<![CDATA[This study examines how gay men in Pekanbaru present themselves on the “front stage” and “back stage” within a society rooted in Malay culture and Islam, which generally rejects homosexuality. Despite facing strong opposition, the gay population in Pekanbaru has actually continued to grow by 5–10% annually from 2018 to 2023; however, this phenomenon has never been specifically studied in the city, making it a novel aspect of this research. The study employed a qualitative method using a phenomenological approach and Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory. It was conducted at a shopping, entertainment, and café complex in Pekanbaru through unstructured in-depth interviews and observations of two key informants who work as influencers. The data were analyzed using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion-drawing techniques. The results of the study show that on the “front stage,” gay men engage in impression management in accordance with Malay customs and the Five Pillars of Islam in order to be accepted as “normal” men, while on the “back stage,” they openly display their true sexual identities to people who have already accepted them, with the level of openness being directly proportional to the level of acceptance they feel.]]>
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