2 - Onghokham in the Indonesian Gay Movement: Personal and Institutional Reminiscences

The presentation will remember the role of Onghokham, then already a public intellectual, in supporting the effort to build a gay (and lesbian) movement, following in the steps of trans women (wadam/waria) organizing in the early 1980s and afterwards. While Ong was never explicitly out, in a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" way he nevertheless meant a lot to the budding movement, and its development until his passing and afterwards. Questions will be raised as to the different roles public figures can play in the movement.