Minority Group Spiritual Reflection [Raboan Discussion Forum]

The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities again held the Raboan Discussion Forum on Wednesday (6/7). The topic raised on the occasion was entitled Reflection on the Spirituality of Gender Minority Groups. The topic was presented by the speaker Desy Putri Ratnasari, S.Si., M.Sc. Meanwhile, the role of the moderator is dr. Galuh Dyah Fatmala.

Desy’s background in conducting research with the theme of Gender Minority is that there is still a negative stigma given to this group. Data obtained by Desy from LBH shows that gender minorities are often seen as a threat to the nation, sexual crimes deviant behavior, and so on. Not only stigma, but discriminatory actions are also often found by gender minority groups in various institutions. According to data from LBH, religious institutions are the institutions that often discriminate.

As a researcher, Desy feels the need to explore more about the spiritual aspect of an individual belonging to a gender minority group. In the literature, it is said that spirituality is different from religion. Spirituality is defined as something that is beyond religious and deep in individual people. Spirituality is an attitude of seeking a meaningful connection with something than yourself which can result in positive emotions such as peace, awe contentment, gratitude, and acceptance.

In this study, Desy used the SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, Sexual characteristic) approach. The SOGIESC approach is a concept regarding the need for sexual orientation and gender which is created to open the public’s mind more broadly about the diversity of sexual orientation and gender. This approach seeks to capture and at the same time show gender and sexuality, including their complexity.

From research conducted on gender minority individuals and communities in Yogyakarta, Desy concluded three things, namely:
1. they can find their identity even though they get negative stigma and discriminatory treatment from society, they can make peace with themselves and can even actualize themselves
2. they can forgive and help people who have treated them badly by continuing to do good deeds
3. they can express spirituality and live it through their ways and ways of doing this because they believe that the relationship with the Creator is the most important and important thing in life.

 

Watch full video here