Queering Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia; Reimagining Inclusive Theology toward Diverse Faiths, Genders and Sexualities

Wednesday Forum – 29 March 2023

Religions and queer identities are often purportedly seen as antithetical to each other, impossible to reconcile, and harshly incompatible to be openly and mutually ‘holding hands’ with each other. The misconceptions that religions and faiths cannot accept and support queer identities are pervasive that it systematically victimizes and marginalizes the life of many queer people. Yet in Indonesia, despite mainstream conservative attitude toward queer identities, queer-inclusive voices coming from faith leaders and queer activists are resisting and challenging the status quo. “Queering Interfaith Dialogue in Indonesia” is a master’s thesis of Amar Alfikar, a trans man Muslim activist who has been working in the last 7 years to advocate queer-of-faith activism in Muslim contexts.

Amar Alfikar is an Indonesian trans man activist whose work challenges religious-based queerphobia, as well as pushing queer-inclusive narratives in theology. He is the founder and director of IQAMAH (Indonesian Queer Muslim and Allies). He has published several books in Indonesian language: “Christian-Islam Progressive Interpretation of Diverse Gender and Sexuality” (GAYa Nusantara, 2019) “Understanding Trans Men in Indonesia” (Trans men Indonesia, 2020), “Islam and Queer Bodies” (YIFoS, 2022), and “Queering Interpretation: Islamic Theology for Diverse Embodiments.”