Obama's transgender ex-nanny outcast

[the_gabih]

Once, long ago, Evie looked after "Barry" Obama, the kid who would grow up to become the world's most powerful man. Now, his transgender former nanny has given up her tight, flowery dresses, her brocade vest and her bras, and is living in fear on Indonesia's streets.

Comments

[poetic_pixie_13]

Oh my god. This is horrific. Indonesia's cultural understanding of gender and trans people is just, idek. Fuck.

[zombiebat]

TBH, that's only a select part. There are many cultures within Indonesia and one in called the Bugis has a MUCH different view. I don't mean to stan, but sweeping generalizations like this offends me as someone who is part Indonesian. The same stuff like this happens to America and around the world so it's not just cultural to Indonesians.

[poetic_pixie_13]

Ack, I'm really sorry for how my comment was phrased. I meant to address the fact that it is complex and often can be very supportive. But I hit enter too quickly and didn't read over my comment. Again, I'm really sorry. I'd be just as offended if someone else had commented the way I did. -_-

[zombieroadtrip]

Evie, who was born a man but believes she is really a woman

Sigh

[dangerousdame]

At least they used the right pronouns.

[teacoat]

I was actually pleasantly surprised by that part, especially considering she effectively detransitioned.

But yeah, the "born a man" and "transgenders" parts had me eyerolling.

[martyfan]

Yeah, my thought processes went roughly "Yay for the right pronouns! ...'believes' she's a woman? Fuck you. Transgenders? Are you fucking serious."

[romp]

:(

[sihaya09]

Heartbreaking.

[odette_river]

They often rounded up "banshees" or "warias," as they are known locally

I'm confused by this. Is 'banshee' a term used in the US? Or is it used in Indonesia in place of waria? I feel stupid for asking this, because I'm actually currently living in Indonesia, and though the group I hang out with is fairly supportive of transgender issues, it's also one of those things that we don't really talk about.

[zombiebat]

I think "banshee" is supposed to be "banci" (Ban-Chi) in Indonesian which is pretty offensive towards trans people iirc. I was confused by this myself, but it just seems like a weird phonetic spelling. It took me a second until you brought it up because it's not a topic and a vocab word I use at all.

[odette_river]

Ohhhh. I was totally trying to figure out how folklore about wailing ghosts connected to waria, with no success. Thanks!

[zombiebat]

I think some of the translations or wording in this article is very strange. Glad I could help!