A way of life that celebrates five genders still survives in Sulawesi amid a society that continues to suppress LGBTQ+ in Indonesia. The Bissu, as the leader of the culture, must decide: adapt and destroy extinction, or society ostracize them.
A way of life that celebrates five genders still survives in Sulawesi amid a society that continues to suppress LGBTQ+ in Indonesia. The Bissu, as the leader of the culture, must decide: adapt and destroy extinction, or society ostracize them.
Project Background
An ancient way of life that glorifies five genders persists in Sulawesi. Men, women, trans-men, and trans-women are guided by the fifth gender, namely gender-fluid ‘Bissu.’ Bissu was the leader of this culture for hundreds of years as its high priest.
The majority of Bugis people have now converted to Islam and abandoned their culture. The persecution of the LGTBQ+ people by Indonesia’s conservative religious society is increasing, and this is increasingly pressing for their existence, including the Bissu.
This film follows the story of the last two remaining Bissu. Bissu Nisa lived in extreme poverty, often accused of blasphemy and sin for being an unmarried ‘woman.’ Bissu Eka is the youngest and last Bissu to be ordained. To gain a place in society, Bissu Eka is under pressure to become a devout Muslim and revert to her biological gender: male. He decided to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca to prove his repentance.
Impact Goal
Changing the behavior of Indonesian society to stop persecuting the LGBTQ+.
