A time to shine for Tonga's silenced leitis Featured
Joey Mataele
20 May, 2018. The struggle for more acceptance and tolerance of transgender and LGBT communities within largely religious and conservative Pacific communities has been highlighted in a new film winning the hearts of global audiences.
Leiti is short for the term fakaleiti, a term that describes a person who is born as a male, but who acts in a feminine way, just like a lady.
Debate still flourishes over whether leitis are born female, or are nurtured to be that way.
But despite their integral part in Tongan culture leitis face innumerable struggles, particularly against discrimination which, they say, has been brought upon by the rise of outside influences.
This uniquely Pacific concept of gender, and the leiti experience, is documented in Joey Mataele's film, "Leitis in Waiting," which has been winning awards at film festivals around the world, but to little fanfare back in Tonga.
It follows a year in Mataele's life, documenting her glamour and personality, but also her battles and struggles.
"This has been a long time dream of ours to have our stories recorded and used as an advocacy tool. There are so many untold stories.
If we had to actually record on audio the untold story of everything leitis have been going through we would have a library like the room of George Washington," she laughed.
For centuries, leitis have been involved in Tongan life to the highest level, often called upon to serve the royal family and churches.
In this film, viewers are taken to celebrations for the 90th birthday of the Queen Mother, Halaevalu Mata'aho, in Nuku'alofa, where they feature prominently, as well as the Miss Galaxy pageant.
But beneath the glamour, life for leitis is often a struggle, which Matele said could be seen in the muted reaction to the film at home, despite its success abroad.
While leitis are an ancient part of Tongan culture, who have been around longer than the church, they often come under fire and face regular discrimination.
"It is like locals here don't recognise it. The culture and taboo often just puts this big wall up and we can't move beyond that wall to tell our stories," she said.
"We are often more worried about our extended families and background, rather than thinking about yourself spiritually, physically and mentally."
Matele also made the distinction when being asked if fakaletis were more accepted or tolerated in Tonga compared to a lesbian or gay couple.
He said they were both the same and accepted when it comes to things like domestic chores, or decorating the church but talking about the bedroom and same sex relationships, is still very much taboo.
"But it is actually ruining your life, when you don't get to talk about these things."
Around the Pacific, transgender people face difficult lives. Bullied, discriminated against, persecuted and, sometimes, murdered, the stories of leitis, fa'afine and transgender people across the region is one of struggle and strength.
That is true for Mataele and the members of the Tonga Leiti Association, for whom the film is dedicated.
"Everybody thinks I come from a good family, like money and all that, but people don't know what I really went through in life. There are some parts that did not make the movie that... well, put it this way. There are scars there," said Mataele.
"Some people just say we are nothing and throw them into the dogs or the pit. It is really disheartening to take those awful comments."
Mataele, and many others, have faced cyber abuse and other harassment from their own people, including stars.
When the rugby player Israel Folau recently made comments on social media that gay people would "go to hell," that, again, tore open the wounds.
"I don't hate Israel Folau. I just wish that instead of hating gay or LGBT, pray for them. The world is too small for hate. I only wish there will be a day where I can sit down with him and share our stories."
For many leitis, including Mataele, watching the film dredged up some of those difficulties and picked at those scars.
But at the same time, she said, it was liberating to tell a story that needed to be told, to shine light on the struggles they face.
"It does bring back a lot of hardship that we went through but at the same time it feels great to be able to open up about the life we go through."
-RNZI
7 comments
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Mahalo oku uhinga a Zoe ia ki he nofo fakamali 'a e tangata moe tangata pea moe lesbian life style he oku kei tapu pe foki ia he lao 'o Tonga. Ka oku 'ikai fakapopula'i kinautolu mo 'enau me'a oku fai he oku nau fetakai pe kinautolu he oku 'ikai fu'u loko fai ha tokanga ia kiai. Oku 'ikai ke si'i tapalasia e kau leitii 'I Tonga. Oku 'iai hoku cousin moe foha oku na leiti pea oku ikai ke fakamamahi'i kinaua 'I api ,,Ko e me'a pe oku 'ilo'i oku ikai ke na attracted ki he kakai fefine (sexually) ka oku na manako tangata pea ngata ai. Oku mahino pe oku iai pe hona ngaahi boyfriend he oku na enjoy pe 'ena mo'ui mo hona ngaahi friend. Kuopau foki ke liliu e lao kae toki hokosia 'a e sitepu koia oku uhinga kiai a Zoe.
Ko ia oku hala e me'a koia oku fakatalanoa kiai a Zoe he oku 'ikai si'i fakamamahi'i sii kau leitii I Tonga. Oku 'iai enau filimisi moe va'inga netball moe hafua oku poupou'i pe ehe ngaahi famili moe kakai 'oe fonua. Hange oku hanga e Zoe o talaki kuo fakaehaua kinautolu pea mo fakamamahi'i. Ka toki launga pe ha lady kuo mamahi hono tu'a pea mahalo e hopo'i ka oku te'eki ke tau fanongo kuo iai ha launga pehee mei he kau leitii.. -
AESTHETIC IS THEORY OF "BEAUTY" IS IN THE "EYE OF THE BEHOLDER" SAYS SHAKESPEARE...Sadly but the LAW OF NATURE is difficult to argue with. Not too many male animals mate, compared to humans. One reason perhaps humans can rationalize in their minds what is "beauty" (aesthetics).
While disgusting it may look to some, two men are having sex, it is a beautiful thing to them. So Shakespeare is absolutely correct. As for politics, it is no illusion that the whole lot of them are crooks, is reality.
To compare "aesthetics" to "politics" is like comparing an art form to "childbirth". The latter is natural while the former is manmade. Childbirth is the real beauty because it creates life. Sexual pleasure is a side-effect of life creation, for without it there's no childbirth. But humans are not all perfect biologically, although the Law of Nature does not change to please a few. It is for the benefit of the many.
Procreation is the purpose of the Law of Nature. -
This award-winning film is a clear case of aesthetics versus politics, i.e., a clear case of the issue versus the source or for that matter objectivity versus subjectivity. In order for this film to be award-winning, it must have justly met universal standards of film-making as an artform.
Shouldn't we concern ourselves with the aesthetics rather than the politics if not the former followed by the latter, where both are reflected upon their own terms rather than in terms of our own liking and disliking?
As far as art and literary criticism goes, the artform of film-making (or cinematography) is often fused with the artform of story-telling as a distinct but closely related artform. In this case, story-telling as an artform is connected here with the story of the leitis, while the production of images using light or colours is the basic concern of film-making.
Whereas the artform of story-telling deals with the mediation conflicts in human meanings, the artform of film-making accounts for the negotiation of conflicting lines and spaces, with both transformed from a condition of chaos to a state of order through sustained symmetry and harmony and beauty.
The directors and producers and cast members, i.e., actleitis and actors and actresses must all be congratulated for their true and courageous sense of originality and creativity and innovation and indeed their great work of art. Keep up the great deed all good folks. -
Agree with you bertie.
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Joey has been misrepresenting the reality of the fakaleitis in Tonga. They are not persecuted and no one is bothering them. They do what they to do with their lives. If anything it's Joey who is abusing and mistreating the leitis. S/He treats the leities from poorer backgrounds like second class citizens from a lower level in society.
C'mmon Joey, stop spreading lies to get grants and fundings from pro-LGBT international donors. -
How sad it is to see people becoming becoming so confused in believing that it is their right to follow what they feel is their person. This is just as bad as committing adultery or worst still. It is also sad that straight people don't act in loving gentle ways in trying to influence and enlighten these confused souls. I am sure Israel Folau's comment was not out of hatred but loving concern but unfortunately the truth always hurts. The bible clearly states this. No vague or maybe truths. Just plain black and white facts. Their nature maybe feminine but they are born male and so need to deal with their emotions and mind set. The same fact applies to lesbians too. We need to pray for them and encourage them them to pray for their healing so their mind could be completely transformed by the mighty power of God's spirit. No matter what their situation is or was they should take it to God in prayer and he will direct them. Speaking out or telling them otherwise is not hate. The truth just needs to be told whether we like it or not and how deep it hurts.. There's hope ...you just need to open to God and let him speak to you and seek help from God fearing bible teachers or preachers. .....
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Leviticus 18:22 NO MAN IS TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH ANOTHER MAN; GOD HATES THAT. If we are a God fearing people , we should do everything possible to convince ,them that live this way , is not right .It matters not how much one will kick and scream , they can live in society like every one else, it's still not right . Let's stop burying our head in the sand, 'cause that will be the same as " getting hold of the wrong end of the stick". to really get the message across we need to say things which will be unsavoury to a lot of people , but it should be said . How can a Man make love to another Man ?????????? , that part is the sewer of our body it's the OUTLET ! not INLET ! . We must not HATE people who are different from us in their preferences , but that's no reason for us not to stand firm and let them know what they are doing is WRONG ! WRONG ! WRONG ! If you see your brother or sister going the wrong way, Stop them and show them the right WAY. .. .