Dorce Gamalama Explained
Dorce Gamalama (21 July 1963 – 16 February 2022)[1] was an Indonesian pop singer, actress, presenter, and comedian, who was a trans woman. She was often referred to as "Bunda" (Indonesian for "Mother").[2]
Early life
Dorce Gamalama was born in Solok, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on 21 July 1963,[3] with the name Dedi Yuliardi Ashadi.[4] Her mother Dalifah, a rice seller, died of unknown causes when she was three months old, whereas her father Achmad, a painter and soldier, left home when she was 5 months old and was found dead when she was 1 year old, leaving her orphaned.[5] Dorce Gamalama was subsequently raised by her grandmother Darama, who introduced her to music while she was still at elementary school. She went on to sing with a group called the Bambang Brothers (BamBros). When she was 5 years old, she moved to the capital city to live with her aunt Dalima. She started working when she was 7 years old: selling newspapers, washing dishes, and selling cakes around the neighborhood.
Dorce Gamalama noted that she first experienced gender dysphoria when she was 7 years old, describing it as feeling imprisoned in her own body, and she first had the opportunity to wear a dress on stage during an Indonesian Independence Day school play where she played the role of a grandmother. In her teens, she began to appear on stage in women's clothes, moving from Bambros to the trans women-led band Fantastic Dolls, and she took the stage name Dorce Ashadi.[6] She later underwent sex reassignment surgery in Surabaya.[7] Her stage name derived from Mount Gamalama in Ternate.[8] Her gender change was officially recognized in 1986.
Career
Dorce Gamalama was the host of the popular mid-morning Dorce Show on the Trans TV network in Indonesia, and has written an autobiography entitled Aku Perempuan. In her book, she revealed that when she was 23 years old, she was married to a man, whom she called "Mr X", but the marriage only lasted two years.[9] On 12 May 2009, Dorce Gamalama announced that her show had been cancelled.[10]
In June 2014, Dorce Gamalama was on an airplane riding in business class when she encountered then-presidential candidate Joko Widodo sitting in an economy class seat.[11] She went on to endorse his presidential campaign, participating in a campaign event, "Join Jokowi", with hundreds of housewives near the Selamat Datang Monument.[12] However, in July 2015, months after he was inaugurated as President of Indonesia, she retracted her endorsement when Widodo did not attend Masjid Al-Hayya's 52nd anniversary, saying she would back singer Rhoma Irama for president if Irama was to announce his run.[13] Nevertheless, in December 2015, Widodo invited Dorce Gamalama to a party at Jakarta's Istana Negara.[14] [15]
Dorce Gamalama started a floral design business in Bekasi in January 2020 while having Type 2 diabetes and recovering from kidney stones.[16]
In June 2020, Dorce Gamalama worked as a chauffeur for fellow celebrity Raffi Ahmad and his wife, Nagita Slavina,[17] for only a week, before resigning for medical reasons.[18] She claimed she asked to be his chauffeur due to a dream she allegedly had during the month of Ramadan that year.[19] After resigning, she said she wanted to drive for President Joko Widodo.[20] Since Dorce Gamalama declined monetary compensation for her work, Ahmad decided to give her a video camera as a present, urging her to become a YouTuber.[21]
Dorce Gamalama's health continued to decline and, by January 2021, she began to prepare for her Islamic funeral, from the burial plot to the kaffan shroud.[22] She was reportedly hesitant about going through lithotomy to remove her kidney stones, instead opting for dietary changes and traditional medicine,[23] such as water from the Zamzam Well in Mecca.[24] She reportedly fell ill from hypotension while fasting during Ramadan that year, and said she planned to earn extra income from videos posted on YouTube amid a drought in job offers.[25]
Personal life
Dorce Gamalama was of Minangkabau descent from her mother's side, as well as Binjai-Arab from her father's side. She had four adopted children and owned a number of orphanages that have cared for thousands of children. She additionally had six adopted grandchildren.
She was a Muslim,[26] and went on Hajj to Mecca in 1990 and 1991. On 9 November 2008, she attended the funeral of Imam Samudra, one of the men executed for the 2002 Bali bombings. She spent half an hour in the house of the executed man and spoke with his mother. On leaving she was quoted as saying "I'm certain he's gone to heaven".[27]
Dorce Gamalama once lived in traditional Minang-style home, a Rumah Gadang, which was sold in November 2018 for 2 billion Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $140,100) to help raise funds for orphaned children in Palestine, Syria, and Indonesia.[28]
She died from complications of COVID-19 on 16 February 2022, at the age of 58. She had tested positive three weeks prior.[29] [30] Her final wish to be buried as a woman were not respected by her family or religious leaders.[31]
Filmography
- 2008 - Mas Suka Masukin Aja[32]
- 2009 - Hantu Biang Kerok as Mbah Upit
Notes and References
- Web site: Perjalanan Karier Dorce Gamalama di Industri Hiburan Tanah Air . . Nursaniyah . Fitri . 16 February 2023 . 20 May 2023 . id.
- Web site: Putra. Marendra. 2020-01-23. 6 Potret Terbaru Dorce Gamalama, Sekarang Jualan Bunga. 2021-05-16. Liputan 6. id.
- Web site: Merdekawan. Guntur. 2018-04-20. Transgender & Operasi Kelamin: Wanita Itu Bernama Dorce. live. 2021-05-16. KapanLagi. ID. https://web.archive.org/web/20180420134614/https://www.kapanlagi.com/showbiz/selebriti/transgender-38-operasi-kelamin-wanita-itu-bernama-dorce-930275.html . 20 April 2018 .
- Web site: Nama yang Tertulis di Batu Nisan Bukan Dorce Gamalama, Tapi Dedi Yuliardi Ashadi. 2022-02-16. 2022-02-17. id. Tribun. Muhammad Alivio. Mubarrak Junior. Willem. Jonata.
- Web site: Azizah. Kurnia. 2020-06-10. Dorce Gamalama Terlahir Pria Bernama Dedi Yuliardi, Foto Ini Bukti Sah Jadi Wanita. live. 2021-05-16. Merdeka. ID. https://web.archive.org/web/20220216063339/https://m.merdeka.com/trending/dorce-gamalama-terlahir-pria-bernama-dedi-yuliardi-foto-ini-bukti-sah-jadi-wanita.html . 16 February 2022 .
- Web site: Dorce Gamalama . KapanLagi.com . Indonesian . 9 November 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081112081135/http://selebriti.kapanlagi.com/dorce_gamalama/ . 12 November 2008 .
- News: Dorce: On duty and charity . 3 July 2005 . Kurniawan . Hari . . 24 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071202160825/http://www.thejakartapost.com/Archives/ArchivesDet2.asp?FileID=20050703.C01 . 2 December 2007 . dead .
- Web site: 2008-02-19. Ini Gunung Gamalama, Bukan Dorce Gamalama. live. 2021-05-16. KOMPAS. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060315/https://travel.kompas.com/read/2008/02/19/0709384/ini.gunung.gamalama.bukan.dorce.gamalama . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Safitri. Rahmi. 2018-04-20. Dorce Gamalama, Nikah Dengan Pria Normal di Usia 23 - Ngefans Sammy Simorangkir. 2021-05-16. KapanLagi.com. en.
- Web site: 21 May 2009. Acara Digusur, Dorce Ogah Dipanggil Bunda Lagi. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090522111551/http://www.detikhot.com/read/2009/05/21/171537/1135246/231/acara-digusur-dorce-ogah-dipanggil-bunda-lagi. 22 May 2009. detikHot.com. Indonesian. 21 May 2009.
- Web site: Julian. Edward. 2014-06-13. Jumpa di Pesawat, Dorce Gamalama Kaget Jokowi di Kursi Ekonomi. live. 2021-05-16. Liputan 6. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060315/https://www.liputan6.com/showbiz/read/2062544/jumpa-di-pesawat-dorce-gamalama-kaget-jokowi-di-kursi-ekonomi . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Fardianto. Fariz. 2014-06-15. Dukung Jokowi, Dorce dan ibu rumah tangga goyang di Bundaran HI. live. 2021-05-16. Merdeka. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060315/https://m.merdeka.com/politik/dukung-jokowi-dorce-dan-ibu-rumah-tangga-goyang-di-bundaran-hi.html . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Oktaviano. Lucky. 2015-07-27. Dorce Kecewa Jokowi, Berpaling ke Rhoma Irama. live. 2021-05-16. Warta Kota Live. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060314/https://wartakota.tribunnews.com/2015/07/27/dorce-kecewa-jokowi-berpaling-ke-rhoma-irama . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Karibo. Anto. 2015-12-17. Dorce Gamalama Bangga Makan Malam Bersama Presiden Jokowi. live. 2021-05-16. Fimela. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060315/https://www.fimela.com/news-entertainment/read/2392531/dorce-gamalama-bangga-makan-malam-bersama-presiden-jokowi . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Kurniawan. Ari. 2015-12-17. Dorce "Cekakakan" Bareng Presiden Jokowi Saat Diundang ke Istana Negara. live. 2021-05-16. Tabloid Bintang. ID. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516061818/https://m.tabloidbintang.com/amp/berita/polah/read/30472/dorce-cekakakan-bareng-presiden-jokowi-saat-diundang-ke-istana-negara . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: Widiyani. Rosmha. 2019-05-15. Kaitan Batu Ginjal dan Diabetes, Dua Penyakit yang Diidap Dorce Gamalama. live. 2021-05-16. detikHealth. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20191115065910/https://health.detik.com/berita-detikhealth/d-4550740/kaitan-batu-ginjal-dan-diabetes-dua-penyakit-yang-diidap-dorce-gamalama . 15 November 2019 .
- Web site: Kumalasari. Intan. 2020-06-09. Sampaikan Keinginan Jadi Sopir, Dorce Gamalama Bertemu Raffi Ahmad dan Nagita. 2021-05-16. Merdeka. en.
- Web site: Sundari. Zulfa Ayu. 2020-06-17. Dorce Gamalama Putuskan Berhenti Jadi Sopir Raffi Ahmad. live. 2021-05-16. Liputan 6. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617140828/https://www.liputan6.com/showbiz/read/4281364/dorce-gamalama-putuskan-berhenti-jadi-sopir-raffi-ahmad . 17 June 2020 .
- Web site: Tribuana. Lintang. 2020-06-12. Usai Raffi Ahmad, Dorce Gamalama Ingin Jadi Sopir Jokowi. live. 2021-05-16. OkeZone Celebrity. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20200624204504/https://celebrity.okezone.com/read/2020/06/12/33/2228793/usai-raffi-ahmad-dorce-gamalama-ingin-jadi-sopir-jokowi . 24 June 2020 .
- Web site: 2020-06-11. Selain Raffi Ahmad, Dorce Gamalama Mengaku Ingin Jadi Sopir Jokowi. live. 2021-05-16. KapanLagi. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20200623085258/https://www.kapanlagi.com/showbiz/selebriti/selain-raffi-ahmad-dorce-gamalama-mengaku-ingin-jadi-sopir-jokowi-5c55de.html . 23 June 2020 .
- Web site: Priyambodo. Adiyoga. 2020-06-17. Selesai Jadi Sopir, Dorce Gamalama Dapat Hadiah dari Raffi Ahmad. live. 2021-05-16. OkeZone Celebrity. ID. https://web.archive.org/web/20200629212600/https://celebrity.okezone.com/read/2020/06/17/33/2231607/selesai-jadi-sopir-dorce-gamalama-dapat-hadiah-dari-raffi-ahmad . 29 June 2020 .
- Web site: Rantung. Revi C.. 2020-06-10. Aziza. Kurnia Sari. Dorce Gamalama Mengaku Sudah Siapkan Kain Kafan dan Makam. live. 2021-05-16. KOMPAS. Parapuan. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610162742/https://www.kompas.com/hype/read/2020/06/10/171915566/dorce-gamalama-mengaku-sudah-siapkan-kain-kafan-dan-makam . 10 June 2020 .
- Web site: Kurniasari. Desy. 2021-01-19. Tubuhnya Digerogoti 2 Penyakit Mematikan, Dorce Gamalama Sudah Sediakan Kavling Makam hingga Kain Kafan: Semua Udah Gue Siapin. live. 2021-05-16. hot.grid.id. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516060315/https://hot.grid.id/amp/182515833/tubuhnya-digerogoti-2-penyakit-mematikan-dorce-gamalama-sudah-sediakan-kavling-makam-hingga-kain-kafan-semua-udah-gue-siapin . 16 May 2021 .
- Web site: 2019-09-13. Idap Sakit Diabetes dan Ginjal, Dorce Gamalama Cuma Minum Air Zam Zam. live. 2021-05-16. TribunNews. Parapuan. id. https://web.archive.org/web/20200907102206/https://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2019/09/13/idap-sakit-diabetes-dan-ginjal-dorce-gamalama-cuma-minum-air-zam-zam . 7 September 2020 .
- Web site: Qolbi. Putri. 2021-04-21. Dorce Mengaku Sepi Job hingga Sempat Jatuh Sakit. live. 2021-05-16. Insert Live!. id-ID. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421160435/https://www.insertlive.com/hot-gossip/20210421210844-7-207607/dorce-mengaku-sepi-job-hingga-sempat-jatuh-sakit . 21 April 2021 .
- News: Marvela . Akui Pernah Kesepian, Dorce: Alhamdulillah Tidak Pernah Berzinah . 5 October 2020 . Tempo . 11 June 2020 . id .
- Web site: Dorce Hadiri Pemakaman Imam Samudra (Dorce attends funeral of Imam Samudra) . Detik.com . Indonesian . 9 November 2008 . 7 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081207040146/http://www.detiknews.com/read/2008/11/09/112244/1033864/10/dorce-hadiri-pemakaman-imam-samudra . live .
- Web site: Puspita M. Arum. 2018-11-08. Intip Rumah Gadang Dorce Gamalama yang Dijual Seharga Rp 2 Miliar, Dominan Kayu Khas Minang - Surya. live. 2021-05-16. Surya.co.id. Musahadah (ed.). https://web.archive.org/web/20181107090626/http://surabaya.tribunnews.com/amp/2018/11/07/intip-rumah-gadang-dorce-gamalama-yang-dijual-seharga-rp-2-miliar-dominan-kayu-khas-minang . 7 November 2018 .
- Web site: 16 February 2022. Dorce Gamalama Meninggal Dunia, Erick Thohir Ikut Berduka. live. detikHot.com. id-ID. 16 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220216050235/https://hot.detik.com/celeb/d-5944452/dorce-gamalama-meninggal-dunia-erick-thohir-ikut-berduka . 16 February 2022 .
- Web site: Dorce Gamalama passes away.
- Web site: 2022-02-17 . Trailblazing trans woman buried 'as a man' after family ignored her last wishes . 2022-05-30 . PinkNews .
- Web site: Dorce Gamalama . 2022-05-30 . IMDb.