British Broadcasting Corporation

BBC News Updated every minute of every day




In pictures: Indonesia's waria


Stigma

For some of the worshippers at the waria school, the night will end here – with prayers and Koran-reading late into the night. Others will leave in the early hours to start work in Yogyakarta's red light district.

Jobs aren't easy to come by in Indonesia if you are living as a woman in a man's body. The school may have made it easier for the waria to learn about Islam’s teachings, but outside the stigma makes it much harder to live by them.

Text/Images: Lucy Williamson

Click below for more images
BACK 1 2 3 4 5 6   NEXT

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific