A gay couple have been married at a five star resort in Ubud recently. It is understood that one is local to Indonesia and the other American.
As photographs of the wedding spread on social media there has been a national outcry on the island. The photos feature someone wearing the white clothing of a Pemangku, a Hindu holy man, and two women in traditional Balinese attire.
Hinduism forbids same sex marriage and even marriage between differing religions is banned in conservative Indonesia. It seems that the controversy in this case comes not from the marriage itself but from the involvement of the hindu religion.
After outcry from the public, public figures have been keen to condemn the marriage as a disgrace to Bali.
Bali Governor Made Pastika“It should not have happened. Should not. Where was it?” Bali Governor Made Pastika angrily said this week.
“In the Hindu religion it is banned. Extremely banned. I want to know, where was it? We should give a reprimand. I think it’s a disgrace for Bali. It should not happen,” he said.
Bali’s police chief, Inspector General Sugeng Priyanto said preliminary inquiries had shown that it was not an official or legal wedding but a celebration because the couple had already legally married in the US.
“Preliminary information that we received is that the two men, a US national and an Indonesian, have already married in the US. They came to Bali to hold a celebration,” Insp Gen Priyanto said.
“They said it was a Hindu ritual. We will question expert witnesses first to find out about the ritual according to the Hindu religion. If it (the ceremony) was deviate maybe we will use that article. Based on the information we receive there was a Hindu ritual held during celebration. There was also offerings. For sure if we find that there are violations of the law the police will take action,” he said.
It is thought that the couple flew to the USA a few days after the ceremony
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Reader's Comments
Campaign to change it by all means but make sure it is tolerant and within the law. Otherwise, why should the change be kept in the future?
Respect earns respect.
I for one see anything wrong here other than a bunch of religious zealots
trying to cause problems. It was a celebration of the union of marriage not a wedding ceremony. Two totally different functions.
Religion....tax it and enforce the separation of religion from state.
If we'd respect the status quo, blacks in the US would still be slaves, widows would still be burnt in India, and women in Holland would still be fired by law the day after getting married (as happened to my mom), and Jews would not be allowed to practice professions, organized in Christian guilds, or own houses or land (until Napoleon changed that).
There are different ways to challenge and change the status quo and achieve greater justice for all, and we can disagree on strategy and tactics. But I do object to people's assertions that 'being nice' will get you what you want and deserve, such as freedom, justice, equality, dignity.
'Being nice' (unprovocative, respecting the law, culture, religion) keeps you in your place. Now, some may use comedy, some may use guns, some may use provocation, while others use pleading, or meditation or prayer--that's all tactical variations.
The bottom line is: don't tell people to be nice. You're telling them to be a slave in the given system.
So, why haven't you taken a big stick to get your way?
You must be scared that someone would find a bigger stick and beat you life out of you.
Turning the other cheek IS the solution.
好甜蜜
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