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It is Youth Month! On 16 June the country will commemorate the role played by the South African youth in the struggle against racial discrimination in the 70’s. For the gay community, this struggle continues. Find out what SA’s LGBTI youth is doing to advance the course for recognition of LGBTI rights!

JOYCE MACHEPHA

I am very open about my sexuality and try to educate people about sexuality matters on a daily basis and mostly I talk to young women bout living with HIV as I am an activist, a mother, grandmother and a lesbian woman. I work at a hospital and work with HIV infected patients and my job at the hospital is to counsel and motivate HIV positive women to be positive about life and try ad show them that there’s life after being diagnosed.
KEDIBONE GARE: CO-OWNER OF OPEN CLOSET

I empower young aspiring musician especially gay and lesbians by inviting them to come and play live at our club, in that way they get exposure and experience in the entertainment industry.

BIBI NKOSI: CO-OWNER OF OPEN CLOSET / FUD FUNDI CATERER

I help young lesbians with advice on how top live freely and comfortable in their own skin by talking to them. On the other hand I educate the community by trying to remove the stereotypical thoughts that lesbians are supposed to be butch only and nothing else, am atleast trying to make them look at lesbians with an open eye and know that a lesbian women can be anyone, butch, feminine, black, white or Indian.

PHINDI MALAZA: FORUM FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (FEW)

I try and assist people be comfortable with themselves in order to face problems they are going to face on a daily basis. Basically just to meet people and educate them and in return learn from them.

PUSELETSO MOSHODI:  HOPE AND UNITY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH

When I come across heterosexual people find myself in the company of straight people, I make sure that I make them familiar with homosexual issues. People are homophobic because they don’t know anything about homosexuality. Educating them will help them understand us better and maybe eradicate homophobia. Another thing is to educate people that one can be a lesbian and a Christian as well and that there’s nothing wrong with being homosexual and a Christian at the same time.

DONNA SMITH

Me, for now, I just live my lesbian life with dignity, passion and no apologies.
SIBU MASEKO

I am involved in the projects by Forum for Empowerment of Women (FEW) an organization that empowers young lesbian women like me. Every now and then I try to get together with peers of my age so we can talk about life and issues affecting us as lesbian women.

EMILY CRAVEN

I am an out lesbian and I work for a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual (LGBTI) NGO. I helped facilitate youth Lekgotla which was held in Cape Town in April.
SEKOETLANE JACOB PHAMODI: SRC-RHODES UNIVERSITY
By being who I am, and connecting with others through what I’ve lived. By identifying the common struggles I share with people, this goes a long way in moving the struggle forward in that, the connections I manage to make with people facilitates their understanding of and sensitivity to this one aspect of my identity. Recognizing and utilizing the multiplicity of our individual identity allows us to connect with others through our shared experiences which, in turn, transform people’s perceptions of who we are.”

TUMELO NYAMANE

I give back to those who need my assistance especially young ones….take part in every charity event hosted in Mzasi

KYLE CARSON: RAINBOW UCT UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
I found a wonderful quote that states, “Any gay person who’s true to themselves and out is in some form or another, an activist.” I try to live my life according to that principle. I’m in no way, shape or form proclaiming that I’m an activist - but I do feel that being out and open about who I am and proud about it does make a difference, however small.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 11th, 2009 at 2:10 pm

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