The recent legalizing of gay marriages in the State of California has not stirred the hopes of local fa’afafines in lobbying for the same rights.

In fact, if anything they are adamant that they do not go down that path, at least not yet.

President of Samoa Faafafine Association (SFA) and one of the more prominent voices of fa‘afafines, Roger To’oto’oalii Stanley says gay marriages in Samoa is a “big no-no.”

“It’s hard enough for our cultural values to accept the term gay, let alone gay marriages,” To’oto’oalii said.

According to him although local fa’afafines do have relationships with men, it is not often that it leads to a lifetime commitment or cohabitation.

“There are very few fa’afafines who have live in partners,” To’oto’alii said.

Defining Fa’afafines

Lau Dr Asofou Soo of the National University of Samoa Institute of Education (NUSIHE) has formerly defined the faafafine as: “Men who act like women, feel like women and tend to do work done by women.”

The Samoan Dictionary by G.B Milner defines it as “a feminine man or youth.”

The Transgender web site, which talks about transvestites in many cultures draws from a definition used in Paradise Bent a documentary about Samoan faafafines.

“When it comes to gender, it seems there is a truly Samoan way of seeing the world. Paradise Bent is a fascinating and entertaining film that tells the story of the Samoan fa'afafines: boys who are raised as girls and take on the domestic duties performed by women around the home, raising the children, caring for the elderly, and bringing the family together.”

A transvestite however is closely defined as: “A person who obtains sexual gratification from the personal style and appearance of the opposite gender and is usually homosexual (but not always). The male transvestite population are more visible and are sometimes called, drag queens.”

Defining Gays

Gays are define differently.

The Oxford Dictionary defines gay as: “Homosexual, intended for or used by homosexuals, generally informal in used but favoured by homosexuals with reference to themselves.”

Dr Asofou Soo defined gay as “person attracted to the same gender and psychologically like the opposite sex attraction. They do the same things.”

Thomas Clough a reviewer of gay literature wrote: “The word “homosexual” has been redefined to mean someone who shares erotic experiences with other adults.”

So for Samoan fa’afafines who are gay, should they pursue the option for same-sex marriage?

According to To’oto’oalii it will be a long time before Samoa is ready to hear about the notion.

Tuilaepas Stance

The Prime Minister has also put his foot down on the issue.

In an interview back in 2006 Tuilaepa said the issue of same sex marriage conflicts greatly with that of the Samoan culture and Christian values.

Although deeply rooted in the Samoan culture Tuilaepa says there is a role for the fa’afafine in Samoa that does not have to end in same sex marriage.

In fact he said: “I personally know of several that have gotten married, fathered children and raised families. But still they have these feminine mannerisms because God made them that way."

Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi said at the time about gay marriages: "It's a foreign concept which of course is not accepted as it is not in accordance with the Christian values Samoa is founded upon."

He added: "And these dictate that a man can only marry a woman and not another man. Same for women."

Crimes Ordinance

But although accepted socially and ingrained in the Fa’aSamoa, there are still laws which discriminate against the transvestite or fa’afafine and gay men.

According to the 1961 Crimes Ordinance it is illegal for a male to impersonate a woman with “the intent to deceive any other person as to his true sex.”

That would mean a man who dresses as a woman, walks like a woman, holds a handbag, uses lipstick or “any other article intended by him to represent that he is female or in any other way is impersonating or representing himself to be a female.”

The maximum penalty for such a crime is six months of imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $200.00.

But local law practitioners say this particular law should not worry local fa’afafines as it was imported from New Zealand and not made to suit the local scenario.

To‘oto‘oalii says this is not an issue: “Samoans accepted Fa’fafines long time ago; we are part of this culture.”

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Comments (10)

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benefits
written by seti, June 25, 2008

this is one of the most defined or mis defined and much conversed topic in the world today.
Forget about Samoa and religion but what im interested about is, what are their advantages and disadvantages to modern society?

Personally speaking, as the world gets more and more polluted and deteriorated due to human activities, plus the rapid increasing in the world's population, the resources that are available to cater for all our needs and our future childrens' welfare are exhausted and are seriously diminished by the day.
Now, being gay in todays environment should be seen as something good rather than being condemed and judeged coz there is a major possibility that they will not produce anymore children. less children to worry about in the future and resources are made available for others.
Secondly, of the many gays I know, they are the most responsible people and very caring individuals who contribute much more to families and communities than the many heterosexuals in comparisons.

Getting married should not be viewed as a major issue in Samoa. Every family has a gay person in Samoa today.
Most are a result of sexual and physological abuse in their early years.
Who knows some of those mps in parlaiment, leaders of orgnsations and prominent people in societies were child molesters in their younger years? it sounds ridiculous but its an unspoken truth.

No pun intended, thanks for understanding

...
written by rockcimus, June 25, 2008

lets just keep things the way they are...

hmmmmmm...;D;)
written by sina, June 25, 2008

gay or straight, they're human and humans have feelings. So, the moral of the story is (lol): give gay people a chance to live life like everyone else, to get married, have kids? and raise a family. Perhaps gay couples get married and live happily ever after and last longer in their marriage than the average straight couple. Maybe divorce rate will go down lol.

but oh wait, in samoa its not as easy as it sounds, Christianity rules thats why. So good luck faafafines and gay boys and girls. Hope you continue to find love and happiness in this world.

God Bless!!!

I have a very close relative who is gay...
written by Pulili, June 26, 2008

if marriage is something she would want, I would not hold it against her.

Samoa, Samoa, Samoa...so hypocritical in the church scheme of things. Gays are welcomed in Samoa's society both domestically and in church but that's it! Don't expect to see same sex marriages anytime soon in our falesas!

I wish that the church would speak of REAL LIFE ISSUES OF LIFE instead of ignoring them! Like HIV/AIDS, domestic abuse, child abuse, gays....etc. All of these SINS are committed by humans both Christian and non Christian alike. Ministries can be as PREVENTION and education to the masses.

Very unfortunate that faifeaus shy away from these realities! You must be willing to lead your flock and face these challenges together through their ministries, prayer and spiritual guidance.

Manuia

wow
written by Malia, June 26, 2008

Awoiiiiiiiii........am i really hearing this???????........here i am suspecting that gay marriages will stay i nAmerica but now in Samoa??......its totally shocking and inappropriate..well thats what i think.. they are right we have accepted the fact that Faafafines existed in our culture but to push it towards MARRIAGE!!!!!.i would say WHOA!!!!....everybody slow down and lets all talk about this...i know that everybody deserves some happiness but come to think of it its totally wierd and plain creepy.....oh well lets all just let this stay the same. i wouldnt want any changes to happen in our culture. ia faifai malie le aso.

changes
written by suiga, June 26, 2008

Well, as much as we hate to change things as they are, changes are coming and we cannot shut the door forever or we will see ourselves lagging behind everyone else
In other words, our people needs to have critical broad thinking and more understanding than being judgemental and narrowly focussed on religion only.
Just like christianity made and revolutionalized by people, same sex marriages were introduced and followed by people. Therefore, this is just one of the many changes that is coming to the world and theres almost no stopping. We just have to accept and live with it.
I have many gay relatives and I am all for their interests coz they always look out for mine too.
It does creates a whole positive aura around everyone.
May peace and happiness be upon all and blessings to all Samoans back home and al throughout the world

sole.......
written by nialaizon, June 27, 2008

sole thatz against Gods will............but its up 2 u.......cuz no one will stand be4 u,when judgement comes u stand by ur ownself.........infront of God.........

It is wrong to be judgemental and discriminatory based on sexual preference
written by Unconditional Love, June 27, 2008

Are we to turn our cheek and disregard that those of our gay relatives want to be accepted in every aspect of society? Why shouldn't they be married if our gay relatives chose to? Every fafaafine fafaatama should have an opportunity to know what it is like to have a family and be happy in it. Heck their marriages probably raise better children and marriages would last longer than heterosexual marriages!

We are to love one another not shy away from our loved ones based on religion, color, sexual preference, age, gender, illness/deformity etc. You get the full picture now

what a
written by polu., July 07, 2008

God made ADAM and EVE, not ADAM and STEVE..anyway good luck to all samoan gay people...

what a
written by polu., July 07, 2008

God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve,..hahahah..anyway, goddluck to all samoan gay people...

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