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Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
153
THE DYNAMICS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GAY IDENTITY
IN PUBLIC SPACE IN TOBOALI, SOUTH BANGKA
Alfin Dwi Rahmawan
1
, Sujadmi
2
1,2
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas
Bangka Belitung, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
alfindwirahmawan98@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Gay is known as a sexual attraction that is included in the group of Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT). It is the practice of same-sex sexual attraction that
has been existed for a long time, from various times to this day, whether in big cities or
various areas with a rare touch of modernity. This research intends to find out the
dynamics of the existence of a gay identity, in which gay identity is usually stigmatized
and becomes a marginalized group in society. This research was conducted in Toboali,
the Regency of South Bangka. Toboali area is known for many groups of gay that
interact and do their activities as the society in general. To analyze this research, it
utilizes the theory of Identity by Manuel Castells. The research method used a
descriptive qualitative research design. The technique of this research used snowball
and also purposive sampling. The snowball technique is utilized to obtain the data from
the gay informant, by gaining the data and the informant from the acquired key
informant. The technique of purposive sampling is used for the community as a
comprehensive data comparison. The result of the finding in the field shows that there
are factors forming a gay identity of individual as follow social experience in childhood,
lifestyle needs, family disharmony, and also the peers group. The result of the research
also points out that the existence of gay identity in Toboali South Bangka in the stage of
resistance identity.
Key words: the dynamics of existence, gay, identity
INTRODUCTION
The term homosexuality first appeared in Germany in 1869 by Karl Maria Kertebeny.
The term is used to refer to sexual urges directed at same-sex individuals (Yulius,
2019:57). At first, the term homosexual was not known so widely, only a few people
knew this term. In terminology, homo comes from Greek means the same, while Sex
means gender. Sociologically homosexual is someone of the same sex as a sexual
partner and homosexuality itself is an attitude, action or behavior towards homosexuals
(Soekanto, 2013:335).
Homosexuality basically includes a large group of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgender). This large group is a classification based on individual sexual
orientation, which includes lesbian, namely same-sex attraction which involves the
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
154
relationship between women and women, gay is same-sex attraction that involves
relationships between men and men, and bisexual is the type of sexual orientation that
likes both sexes are both women and men, while for transgender itself it is a sex change
that is carried out through an operation process.
Long before the term homosexuality was introduced, the practice of homosexuality
has existed since ancient times. Many practices involve elites and kingdoms at various
times. Like the emperor Nѐron (Nero), the fifth emperor of the Roman Empire who
married his castrated male slave named Sporus. Nero often kissed and hugged him in
public (Spencer, 2004:77). In fact, it is explicitly explained that a tragedy that befell the
area described in the faith books around the world, namely Sodom and Gomorrah.
Sodom and Gomorrah are explained that these two cities were destroyed by God
because of the sins of their inhabitants who had a lot of homosexual practices.
The existence of homosexual or gay groups tends not to be accepted by society. The
reality in society so far shows that homosexual groups do not get the same opportunities
as normal or heterosexual people in various aspects of life, even getting discriminatory
behavior. So that many of them are still secretive in interacting and socializing in the
community.
Rejection of the existence of same-sex enthusiasts, including gay, still occurs,
especially in Indonesia, which is actually Muslim, as mentioned by (Niko, 2016) in a
journal entitled "Dissecting" Normalism "and Gay Stigmatization in Indonesian Media
Reporting" that the existence of gays in Indonesia is not accepted because Indonesian
society is thick with nuances of religiosity. Data from Globalreligiousfutures shows that
the number of Muslims in Indonesia in 2010 was 209.12 million or 87.17% of the total
population of 239.89 million and is the largest religious member in Indonesia. Given the
teachings of the Islamic religion support heterosexual behavior, not homosexuality,
which is considered a deviation. So it is clear that the composition of the amount of data
is of course very influential on the social life of the people.
In society they tend to close themselves and their interactions are relatively limited to
their groups, and very few of them admit their identity. Gay tries to cover up their
sexual orientation, by leaving behind all identities or symbols that can indicate that they
have different sexual orientations. They behave like normal men in general. This is
because they feel afraid of being excluded from the association of people who still think
that it is a disease that must be cured instead of being left free in the midst of society.
Part of the gay behavior in modern times has shown its identity, especially in big
cities which are considered more modern. Many gays have already negotiated identity
and made this identity an identity that must be recognized by society. Even if we look at
several big cities, many gays in their social interactions have a special place. Quoted
from (Danny Arifin, Kompasiana 2014) that there are places that are gay associations in
big cities such as in DKI Jakarta where the Arus Pelangi association is, in East Java
there is Gaya Nusantara which was founded by Dede Oetomo, a prominent LGBT
activist and is one of the largest gay association in Indonesia, then in Bali there is the
Gaya Dewata Foundation. Apart from the establishment of several associations, there
are also several entertainment venues that specialize in gays, such as Apollo Bar &
Lounge in Jakarta, Bali Joe Bar and M.A.N Resort in Bali.
Another case with Bangka Belitung, which still hides its identity and does not get
space for gays. Quoted from Bangkapos.com (2018) LGBT groups use social media
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
155
more as a form of attracting partners and interacting. Not only take advantage of groups
on Facebook or chat groups, LGBT people take advantage of special applications. This
special application that connects them to one another. So that in the real world it is very
rare for these groups to reveal their sexual identity, except to their own group.
On the other hand, different from other areas in Bangka Belitung Province, Toboali
is a gathering arena that is a little more open to gays, especially in public spaces. Based
on the results of brief observations in the field, small gay groups in Toboali began to
show their existence in public spaces such as shopping centers, hangout cafes, eating
places or other places.
Geographically, Toboali is part of the South Bangka Regency which is actually very
far from the capital city center, namely Pangkalpinang City. However, what is
interesting is that in this area, gay behavior or activities are more open than in other
cities or areas in Bangka Belitung as described above. So that the phenomenon in the
field makes researchers interested in conducting research on how the dynamics of the
existence of the identity of gay groups who are considered a minority and marginalized
group can show their existence and interact with each other in the public sphere.
METHODS
The research method used in this research is descriptive qualitative research design.
This research design is a research design that is described in words according to the
opinion of the informants, as it is according to the researcher's question. Sukmadinata
(Ibrahim and Rahman, 2009:44) explains that descriptive qualitative research design is
aimed at describing and analyzing phenomena, events, social activities, attitudes,
beliefs, perceptions, thoughts of individuals and groups. Therefore, this research design
requires a deep understanding of its use.
The design of this study is considered relevant to related research on the dynamics of
gay identity in public spaces in Toboali, South Bangka. This is because the form of
descriptive qualitative research is based on phenomena that occur in the field. It was
explained that the descriptive qualitative research form adheres to phenomenology, a
philosophy that studies the appearance and phenomena between phenomena and
consciousness, which are not isolated from each other but are always dialectically
related (Bungin, 2011:68).
While the techniques used in this study using snowball techniques and purposive
sampling. Special Snowball Sampling Procedure to get information from gay
informants. This approach is used to find and recruit “hidden informants”. If informants
with certain characters are difficult to find, the informants met are willing to refer
researchers to other informants, allowing the development of the reference chain to an
adequate snowball as research informants needed by researchers (Bungin, 2011:109).
This research subject withdrawal pattern determines the subject as the sample who will
be the key informant. To make the subject as informants by identifying themselves as
gay and then they show their friends who can be informants.
Then, in order to obtain comprehensive data apart from using snowball sampling, the
purposive sampling technique was used. This technique is used as comparative data
aimed at informants who come from the community. The selection of informants is
carried out by considering that the informants have a role in providing the information
required by the criteria of the researcher. The criteria for informants from this
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
156
community include: 1) people who have gay relatives, 2) people who know the
existence of gays in the research location. These informants are optional and
accumulative.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Dynamics of the Existence of Gay Identity in Toboali, South Bangka
In discussing research on the dynamics of the existence of gay identity in the public
sphere, the researcher wants to know and identify how gay groups who are basically
attracted to the same sex present their identity in the public sphere. Therefore,
discussing the concept of identity which is the focus of this study, namely regarding the
dynamics of the existence of identity, the identity theory of Manuel Castells is used.
This theory is used to analyze further the concept of gay identity.
In Castells' view, identity is a stronger source of meaning than role because of the
process of self-construction and individuation they involve. In simple terms, identity
regulates meaning, while role regulates function (Castells, 2010: 7). Castells argues that
identity is constructed based on building materials in the form of history, geography,
biology, productive and reproductive institutions, from collective memory, from the
apparatus of power and from religious revelation.
Castells (2010: 8) also proposes a difference between the three forms and origins of
identity formation.
“Legitimizing identity: introduced by the dominant institutions of society to extend
and rationalize their domination vis a ` vis social actors, a theme that is at the heart of
Sennett’s theory of authority and domination,6 but also fits with various theories of
nationalism.
Resistance identity: generated by those actors who are in positions/conditions
devalued and/or stigmatized by the logic of domination, thus building trenches of
resistance and survival on the basis of principles different from, or opposed to, those
permeating the institutions of society, as Calhoun proposes when explaining the
emergence of identity politics.
Project identity: when social actors, on the basis of whatever cultural materials are
available to them, build a new identity that redefines their position in society and, by
so doing, seek the transformation of overall social structure. This is the case, for
instance, when feminism moves out of the trenches of resistance of women’s identity
and women’s rights, to challenge patriarchalism, thus the patriarchal family, and thus
the entire structure of production, reproduction, sexuality, and personality on which
societies have been historically based”
In the three differences, Castells stated that the project identity is an attempt to form
a separate identity in society. Resistance identity is a rejection or resistance to dominant
identity. Then Legitimazing identity is a legitimacy or recognition of an identity.
Therefore, Manuel Castells' view of identity becomes a tool of analysis to dissect
research related to the dynamics of the existence of gay identity in Toboali, South
Bangka.
a. Factors That Cause A Person To Be Gay
A man who becomes gay has reasons and factors. Of course this also happens to gays
in Toboali, South Bangka. Their sexual orientation and sexual behavior are not
formed instantly, many of the factors driving them to have same-sex attraction.
Proceedings of the 1
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Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
157
These factors are obtained from the results of interviews with several informants,
namely:
1) Social experience as a child
Along with the formation and development of individual personalities in society,
these experiential processes will continue to be reproduced. The social experience
or social experience of each individual sometimes influences the patterns and
behavior of the individual when he grows up or when he starts to enter a group in
society. The same is no exception with the formation of a person's sexual identity
to be gay. Social experience here is the experience of the individual when he was
a child. Where this experience is in the form of sexual abuse from adults to
children or we often hear about it with pedophilia.
As we know there is a lot of literature that says victims of pedophilia will have
a psychological impact and cause a sense of trauma, and have the opportunity to
become a homosexual. We know that the orientation of pedophiles is no different
from people who are not pedophiles. Because of his attraction to humans and
based on sex and gender too. But it needs to be emphasized that, this pedophilia
concerns sexual attraction at the age level, in this case the age of children. Sexual
activity carried out on children can be defined as sexual violence. It is as if sexual
violence is rife as an iceberg phenomenon that is very difficult to solve. Of the
many data reported from cases of sexual violence, there are also cases of sexual
violence that are not recorded or identified because victims are reluctant to report.
Then, there is a misunderstanding of the meaning of sexuality and rape (Niko &
Rahmawan, 2020) which also occurs in sexual violence of minors.
Of the several gay informants in Toboali, some of them became gay because of
the trauma they had been victims of pedophilia committed by their closest
relatives. So this also leads to the same desire to vent when growing up.
Like one of RJ's informants, who as a child had many female friends, and
played like a girl. Because of his feminine nature, the people around him incited
RJ to be indirectly invited to become victims of harassment when the informant
became a junior high school student and knew an older brother who was a high
school student.
Apart from that, there were also reasons that were different from other
informants, namely the Army who was a student at a university in Bangka
Regency who said that as a child, the AD informant was invited to the school
room or the school toilet by his cousin. Inside the school there is the house of the
informant's cousin and his father who is a school guard. So that this informant was
freely invited to a quiet school class or toilet which was then treated like obscenity
to RD's information.
The two informants told why they had a sexual identity as gay for almost the
same reasons and reasons. That is, they have both been victims of sexual violence
during their childhood. The sexual treatment of the people closest to them has an
influence on their growth and development during their maturation process which
affects their sexual behavior. This of course gives the desire and encouragement to
behave like people who were in their small environment.
When viewed from the social experience in the form of traumatic, this has a
considerable influence on a person's sexual behavior. Ongoing traumatic feelings
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
158
that are not handled appropriately give the individual the incentive to act back in
the way he felt as a child.
2) Lifestyle needs
The development of technological advances and the high lifestyle of young people
demands that they can follow trends and lifestyles. This of course also encourages
people to rack their brains to get money in an instant way. One way is by
volunteering to be invited to play by gays, and does not rule out dating gays.
Some of them are usually carried out by young people aged 17-20 years, or those
who are still students or university students.
As was the case with informant D, that the informant considered that he came
down to the gay world because he needed money. The informant realizes that in
the Toboali area of South Bangka, there are those who are gay and are willing to
pay money to other people so that they can relate to normal men. When the
informant was asked whether the informant was previously attracted to the same
sex, the informant said that he was not interested, instead the informant had a
girlfriend.
The statement of the DA informant was also confirmed by the key informant R.
This condition was stated by informant R that DA was also a man who could not
be identified as pure gay but they were normal men but related to gays in Toboali.
Usually this normal guy just wants to get paid for his lifestyle or just to buy kouta
and cigarettes. But this can also be something that does not rule out that they do
not acknowledge their sexual identity and seem to close themselves off.
This is certainly interesting, because it cannot be identified that gay in Toboali
is gay who already has same-sex attraction, but because of the need for lifestyle
factors. They are also the ones who get paid for being involved with gays because
they take advantage of their good looks so that gays are attracted to get close. Of
course when the gays have got a normal guy they will be proud, even though they
are willing to pay money because they have got what they want, as the informant
RJ explained that in Toboali they know who has an attraction to a fellow male.
RJ, an informant who is the head of a studio in Toboali, also said that here they
are more open, and if they already like a man then they will chase him. Therefore
there are high school kids or normal popcorn boys who are willing to be paid to
get the man. Those who are shameless to reveal their identity openly usually have
the role of a woman "Bot" and are feminine.
Based on the answers from several informants that this lifestyle factor is a
mutually oriented exchange value. This social exchange is just like in the realm of
social science, there are social relations where there are elements of reward,
sacrifice and benefit that influence each other at one time. A normal man gets the
benefits of being paid, and a gay person who pays then gets a normal guy to
partner up with.
3) Disharmonized family
Someone being gay or having sexual attraction with the same sex is based on
causes because of factors from the family as well. The factor of this family is
usually because the relationship between the two parents is not harmonious, they
are too busy with work to forget about their children's activities, or come from a
broken home. A person who does not get enough attention from his core family
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
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will look for affection outside of the family. So that when the process of finding
his identity, a child will form a personality based on the environment he receives.
Those who lack love will look for someone who can understand themselves.
Looking for someone as a friend or partner who will share and earn affection. As
the MA informant explained to the researcher, the informant's parents had
divorced when the informant was small. The informant is then cared for by his
father, and his younger sibling is cared for by his mother. Even then, the
informant felt that he was not close to his father and lived with his grandmother.
The same thing was conveyed by informant D, where the informant felt that he
did not get protection and affection in a family that was always experiencing
conflict. So that the informants also seek affection by getting to know gay people
and end up having a tendency for sexual identity to like men.
Based on the statements of the two informants that the divorce factor and the
inaccurate relationship in the family made the informant choose a path that the
informant should not choose. Looking for acquaintances and also seeking
affection by getting to know gays. On the one hand, these informants received
affection they did not get when they were in the family and on the one hand the
informants did not know their family closely.
In the responses given by the two informants that there is a social process in
the family that is not going well. The family as the first socialization agent did not
work effectively, especially in the primary socialization process. As explained by
Robert Lawang, this primary socialization occurs at the age of five and is
dominated by the role of the family. Age in this phase is actually a phase where
children are equipped with knowledge about people in their surrounding social
environment. Where the people around him play an important role in shaping the
character of the child, especially the socialization obtained from both parents.
It can also be concluded that this family disharmony factor is closely related to
socialization processes that do not go well with the child's development. The
character of the child will be formed until the child grows up.
4) Peer group
As explained by informant RJ that, when the informant was brought by the father
and lived with his grandmother he played a lot in the girl's environment. Doing
play activities like girls. Activities that are carried out during this play certainly
experience a process of internalization within the individual. Informants who play
with women will behave like women, behave feminine, have a soft voice, and act
like girls in general.
Of course, everything that this boy adopts is an imitation he gets when doing
activities with his peers. Imitation performed by boys is not only in the form of
tone of speech and body movements. But there are also many other consequences
when seen in the field, such as they dress very prominently.
This peer influence can be said to be very strong because not only can the
behavior and style of dress be seen prominently, but their sexual orientation or
sexual attraction can also be imitated by a boy, so that what men should like girls
to become men- men who like other men. This interaction process is then
internalized with age and will shape a person like an individual who becomes the
object of what he imitates.
Proceedings of the 1
st
International Conference on Social,
Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
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Table 1. Factors of being gay
No. Factors Description
1. Social experience as a
child
Childhood social experiences as
victims of sexual violence create
traumatic feelings, and trigger
children's behavior to take the same
actions as adults or generate feelings
of same-sex attraction.
2. Disharmonized family Broken home families cause a lack of
attention, and also a lack of primary
socialization that children get when
the process of growing and
developing.
3. Lifestyle needs The existence of exchange value that
is mutually oriented. This social
exchange has elements of reward,
sacrifice, and benefit that influence
each other at one time. A normal man
gets the benefits of being paid, and a
gay person who pays then gets a
normal guy to partner up with.
4. peer group As you get older, peer influence
experiences internalization so that
individual behavior and actions are
formed as what he / she mimics.
Source: Primary data process
b. Gay Behavior and Interaction in Toboali, South Bangka
Toboali is one of the areas that is quite crowded because it is located right in the city
center. This of course also provides space for subaltern or gay groups to interact with
gay people. As previously explained, based on the researchers' initial observations
that gays in Toboali, South Bangka gathered in crowded places, and were identical at
night.
Interaction and behavior in this study are defined as gay activities in their social
environment. Gay in Toboali, in their activities and social interactions, is mostly
carried out by gays who in fact come from the studio environment. Gay who comes
from the studio environment is usually more feminine than gay who comes outside of
the studio environment. Those who come from the studio environment will usually
gather and are more conspicuous in the community because of their activities. This is
also evidenced by the community who saw their activities as revealed by an
informant named Dana who is a Toboali community and also works as an employee
of the South Bangka Regency Government. These informants admit that their
activities in Toboali are very diverse and their existence is well known by many
people.
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31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
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Gay life in Toboali in general can be identified based on the self image and public
image they display. The self image referred to in this case is the original identity they
want to display, while the public image is the identity expected by the community,
namely heterosexuality. Gay in Toboali, usually those who display self-image
identities, are those who have a feminine gender identity, those who are feminine
usually have a role as a "bot" or as a woman. Meanwhile, those who are still closed
or displaying a gay public image behave like men and display masculine
characteristics, and usually have a "top" role. But these two roles do not rule out
having opposite characteristics. In their association, gays in Toboali call their fellow
men "bes" and this is a symbol of the interaction between them.
The rise of agencies, art studios, and activities with the nuance of election contests
will shape this gay association to exist. In Toboali, especially South Bangka
Regency, there is an election event to look for young people to channel their talents
and challenge themselves to show courage to represent the young generation who are
intellectual, intelligent and uphold good behavior and bring a good name to the
region. Usually this event is used by gays to show their existence. Usually this kind
of event is attended by many gay groups, which is clarified by the argument of the
informant RJ, who is one of the administrators of this regional male and female
election agency.
Based on statements from informants, it is not only the studios that are the places
where gays are involved. But the agency, until the election events that are useful to
show their existence are a place for them to find partners, interact with each other or
just want to be known by many people.
According to RJ, the gay man in Toboali, South Bangka, really likes to take care
of election activities that involve official people. So that here there is a social
exchange that occurs. Where the office uses them to take care of activities so that it
does not take too much time for the agency to take care of activities, and also gays
like RJ who like to take care of art activities in the regions get a place and trust so
that he can show his existence and other people know him.
In addition, they also interact through whatsapp groups or dating applications
specifically for gays. For example, informant K, who is active in the gay group
Bangka Belitung, is filled with gays in several areas in Bangka Belitung. Here they
are netting friends, looking for partners and also to discuss many things.
After the researcher joined the Wahatsapp group, it is true that in that group
everyone who has a gay sexual orientation or likes men and women simultaneously
interacts a lot in the group. Their interactions with each other tell stories, find a
partner, or just share videos. Of course, besides the real space, there is also a virtual
space that is used by gays in Toboali to interact with each other.
1. Level of education and work activity
The distribution of livelihoods in Toboali District, South Bangka is very
varied. The jobs are divided into two sectors of work. Namely, the formal and
informal sectors. Similar to society in general, gay people in Toboali also have
jobs that fall into these two sectors.
Apart from working in the formal sector, it cannot be denied that there are
also gays who work in the informal sector. Like the informant RJ, who deals
with the world of art through his studies, and gets income from the activities
Proceedings of the 1
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Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
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the informant manages. Then there is also like one of the gays who was not
used as an informant by the researcher but the researcher made observations to
the gay that apart from working as a government employee such as informant
RJ, he was also active as a host of events in South Bangka.
In terms of education, gay people in Toboali are different. Some are highly
educated, have status as students or students, and some have dropped out of
school. This can be seen from the informant R, ANJ, AD who is a student and
informant D as a student at a high school in Toboali. There are relatively many
gays who drop out of school or only finish their education at the high school
level and usually they become men who are ready to be paid.
Looking back, in this context, men who drop out of school are willing to be
paid just to get money for their daily needs. The lack of education he got
plunged him into dealing with a gay person with the lure of money he would
get.
Meanwhile, gay people who drop out of school or do not continue to higher
education will struggle by participating in activities they like. For example, a
studio child from informant RJ, who did not continue his education to
university and was involved in the arts and studio worlds.
In addition, there are also informants who were obtained through one of the
gay groups on the WhatsApp application with the initials K who is a student at
a state university in Bangka Belitung. His identity as gay is not known by
many people in the campus environment, but K is very active in the group.
So based on the level of education and work experienced by gays in
Toboali, it varies widely, but based on informants, it is found that the most
widely known gay jobs are in the informal sector and for the educational level,
many gays have status as students spread across several campuses in Bangka.
and outside Bangka.
Table 2. Job distribution and educational overview
No. Job
Category
Type Description
1. Formal a. Civil Servant The education level of gays
who work as civil servants has
a relatively better level of
education.
2. Informal a. Work at the
Studio
b. MC
c. Work at a Beauty
Center
d. Freelance
The level of education working
in the informal sector is
relatively balanced, some are
limited to high school, college
and graduated from college.
Source: Primary data process
2. Social stigma of gay
In social life, sometimes lgbt groups or groups that have subaltern identities get
discriminatory behavior, even sometimes they get violent treatment both
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physically and psychologically. The negative stigma against this subaltern
group is certainly a formidable obstacle for every gay person to be more open
and free to express like normal society in general. In general, these LGBT
subaltern groups experience violence and discrimination in employment,
education, health and welfare opportunities. The view of society that is
homophobic is also one of the obstacles that these LGBT groups face in their
expression.
But it is different in Toboali, South Bangka, this is certainly an interesting
discussion because gay groups in Toboali generally do not have the obstacles
and obstacles that occur in gay groups in general. According to information
obtained from key informants, gay groups in Toboali generally behave well,
and have roles and functions in society. They help in the success of their
region, be it from competitions, the arts, to give a good image to the regions
according to their respective fields and abilities.
At first, the gay group here experienced scorn and was stigmatized because
of their appearance or daily activities. But after this gay group is actively
involved and is indeed close to the community, it makes people think their
presence does not really make society uncomfortable. Of course this is also
supported by their role in society and also a good track record.
According to the explanation from the key informant, indirectly gay in
Toboali, South Bangka have a role in society. They are actively involved in
several activities and organizations that bring the good name of the district. But
even though they are like that, they cannot be separated from the talk from the
community regarding their feminine behavior. Even though they are called this
way, they (gays who have a feminine attitude) do not really care about it and
still act as it is, so that people who have negative views about their attitudes
will gradually change.
As expressed by Mr. Suardi, 41 years of age, regarding the negative views
of gay groups in Toboali. Mr. Suardi realizes that here many men behave like
women, at first Mr. Suardi was afraid that their existence would bring
something negative to their children. However, Pak Suardi personally did not
think about it because he saw their activity in several regional activities.
But apart from that, there is still a negative stigma against this group.
Especially from parents who have children who behave normally, as disclosed
by informant R when asked whether parents forbade their children to be friends
with a gay feminine person, and this was experienced by informant R when she
was in high school first.
As disclosed by informant R, there are still some people who think that gays
who behave like women have a negative impact on the people around them,
such as their children, and also someone judges because they are influenced by
the information they receive. It is the same as this mother who gets information
from her child that her friend is not too gay, but has justified this person.
Of course, it can be concluded that, the obstacle for gay groups in Toboali
Bangka Selatan is the negative stigma being labeled the gay group. But apart
from that, there are also people who still think of them positively from the
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activities they carry out, and consider them part of the community who
participate in developing the region.
3. The existence of a gay identity
Identity is initially known by differentiating these identities into what
sociology calls "roles" or "role sets", which by the norms of institutions and
organizations in society are then the source of meaning (symbolic
identification, purpose). from social action) actor towards himself, and by
himself constructed through the process of individuation, is stronger than the
role in forming an identity because of the process of self-construction. Identity
regulates the source of meaning, while role regulates its function. In a
networked society, identity is the result of construction through the strength of
the relationship between individuals and society, and the internalization of
actors with dominant institutions.
Castells in his book tries to offer the right implications in his analysis of
how identities are constructed in building collective identities, the relevance of
several processes of social change in network societies. There are three identity
formation processes offered by Castells as previously described. Namely,
project identity, resistance identity, and legitimazing identity.
In reality, the existence of gays in Toboali Bangka Selatan first negotiates
their identity based on the self image and public image they display. If traced
based on observations and interviews with informants, it can be concluded that
gays in Toboali have a tendency to display their true self-image or identity. By
the way they act while in society, which in fact has a feminine or gay character,
they are called "Bot". There are also those that display a public image that is
usually used by gay groups who have a tendency to be gay masculine or what
is more commonly referred to as "Top".
Seeing gay activity in Toboali, they are constructing their identity and trying
to get out of their dominant identity. They fight against the dominant society by
behaving according to what they want in society. People who initially tried to
attach a negative stigma to this group are getting used to their existing
activities.
They also behave like any other general public. They open up by doing
activities such as hanging out with their partner in a cafe or other crowd. When
seen with the naked eye, it is like teenagers who just gather together as usual.
But if seen in detail and seen by each other, it will appear that among the youth
associations there are pairs, one is feminine by displaying attributes like a
woman and the other is masculine. Apart from that, they are also mostly very
open about their identity on social media such as Instagram, Blued, and
Whatsapp groups.
When analyzed using the Manuel Castells approach, the identity formation
carried out by gay men in Toboali individually or in groups shows an
indication of the resistance identity stage. Gay, which is a subaltern group in
our view, is a marginalized group, oppressed, and does not have access to
power or cannot "speak out", in fact they can express themselves and some
have networks with local governments such as information obtained through
tracing interviews and observations.
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However, they are still negotiating their identity in certain public spaces.
For example, such as in educational institutions (campuses, schools) and the
gay workplace. Even though they try to show their true identity, there are still
certain spaces that force them to behave like a dominant society.
Then, as explained by Castells, this identity is formed by a building material
behind it. In this case, the gay identity in Toboali Bangka Selatan is formed by
the dynamics that occur in the gay life of Tobooali Bangka Selatan. Whether it
is in the form of history which includes the factors forming its identity, and
also productive institutions in Toboali also play a role in the process of
maintaining this gay identity.
Tabel 3. The existence of gay identity in Toboali, South Bangka
No. Identity Existence Description
1. Self Image a. Public place:
festival, election
event.
b. Hangout place
c. Social media and
application
Gays who display a lot of
their sexual identity tend to
act as a bottom or are
feminine
2. Public Image a. Educational
institution: School or
campus
b. Workplace
Gays tend to close
themselves off in places
where they do activities in
which there are policies or
justify the existence of a gay
identity
Source: Primary data process
CONCLUSION
1. Gay in Toboali, South Bangka, in their interactions and activities, is mostly carried
out by gays who in fact come from the studio environment. Gay who comes from the
studio environment is usually more feminine than gay outside the studio
environment, although there are also gays outside the studio who when gathered are
conspicuous because of their activities. Usually those who have a gay tendency are
called "Bes". Those who have a female or feminine role are called "Bots" and those
who act as men and act masculine are called "Top", or it can be the opposite that
does not determine their gender identity.
2. There are several factors that cause a person to be gay. These factors include
childhood social experience, namely the sense of trauma because they have been
victims of sexual violence since childhood (Pedophilia), due to family disharmony
factors; their lifestyle needs require them to enter the world of gay and also peers.
3. The distribution of types of work and the picture of the education of the gays is
relatively varied. Gay work exists as workers in the formal and informal sectors,
some are even both. As for gay education in Toboali, many of them are students and
some have dropped out of school but immediately work in Toboali or join a studio.
4. Gay in Toboali, South Bangka is also not immune from negative stigmatization of
their identity. But over time, this stigmatization diminishes due to the roles and
Proceedings of the 1
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Politics, and Humanities (ICoSoPH) Universitas Bangka Belitung
31 October 2020, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia
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contributions that some gays give to the regions. So far, in showing their existence,
gays in Toboali, South Bangka, have had very few obstacles and obstacles.
5. Gay in Toboali individually or in groups shows an indication of the resistance
identity stage. Gay, which is a subaltern group in our view, is a marginalized group,
oppressed, and does not have access to power or cannot "speak out", in fact they can
express themselves and some have networks with local governments such as
information obtained through tracing interviews and observations
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ICoSoPH
Multiculturalism, Identity, Language Studies,
Social Studies, International Relations,
Governance, Public Policy, Religious Studies,
Management and Resolution Conflict, Law
Reinforcement, Literature, Environmental
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