From Despair to Hope: Perceptions and Experiences of Belonging in a ‘Hopeful Place’ for Men Who Have Sex with Men in Indonesia

The concept of hope is fundamentally intertwined with the notion of human freedom. In this paper, we explore the hopes of 24 men who have sex with men (MSM) interviewed in Yogyakarta in relation to place, which we refer to as a ‘hopeful place‘, a place that enables them to have hope for the future. This topic is significant because a place and its characteristics can influence, hinder, transform, create, or foster hope for the future. Data analysis employed sociological theory on hope. This study highlighted MSM's experiences of stigma, discrimination, and social relationship challenges that pushed them away from their hometowns/villages. It also highlighted their knowledge and experiences of various factors about Yogyakarta, which attracted them to visit and settle there and how their new hopes for the future were shaped/created. The findings highlight that these pull factors enhance MSM's hope by fostering acceptance, support and freedom to express themselves and build their futures.