Amid Mardi Gras buzz, Indonesians in Australia rue diminishing LGBTQ rights back home

The Indonesian float at the parade, dubbed Selamat Datang – meaning “Welcome” in Indonesian – was founded by Australian Shawn Dern.

“One of our star guests this year is Kai Mata.”

Bali-based singer Kai Mata, who identifies as both queer and lesbian, said she was excited and honoured to have been invited to perform at the parade.

“It’s my first Mardi Gras experience and I can’t wait.”

Ozak said Kai deserved to be celebrated for all she had done to further LGBTQ awareness back home in Indonesia.

“Our float theme this year is ‘Be Brave’; [Kai] is proof of that. To become an openly lesbian musician and activist in Indonesia at the same time is hard.”

Bandung-born Ozak was a contestant in the 2014 Mr Gay World representing Indonesia and moved to Australia in 2011, where he is now a citizen.

“Coming from a developing country like Indonesia, moving overseas is not as easy as pack-and-go. Let’s say I had to leave everything behind and started my life from zero,” he said.

Ozak relinquished his Indonesian nationality and formerly served in the Royal Australian Navy, but says he still feels attached to his country of birth.

“I am still proud of my identity as an Indonesian because that part is permanent and cannot be erased,” said Ozak, whose new memoir I Am That Unicorn: Memoir of an Indonesian Queer details his journey as an immigrant gay man in Australia.

Sydney-based Selina Clara said she would march as part of the Selamat Datang float for the first time this year.

“I came to terms with my sexuality [as a bisexual] seven years ago and it feels like another milestone in my journey of self-acceptance,” said Selina, who is originally from Menado, South Sulawesi.

But not all in the Indonesian LGBTQ diaspora in Australia will be marching in