Thanks for sharing your feelings and appreciation, for those two pictures. I followed them a lot also outside.
I have to say that I was impressed since the beginning about Jogiakarta’s openness towards LGBTQ+ people and their connection with the Muslim religion, but for as much openness there was a couple like Tira and Dayang did not go unnoticed, so there were the stares, the awes and the awkwardness, but I never felt any danger nor strong discrimination.
However, my perception was that they felt truly safe only in three places: their dwelling, the crossroad where they work and the Catholic church where Tira used to go (Dayang was Muslim, so he never entered the Church but he was always accompanying her). They somehow created three safe bubbles for them, and when they had to go outside of those bubbles, for instance taking public transport, or going into public places, they didn’t like it much.
The kiss picture is very moving and you really feel that there is no wall between the observer and them, one can really feel their love. And their magic.
My intention from the beginning was, to be honest with the reality of the situation, and their reality was somehow dramatic (the poverty, the illness, the struggles), but at the same time, there was a joy and a unique lightness of being: I had to show that too. (Thankfully, this was kept from the start right to the end).