July 27: Sunday Continues!

9:30—11:00p Sunday
Then to top off the night, the first Holy Union in Indonesia (so we've been told) and certainly presided at by a RC woman priest (see pics). Ani, the primary organizer of the Women's Coalition of Yogyakarta, and also an actress, helped to arrange it in two days at the Garage Theater - a small innovative group.

For hetersexual couples it is against state law to marry a person of another religion. And of course there is no sanctioned marriage ceremony for LGBT people. And while Yogyakarta intellectuals and activists have developed in 2006 a remarkable document-- the Yogyakarta Principles --which advocate for the sexual rights of all, it is still not socially or religiously accepted to be LGBT.

Given that information, I will use pseudonyms for the two women who so courageously vowed their commitment to one another on that Sunday night in Yogyakarta.

We walk down a small road beside dark rice paddies to the space. Friends began to trickle in - many in hijab. The planning of all this happened in a day, and it really does require some longer description. Ani says - 'just tell us what to do, we've never done anything like this.' The theatre people knew immediately that we needed a set, lights and sound! And so with Kathryn's guiding hand all went to work creating a stage set with chairs, potted plants, table, cloth and candle. "M" (Muslim) in a gorgeous Javanese dress and "C" (Catholic) in a Javanese headband and shirt.

The couple had emailed me in the States asking if I would create a Blessing Ceremony for their relationship. I said I would if we could have a talk the day before (which we did) about what commitment meant to each of them. At that meeting we also decided the elements of the liturgy: Opening Prayer, Readings from sacred texts (Christian Bible & Qur’an), poems that either of them would read, speaking their vows to one another, ring giving, and a final blessing that would be given by all to their commited relationship.

There were lots of tears. And even a surprise cake that was traditionally cut by the couple---but according to tradition the couple’s parents receive the first pieces. "M" and "C" offered us those esteemed pieces of cake. And lots of "paparazzi" --we're all laughing when we watch the video of it the next day --- how many friends were taking pictures!! Damai, who was the original person who had invited us, gave "M" and "C" a beautiful woven wedding blanket that is traditionally put around the shoulders of the newlyweds. And she also gave one to Kathryn and me! Knowing that the next day would also be abundantly busy we excused ourselves from the celebration at 11:00p, leaving the younger women to enjoy the night! But the memory of this extraordinarily intimate and risky liturgy stays deep within me signaling the courage and vision of young lesbian women in Yogyakarta.

Once again, I note the importance of women priests creating inter-faith alliances across sexualities, genders and ethnicities. We do this in different ways, in different places, but do it we must.