Dalih Sembiring

Sepocikopi started as a blog in 2007 and is now a Web site attracting 500 unique visitors every day.

An Online Source of Support for Lesbians

Among a multitude of Web sites on offer to the people of Indonesia is one that aims to help gay women through a dark time in their life, by assuring them that they do not need to suffer in silence.

Sepocikopi, the first Indonesian Web-zine for lesbians, was launched in January 2007 by a woman, whose pen name is Alex, and her female partner.

“There is a stage in every lesbian’s life that I like to call the ‘dark age,’ when we feel lonely, scared and try to deny our own feelings. When it’s just so hard to make peace with ourselves,” Alex said. “Sepocikopi hopes to be able to reach out and say: ‘Hey, it’s OK. You’re not alone.’ ”

That is exactly what the site is doing.

Sepocikopi, meaning coffee pot, is lifting the spirits of lesbians, like the momentary lift of caffeine, by allowing them to share their experiences on the internet.

Shortly before its second anniversary, Sepocikopi received a letter from a university student, calling herself “Im.” In it she said that Sepocikopi had gradually convinced her not to commit suicide, a plan she had come up to escape the social stigma of being a lesbian.

“I thought she was making it all up. It was too touching to be true,” Alex said. “But we got in contact and she told me her whole story.”

Alex, editor in chief of the site, says there is limited information out there for gay women in Indonesia. Mailing lists, online forums and chat communities are the main interactive forums available for lesbians. That lack of options convinced Alex to create something more comprehensive, a site with information, not only for women like her, but also for the wider public.

“The number of visitors to Sepocikopi multiplied in 2008. It climbed again this year,” she said. “On average, we get up to 500 unique visitors and 2,000 page views every day on weekdays, and slightly smaller figures on weekends.”

The progress, Alex says, shows just how many Indonesian lesbians are looking for information that will help them better understand their sexuality. Knowledge that is particularly important in a place where being a lesbian can be difficult

“Shinigami,” a columnist for the site, says, “Wherever you are, as long as society still holds the stereotype that lesbians are hurtful and offensive, nothing lesbians do will ever be good enough.”

Sepocikopi can be found by typing the words “lesbian” and “Indonesia” into any search engine, which is exactly what “Fluffy” did when she was looking for an idea for her university thesis.

“I visited the site and left my blog address. A few days later, the administrator left me a message, asking me to become a regular contributor,” she said.

Every Sunday, Fluffy, 22, who is also a published novelist and short story writer, sends an article for the column “Obrolan Cewek,” or “Girl Talk.”

As Sepocikopi is not just all about moving or sad confessions, Fluffy likes to give fun tips on a variety of topics in her column: from ideas for post-sex activities to legislative candidates’ posters.

On Mondays, visitors can enjoy articles on culture, or short stories that have been published in the national media.

The art of writing is Thursday’s highlight in the column “Bengkel Menulis,” or “Writing Workshop.” It is run by Alex’s partner, “Lakhsmi,” who is also a successful businesswoman.

Sepocikopi now has four editors, nine writers and nine regular columnists, who although they work for free, have served up more than 1,100 articles. They get help from their heterosexual friends, including famous Indonesian writers and novelists. “Ratih Kumala once served as a guest writer,” Alex said. “And Ucu Agustin often provides us with info on where to find gay or lesbian-themed short stories.”

Shinigami says she believes a straight-person’s perspective is crucial to the success of the site, because “what lesbians in Indonesia really need is a neutral perspective from the non-lesbians.”

In Shinigami’s weekly column, “te.lez.kop,” she talks about the issues lesbians face every day, which she hopes will show that they are no different than everyone else.

To learn more, click:
www.sepocikopi.com
email: redaksi@sepocikopi.com

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