Merlyn Sopjan, To My Family, I’m Going Home

With families’ acceptance and protection, transwomen do not need to leave their homes and go on the streets. They can have the opportunity to develop themselves positively and produce a positive impact on society.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Merlyn Sopjan

At about the age of 20, Merlyn Sopjan, 49, won various titles at national-beauty contests for transgender women and has since been involved in various transwomen’s empowerment programs. She realizes that she can make headway due to her parents’ consent. However, not all transwomen share the same fate. She is thus striving to secure transwomen’s unconditional acceptance from their families.

Many transwomen have fled their homes with wounded feelings for not being recognized by families. Some others may have escaped with physical injuries. They get along with countless questions passing through their minds. “What should I do so that I can go home? How should I be the pride of my family in the village? Why do they refuse to accept me?”