah, or practicing self-discipline, on Friday evenings. In undertaking its various activities, the Ponpes works with several institutions and universities.

Shinta said the that around 60 waria were members of Ponpes Waria Al Fatah. Most of them do not live at the Ponpes. “Only around eight people board here,” she said.

The waria have different backgrounds and include street musicians, salon workers as well as scavengers.

In 2016, Ponpes Waria Al Fatah was visited by a certain group of people who protested against the school’s existence. After the incident, Ponpes Waria Al Fatah was closed for some time. Nonetheless, thanks to the support of several circles, the Ponpes was able to resume its activities.

Shinta said she was very grateful to the religious figures and institutions that had supported and assisted Ponpes Waria Al Fatah. Their support indicated that a number of religious leaders and organizations accepted the presence of trans women.

“Their support means that religion truly fosters human dignity. Religion can accommodate waria who are seeking God. We are thankful to these progressive people, because we believe we have the same right to worship,” said Shinta, who has also held religious activities for the school’s Protestant and Catholic members.

Apart from religious activities, Ponpes Waria Al Fatah has also provided funereal assistance to waria in preparing their remains for burial and set up a family support group.

Among the family support group’s services is to help reunite waria with their families. “For elderly waria who have been cast out of their homes, we contact their families, so when the waria become ill and frail, their families can take care of them. In the event of their death, their remains can be taken home,” explained Shinta.

The Ponpes also campaigns on guaranteeing the basic rights of waria by seeking support from various parties, because many trans women are denied their basic rights.

“Waria are also citizens with the same rights, and they deserve [access to] things like social aid, [the right to] worship, education and health services. From our initial struggle for the right to worship, we are now striving to secure equal rights to everything,” Shinta pointed out.

This effort is aimed to provide students with an understanding of waria.

In addition, Ponpes Waria Al Fatah has launched activities at universities on several occasions to provide education on trans women. This effort is aimed to provide students with an understanding of waria. “We want them to become agents of change so that when they have waria family members someday, they won’t be disowned or persecuted,” she said.

Shinta added that becoming a trans woman was not a choice, but destiny. Consequently, waria cannot be “healed” in restoring their manhood. “We were destined to become waria. Waria can’t be forced to marry [women] so they can become [male again],” she said.

Shinta’s efforts have been recognized through several international awards. In 2019, she received an award for defending human rights from Front Line Defenders, an international organization based in Ireland. In July 2022, she was also granted an award for diversity and sustainable development from the Casa Asia institute in Spain.

Shinta Ratri

Born: Bantul, 15 Oct. 1962

Activities: Head of Pondok Pesantren Waria Al Fatah

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).