Imagine living your life authentically, then facing rejection or even violence simply for that. That’s the harsh reality for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people every day. Even the most basic acts of self-expression can trigger fear and discrimination. This isn’t the chill life of “being yourself” most people imagine.
Stereotyped societies foster hate crimes
In 1995, Funeka Soldaat, a lesbian from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, was violently attacked by a group of men who said they wanted to “correct” her sexuality.
When she went to the police for help, she says she was met with judgment about her appearance for dressing like a man rather than support.
“One of them [the men who attacked] said, ‘I’ve told you one day I will get you’.”
Funeka Soldaat
In 2006, tragedy struck when Zoliswa Nkonyana, a “butch lesbian” in Khayelitsha, was assaulted and killed in a brutal attack sparked by arguments over a shared bathroom with other females. This devastating incident laid the groundwork for change.
Two years later, in 2008, Soldaat founded Free Gender, a black lesbian organisation in response to Nkonyana’s murder. The organisation’s mission emerged from this tragedy: to fight for justice and create a safer world for everyone.
Soldaat and other gender activists continue to honour Nkonyana’s memory through tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of lesbians facing violence and discrimination.
Soldaat notes with concern that hate crimes are still a pressing issue in Mzansi today. It’s shocking, especially considering that Mzansi was a legislative advocate for gender rights and the first in Africa to legalise same-sex marriages.
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Corrective rape: Living in fear
Advocating for the rights of the LGBTI+ community carries inherent risks, says Ndumi Funda, the founder of Luleki Sizwe Women’s Project. This Cape Town-based community organisation, established in 2008, provides support to black lesbians who have fallen victim to homophobic attacks and rape.
Funda highlights a specific case where she took a leading role, involving the sexual assault of a lesbian in Cape Town by a trusted friend’s uncle.
“The uncle of the friend, who had just been released from prison, drugged and raped her for five hours before strangling her with a wire.”
Ndumi Funda
Funda shares that her life was in danger while advocating for the LGBTI+ community. Things escalated when the perpetrator not only showed her photo to someone, who personally knew Funda, but also threatened to teach her a lesson, all because she opposed his bail.
“I was involved hands-on in that case; we pushed up until the perpetrator got arrested.”
Funda says the incident had a significant impact on her well-being. “The experience left the victim in an enduring state of victimhood.”
Sadly, Funda says this wasn’t the first occurrence of such a traumatic experience, leading to a sustained state of mental and emotional distress. Coping with the aftermath, the victim resorted to drug use as a mechanism to deal with the pain.
‘Solidarity spaces’
The LGBTIQ+ community in South Africa faces a lot of violence, trauma, and loss, making it difficult for them to feel safe, according to Carol Lennon, the clinic and Outreach nurse at Triangle Project based in Observatory, Cape Town.
“South Africa is an unequal, violent, patriarchal country,” she says.
“We have a high number of believers in various faiths (I think the stats are that 95% of our population), including LGBTIQ+ persons.”
Lennon notes that many people reaching out to the Triangle Project for health and support are going through tough times, both physically and emotionally.
Therefore, offering services that are both free and non-judgmental is crucial to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity, she says.
“A person has to see a better future for themselves to be able to function in society. Suicide is a reality in the queer community.”
Carol Lennon
The Triangle Project steps in as a supportive ally, helping these persons rediscover themselves and regain focus, adds Lennon.
They offer nutrition support programmes, training, and consultations, advocate for legal gender recognition, and education policies, and work against hate crimes. Additionally, they’ve introduced community gardens, located in Mbekweni, Paarl, and Strand, to assist those who are just starting out.
Finding solutions
Clinical psychologist Luyanda Memela, based in Ezingolweni, KZN, points out that corrective rape can cause emotional distress and physical harm like bruises or genital scars.
In such cases, she recommends seeking help from health facilities, where a team of professionals, including nurses, doctors, HIV counsellors, and psychologists, can offer support.
“One will need a strong support structure from family, friends, and loved ones.”
Luyanda Memela
She adds, “I can mention support groups as another method for healing from rape traumas and other tragic events.”
Memela points out that in the aftermath of such incidents, the initial focus is on therapy and counselling. She adds that numerous organisations and healthcare facilities offer these support groups.
Memela highlights that the societal issue with the LGBTI+ community lies in firmly believing one’s perspectives and experiences are the ‘gospel truth’. She adds that this also involves a lack of emotional intelligence to peacefully coexist with those who have different thoughts, beliefs, and practices.
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