I want to share a journey that’s been close to my heart—building a platform for Indonesians to connect and talk about the issues that matter. This platform was inspired by the Indonesian word berani, meaning courage, and the national motto Unity in Diversity, which reflects Indonesia’s rich cultural tapestry and our responsibility to understand and support each other across differences.
Since I was young, I’ve always cared about making sure everyone feels included and accepted. But when I returned to Indonesia after my studies, I noticed that more needed to be done. It all started when my friends began sharing painful experiences with me—especially stories about gender-based violence.
It was painful to hear how many of my female friends felt ashamed and unable to report their experiences of abuse in non-marital relationships. Men, too, faced struggles, often being told they couldn’t be victims of sexual abuse. The stories were even more heartbreaking from friends in the LGBTQ+ community, who shared their silent battles with humiliation and discrimination. Many endured verbal abuses from those around them, including their own families. Others suffered quietly in closeted abusive relationships, too afraid to seek help, fearing that not only would they be denied support, but they’d also be blamed simply because of their gender or sexual orientation.
One friend shared a terrifying experience of being blackmailed by someone who had deceived him on a dating app, threatening to reveal his sexual orientation to his family. He confided, “My parents would disown me if they found out; I can’t tell them.” Hearing these stories opened my eyes to the deep, hidden pain that so often goes unnoticed in our society. I felt a mix of anger, frustration, and sadness. I wondered, why don’t people talk about this more? Why do men and people of diverse identities feel they can’t speak up? We need to change that! It’s crucial for more people to understand these issues instead of ignoring them.
That’s why I wanted to build a virtual, safe, welcoming space where people could share information, raise awareness, and ask questions. I realized that if we only speak to those who are already open-minded, we can’t bring real change. So, this platform isn’t just for people who already know about gender and sexuality. It’s also for those who might feel uncomfortable or haven’t thought much about these topics. I want everyone to feel curious and ask questions like, “What is gender diversity?” and “What is sexual orientation?” These questions are the first step toward building a more compassionate society.
Through this platform, I hope we can embrace our diversity and talk about difficult issues, we can create a more inclusive and understanding Indonesia, where no one suffers alone, and every voice is heard.