2013 May 15: A bit of homophobia

Posted on May 19, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

Hide from our people

I do not know how it happened

I do not remember how it happened

I did not plan for it to happen

Till today I do not know how it still happens

I looked all over the world,

I thought I was all alone;

I thought it was shame;

I thought I had to hide;

I thought I do not deserve to live

Therefore I had to hide!

Be in disguise for my own family;

Be in disguise for my brothers and sisters;

Be in disguise for freedom and nation;

Be in disguise for friends and foes;

Be in disguise for myself and reality!

Because I didn’t know what happened.

Had to hide from man and their desires;

Had to hide from people and their words;

Had to hide from murders;

Had to hide from rapists;

Had to hide from church and condemnation;

Had to hide from priests and nuns for my unacceptable alien being

Had to hide from my society and its cultural rules;

Because a homosexual is unacceptable.

when more than 600 rules are ignored in the bible;

When all other sins are ignored in the bible;

When 10 commandments are ignored in the bible;

When 1(love one another) commandment seem to fail,

All that fellow Christians keep in mind is 8 verses which they use to condemn homosexuality…

It all started 1869 or 1946 when a translator, translated Greek to English.

until today I die

I die over hearing news of killing homosexuals

I die over great disgrace of families dis-owning their own kids;

I die over hearing increasing numbers of raped lesbians

I die over hearing names that are given to lesbians

I die over news of churches kicking homosexuals out

I die over friends turning back their friendship on their homosexual friends

I die over discrimination against homosexual people;

I die over daily judgmental statements

I die over disgusting teachings from parental guidance which clearly says
“homosexuality is unacceptable in my house or rather I hate those”

Then tell me who produces rapists and murderer, haters and sexist…

It stains in my heart to think of anyone forcing a lesbian
to

sleep with a man

To get a ‘boyfriend’

To be married to a man

To change her sexuality

To call her by names

To get out of the house because she merely does not belong there

For they believe “God MADE Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”

But they fail to believe homosexuals are “BORN” not MADE

My soul goes to those who have slept struggling for their rights,

You are heroes of this world and reality

May your souls rest in peace,

Upon on earth we stay wondering “who is next to be murdered, raped, disowned, stabbed?”

We wonder around knowing “I might be next” yet we still live as we were born because it is the way we are

We still hold on to reality and dare to pursue our careers and live our dreams in a manner of being “next” to the culprits.

I solemnly do not think anyone knows who God is because our church and murders, traditional leaders and healers, rapists and pastors have created a mutual God who is judging, condemning and eventually would burn us in fires of hell!

Should that be the God we have then I am an atheist…

I know nothing about God.

No evidence has shown change and spiritual revolution, spell revolution backwards and if you find LOVE know that’s what you have to have daily in your life.

Faith, love and peace.

by T.Mathe
© 2013

Previous by T.

2013 April 13: Umtshato wesini esinye!

Posted in T. Mathe, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures | Tagged | Leave a comment

2013 May 16: Don’t touch ME!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Maureen Velile Majola

A statement many feminine lesbians have heard.

A lot of butch lesbians don’t wanna be touched and we find that they get judged and called all sorts of names because of this.

I’ve heard feminine lesbians complaining about their butch partners who just don’t want to be touched. They make false accusations on why they don’t want to be touched and they never really take time to ask: Why they don’t want to be touched?

Now I took some time to think about this and actually looked at the world we live in and try to map out why Feminine lesbians have so many issues about butch lesbians who don’t want to be touched. I spoke to a few femmes who clearly stated that they will not date butch lesbians who don’t want to be touched on their genitals. Some of them actually went to an extend of making these false accusations “if she doesn’t want to be done, it means she sleeps with men or she’s trying to be a men”

As many of us know there’s a high rate of sexual violence in South Africa and a lot of butch lesbians have been victims of this. I am not justifying them not wanting to be touched with sexual violence but this is something we should think about before concluding about the different reasons for not wanting to be done.

I personally have dated these butch lesbians that don’t want to be touched and I have come to understand their reasoning. At the beginning I also made accusations and said a lot of negative things. I even went to an extent of convincing them that they are missing out on something. I have actually manipulated some into allowing me to do them. It took me months of convincing and using my charm to make them believe they also needed me to perform this sexual act on them.

Well some liked it and carried it on to their relationship while others still feel its not for them and I have no issues with that.

Sexual pleasure comes in many forms, one doesn’t need to be penetrated or touched on their genitals to have an orgasm. Sexual intercourse is more of a mental and emotional thing than physical thing. We all get pleasure from different things and positions, I have come to understand my own sexual preference and had an opportunity to be honest with myself and realize what I really needed to be fully satisfied.

In our relationships we need to be honest and say what we want and how we want it. Honesty is the only thing that can save and make us less judgmental of our fellow mates. In discussions with feminine lesbians I realized that we lack communication and we are too quick to judge. Now many of you who know me personally may not believe this as at times I come across as very masculine in feminine clothes *laughing* in honest truth I love being done. I want my partner to explore my body, travel on the different paths it has and not be intimidated by my strong character. Too often I use this character of mine to manipulate and make others feel shy around me, so when a person takes full control and challenges me, I get excited and that turns me on.

In the conversations I’ve had with black lesbians I realized that it is not everyone who has pleasure from being touched and not everyone wants to be touched. Some people get their pleasure from pleasing their partners and vice versa. We shouldn’t try to change the minds of those who don’t want this and if you can’t have sex with someone who is the giver, then I believe its best you part ways if you can’t compromise. Too often we leave the sex discussion to the last minutes when we actually having it. We start doing what we used to do in previous relationships which is not always what the new person wants.

I encourage everyone to talk about sex and actually describe what you want and just how you want it. This way everyone can be happy and sexually satisfied.

In it all we all have choices and relationships are a part of the choices we make as human beings.

And NO they not trying to be men nor are they trapped in wrong bodies but they just love giving pleasure and getting pleasure from giving it.

Previous articles by Maureen Velile

2012 March 20: There’s a strawberry garden between your legs
and

2013 March 14: Please don’t…
and
2012 December 27: on 2012 LGBTI Recognition awards
and

2013 Feb. 14: A love note for you


and
2013 Feb. 4:  The other me

Posted in 2012 LGBT Recognition Awards, 2012 Photo XP, 2012 ReFiguring Women, Activism, Career, Collaborations, Collectivism, Curative rapes, Health, Relationships, Sexual Politics education in South Africa, Townships, Victims, Visual history, Where & Who is Justice? | Tagged | 17 Comments

2013 May 17: One sided fight against Homophobia and Transphobia

Posted on May 18, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Lerato Dumse

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) was hosted by Iranti-Org and commemorated in Johannesburg with a flashmob dance in the middle of Carlton Centre’s food court. It is the same vicinity where a black lesbian, Bonisiwe Mtshali was assaulted in 2012  by security guards for kissing her girlfriend, Khanyisa Ndoda.

The flashmob was then followed by an awareness bus tour around Johannesburg CBD, where participants at the event flew the rainbow flag high throughout the tour.

muholi_3234

The event was organized by Iranti-Org an LGBTI visual media organisation, according to Iranti-Org, the event was supported by various organizations in Southern Africa including, Inkanyiso, Coalition of African lesbians (CAL), FEW, Sexual Rights Zimbabwe,
1 in 9, Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA), Gender Dynamix, Limpopo Proudly Out LGBTI, EPOC and Amp Studio.

The idea to host this annual event was adopted 10 years ago in Canada, and continues to spread to more countries including South Africa. The event was dominated by black lesbians a group seen as synonymous to homophobia and hate crime. The poor attendance by other races makes one wonder if homophobia only exists in the townships, if this battle should only be fought by those thought to be most at risk in South Africa.

Thokozani Ndaba conducted a team building exercise during the 2013 IDAHOT event organized by Iranti

Thokozani Ndaba conducted a team building exercise during the 2013 IDAHOT event organized by Iranti

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) individuals gathered at Iranti offices situated at the House of Movements in the Joburg CBD. Before walking to Carlton Centre for the first activity there, members of the LGBTI community commanded attention. People stopped their shopping and stared stuck by the queer presence in a public space.

The LGBTI group also sang songs declaring their existence and intention of going nowhere, and two lesbians shared a kiss. Carlton Centre is where Bonisiwe Mtshali was assaulted by security guards she knew and who often asked her to organize girlfriends for them.

Her crime was kissing her girlfriend goodbye. She could not contain her excitement “I am happy that we came here today because I feel that LGBTI people will be free to walk in Carlton centre holding hands or even share a kiss. I know how fortunate I am to still be alive and able to witness this event myself, sadly many never survive hate crimes” said Mtshali with an appreciative smile.

Tshepo K. from Kuruman at Iranti event. Photo by Collen Mfazwe

Tsepo K. from Kuruman at Iranti-Org event. Photos by Collen Mfazwe

Tsepo Kgatlhane traveled from Kuruman in Northern Cape and says it’s the first lgbti event he’s ever attended. He is the best friend of the late Thapelo Makhutlhe, who was murdered, castrated and his private parts put in his mouth in Kuruman. “To keep Thapelo’s memory alive I do things and attend events that he would attend, like this one”.

IDAHOT is about raising awareness against discrimination the next activity was a drive around Johannesburg on a open top bus. The drive ended at house of movement where Iranti-Org have offices and it was the venue for the last part of the programme.
Organizations were given an opportunity to speak, Nthabiseng Mokoena from the Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA) said each group within the lgbti community is working on their own issues in isolation and that delays progress. She also asked if lgbti people are accepting of people in this community who are different from us.

Before his highly energetic performance, which left the crowed asking for more, drag queen Nathi Dlamini made a plea to organizations to visit and be visible in poor areas. Dlamini says she has been attacked and stabbed many times where she lives because of her appearance.
“I have sent many requests for support but they fall on deaf ears. Please come to the informal settlements so the homophobes can see there’s many of us” begged Dlamini.

Previous articles by Lerato

2013 May 6: Archiving Noxolo Nogwaza’s funeral

and

2013 March 28: Feather Awards (re)viewed

and

2011 May 13:  Kwa-Thema Praying for homophobic victims.

and

2011 May 3:  Black Easters for black lesbian community

Posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Articles, As we are, Before You, Betrayal, Black Lesbians, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Body Politics, Collaborations, Collectivism, Connections, Creating awareness, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Exposure, Expression, Friendships, Inkanyiso media, Lack of Resources, Life Stories, Networking, Portrait, Power of the Voice | 5 Comments

2013 May 15: SA Task Team representatives fail the LGBTI community

Posted on May 18, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Lesego Tlhwale

20 lesbian and gay individuals have been killed across South Africa since 2011 alone, including the recent case of Patricia ‘Pat’ Mashigo (36) who was brutally murdered in Daveyton township, Ekurhuleni district. Some of the cases happened in areas where some of the LGBTI organisations work in. In April 2013 South Africans celebrated 19 years of Democracy, a black lesbian mother of two, Patricia was buried on that particular day due to hate crime, and yet we have a team that was formed 2 years ago to deal with the same issue.

A national Hate Crime Task Team was formed in May 2011 in response to hate crimes against Lesbians and Gays individuals in South Africa turned two this year and unlike babies its age, the task team is still lying on its stomach.

Two years after the task team was formed, nothing tangible has come out of the team. The elected representatives included six persons of the judiciary, the police and the social development department, and six representatives of well-known Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) organisations.

The team, which was set to begin work in July of 2011 by, develop a legislative intervention plan, a public awareness strategy, and LGBTI-sensitive shelters, has done nothing to date. The team has failed dismally to keep their promises and bring about change in the hostility and atrocities faced by LGBTI’s in South Africa.

 In recent news regarding the task team, a group of Cape Town based activists, have created a petition called:“End South Africa’s Task Team 2 years of Silence”

The petition is set to challenge the government and task team silence about the rising violence against LGBTI South Africans.

Melanie Nathan wrote in her blog (O-blog-dee-o-blog-da) about the petition that,  “Today a new petition has been launched and we cannot be silent.  We need action. We need the government of South Africa to know that they are accountable to uphold the Constitution and so again we ask that all of you, no matter where you are, sign this petition. Let your voice be heard – that we will not give up, nor will we be taken lightly – we will not tolerate violence against LGBT South Africans. That it is time for action and sleeping on this issue is costing lives.”

She further wrote that, “This petition is a way to show we are here and watching over our LGBT family worldwide.”

In 2011, LulekiSizwe and Change.org created a petition that had over 200 000 signatures from all over the world, which was presented to the government to try and pressure them into doing something about the situation at hand. Lucky for them, the petition worked as the Department of Justice invited Ndumie Funda the director of LulekiSizwe and others for a meeting to discuss ways of addressing the state of hate crimes in the country.

Now, again in 2013, the same strategy by different people is used to try and pressure the government into doing or rather saying something about the growing trend of killings targeted at lesbians and gays.

I am not trying to sound pessimistic or anything but do the brains behind the new petition really believe that a change will happen? Or is that the South African government will be moved by it?

Unless then there’s a great plan at hand that will make the task team move a notch from where they are standing.

The team am talking about has representative from different civil society and LGBTI organisations, namely; Ndumie Funda (LulekiSizwe), Funeka Soldaat (FreeGender), Phindi Malaza (FEW), Zethu Matabeni (GALA), the late Jill Henderson (Triangle Project), Juan Nel (UCAP), Dipika Nath (Human Rights Watch), Nokhwezi Hoboyi (TAC) and COSATU, have done nothing at all to play their role in all of this. Please note that some of these representatives might have moved to other positions in different organisations.

All these organisations I mentioned below are all big players in the LGBTI movement of South Africa and they’re always on the forefront when it comes to sexual and gender issues, but in this instance unfortunately like the government they have failed the LGBTI community and me as a black lesbian living in a township.

The government granted the LGBTI community an opportunity to be watchdogs and to mainstream our plight, but it is clear that representatives placed there aren’t doing much to push for change.

We all know that our government is notorious for dragging their feet when it comes to such issues, but what have we done as civil society to make sure that doesn’t happen? Nothing!  Instead we join in on the dragging of feet party and enjoying being in high positions.

Background About The Task Team

“The move follows a call by 170 000 activists around the world, who demanded corrective action on ‘corrective’ rape, which is an increasingly common hate crime in which men rape lesbian women to ‘turn’ them straight or ‘cure’ them of their sexual orientation.”

“The justice ministry made the announcement on Tuesday during a meeting in Parliament of senior officials from the ministry, non-profit organisations, SAPS and Social Development, with grassroots activists, who used the social action platform, Change.org, to recruit a record-breaking 170 000 supporters from people in 163 countries.”

“The decision also follows the recent murder of Noxolo Nogwaza, a 24-year-old lesbian, who died after being stoned, stabbed with broken glass and gang raped in Kwa-Thema, outside Johannesburg.” (Source:  www.SAnews.gov.za)

Previous by Lesego

2013 April 28: Bleak freedom for black lesbians in South Africa
and
2013 April 12: Bros B4 Ho’s at the OIA film festival opening
and
2013 March 24: Recognition of LGBTI Activist should be a culture
and
2013 March 16: Dangerous love

and
2013 Feb. 12: A dildo is not a man; it’s a fantastic toy…

and
2013 Mar.1: Definitely NOT “Gaysbian”

 

Posted in Before You, Black Lesbians, Community Mobilizing, Connections, Creating awareness, Curative rapes, Daveyton, Death, Education, Exposure, Expression, Hate Crimes, Lesego Tlhwale, New Task Team, South Africa | Tagged , | 13 Comments

2013 May 10: Akhona’s Miss Gay Limpopo 2013 album

Posted on May 17, 2013 by inkanyiso2009
2013 May 10: Akhona's Miss Gay Limpopo album

Ycer the winner of Miss Gay Limpopo 2013 with two fingers in the air…

by Akhona Hailele

3 beauties_1794

6 beauties_1795

kwaito s_1872

limon_1800

three beauties_1802

victor_1780

winner & fan_1853

winner announced_1811

winners & judges_1835

winners jubilant_1830

winners on stage_1825

winners on stage_1829

winners smiles_1827

ycer & cindy_1815

ycer & friendly fan_1855

The question we left with was: Where were the black lesbian contestants at the Miss Gay Limpopo 2013 to create what is ‘supposed’ to be a gender balance.

Related article

2013 May 11: Actually, absolutely, definitely NO!

Posted in Akhona Hailele, Articles, As we are, Beauty, Beauty pageantry, Before You, Community Mobilizing, Crea(c)tive senses, Education, Exposure, Expression, Family, Gender naming, Gratitude, Homosexuality, Inkanyiso crew, Interpretation, Kopano Sibeko, Limpopo Proudly Out LGBTI, Limpopo province, Networking, Organizations, Portrait, South Africa, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visualizing public spaces, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources | 3 Comments

2013 May 11: Actually, absolutely, definitely NO!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Kopano Sibeko

Those were the words expressed by one of the beauty queens failing to answer the question at the first ever Miss Gay Limpopo hosted by Limpopo Proudly Out LGBTI group on the 10th May 2013 at Blue Moon bar and nightclub. The event drew a lot of patrons who came in to witness history in the making.

winners happiness_0692

Six beauty Queens from in and around Limpopo participated in the pageant to be crowned the first ever Miss Gay Limpopo.

As we arrived at the venue, flamboyant gay men and lesbians hovered outside the nightclub as they anticipated the event to start. You can tell from the atmosphere that everyone was excited to witness what was about to happen in a couple of hours time.

The Inkanyiso crew got into the venue, to observe and document the scenery. We were actually the only local/ LGBTI – queer media to record in detail that special event. Unfortunately we were forgotten the following day after Limpopo Pride march when organisations that supported the initiative were called on stage to share their thoughts.

As we got in at Blue Moon, loud echoes of men acting rather delinquent greeted us. Confused we were told we had to go up another level, as the venue has two floors and the pageant organisers had booked the VIP area upstairs.

As we got to the VIP area the place was laid out in preparation of the event. In the background you could hear people talking and the words I could pick up were “where’s my blush”, “have you seen my dress” and immediately I was intrigued by what was happening behind the curtain that divided the stage area and the changing area.

Out of curiosity I went to take a peek and I found beautiful gay men, looking amazingly ravishing. I, for one have never seen so much sex appeal in femme gay ‘men’.

30 minutes later the place was packed, the most gorgeous dreadlocked lesbian MC, Makh Shimange was welcoming people and the DJ was pumping it up, everything was just a buzz. The Judges were introduced as one of our members Lesego Tlhwale was asked to be one of the judges.

The contestants started strutting their stuff, their first appearance was with casual wear, than swimsuits followed by evening wear and closed the show with their drag outfits.

In between the contests, Nape an upcoming gay hip hop star performed his debut single Versatile which was a nice song, but due to poor sound quality at the club we couldn’t make up half of the words in his song.
As if the sound wasn’t enough of downfall, one of the two contestants that were dancing for him fell off the stage, let’s just say perfection also has hurdles.

The interesting part of the event came, and this time, the contestants were not just judged on their beauty and beautiful long legs. They were now judged on their brains. It was rather disappointing that most of our feminine beautifully dressed competitors were beauties who lacked LGBTI political consciousness. From where I was standing, most of questions that were asked were general questions, or could it be that the judges were too hard on them?

winners & friends 2_0695

One of the contestants was asked “Which part of your body you don’t like?
The beauty could not even express thyself instead just said – Actually, absolutely, definitely no!
That answer was really out of context than for a person to be straightforward and be relevant.
Another question seemed simply was to another beauty queen who claimed to have won some 2006 gay beauty pageant.
Question: “When was the gay marriage passed in South Africa?”
The person said two years ago, imagine we are in 2013 now for a South African queer person not to know that the Civil Union Act (2006) was legalized 7 years ago. That means that we still have a long way to go as LGBTI individuals in our communities that is in terms of ensuring that we need to be knowledgeable and be educated around the South African Sexual Politics.
I don’t know, but all I’m saying is that we need to be progressive and relevant, as Zanele Muholi would put it, being gay is not a career.

The main prize for this particular contest was that the winner would partake in the National Miss Gay South Africa at the end of the year. Maybe I had high expectations for the queens, but how do we expect them to represent the Limpopian gay community if Basic English language cannot be comprehended, we can’t run away from the fact that it is a universal language.

Overall the event went well, Ycer was crowned the Queen and his counterparts, and Minoj was 1st princess and Thabo 2nd princess.

Ycer’s mother was there, to support her son, and I must say it’s good to know that some parents are accepting and are supportive of their homosexual children.

Previous articles by Kopano

2013 April 21: Living a legacy is always better than leaving a legacy

and

2013 April 23: Intraview II

and

2013 April 16: Not just a handsome butch lesbian

and

2013 April 9: I refuse to be abused

Posted in 2013 Miss Gay Limpopo, Activism, Africa, Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Articles, Beauty, Beauty pageantry, Body Politics, Collaborations, Connections, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Cultural activists, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, Education, Entertainment, Exposure, Friendships, Kopano Sibeko, Lack of Resources, Limpopo Proudly Out LGBTI, Limpopo province, Media works, Music, Organizations, Our lives in the picture, Performance, Power of the Voice, Queens, Queer Edutainment, Queer visibility, Questions & Answers, Records and histories, Sexual Politics education in South Africa | 19 Comments

2013 May 12: Happy Mother’s Day is NOT for everyone

Posted on May 14, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

by Clear Peaceful Mind

Today I went to the Randburg Kwai21Marathon. I’m not much of an athlete, definitely not a runner, jogger or walker. I just start a race of my own trotting behind everyone else and praying I make it before cut off time. As we, myself and other athletes tortured ourselves through the Randburg hills on Mother’s Day, the marshalls, together with most other runners started wishing every woman a Happy Mother’s Day.

It got me wondering…
Is every woman on this race a mother?
Does every woman have a desire to be one?
We exist because of these mothers but how many of us still have our mothers alive and how many of us here as women have good relationships with our mothers. Just because someone gave birth to you, it doesn’t mean that there is a love shared between the two of you, a motherly bond. How many women were actually forced into motherhood in the hopes of keeping a failing relationship alive, sexual abuse – being raped as a kid only to realize that you are having a baby when your tummy is well rounded and are due for labour. One of your close family members died, leaving you with no choice but to raise her kids.

Mothers’ day is a joyous occasion for those who are mothers but how those who are not mothers feel. People never think about it on Mother’s day when they walk up to a woman and say HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.
What people fail to realize is that some of us women may not have children. There are women who may have lost their child or can’t have children etc. or just are childless because of financial situations or are unable to find a suitable partner to have that child with.

So, Mother’s Day for some women is pure torture and it’s sad and humiliating.

What do you really say after saying happy mother’s day to someone only to find out that she has just lost her mother and doesn’t have kids of her own either.

Its easy to think that by raising someone’s child be it your niece or nephew might fill that maternal space, unless that child’s parents are deceased, at the end of the day they’re gonna want them back and you will be left with a heartbreaking empty nest not because your “offsprings” grew wings but because they decided to learn how to fly from their own mothers.

I wonder if anyone out there ever thought about this before wishing a woman a happy mothers day?

So, as we utter the following words to other female species, let’s just bear in mind that they’re not peaches and cream for everyone and not everyone likes passing them around…

From a Mom

. . To a Mom. . . We traded sleep for dark circles, salon haircuts for ponytails, long baths for quick showers, late nights for early mornings, designer bags for school bags and we wouldn’t change a thing!
We call ourselves Mom’s and we don’t care about what we gave up and instead LOVE what we get in return!
That’s what being a Mom is all about!! Send this to all the brilliant Mom’s you know…

So think before you pass it around!

Previous article by Clear Peaceful Mind

2013 April 13:  Reasons why we as lesbians (not all lesbians) shun +HIV people…

Posted in Articles, As we are, Before You, Comment, Community, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Family, Friendships, Mother's Day, South Africa, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures | Tagged | 5 Comments

2013 May 7: Black lesbians on pap test

Posted on May 9, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

My earliest memory of the word pap smear (test), was a result of eavesdropping on a conversation not meant for my 10 year old ears. The lady discussing it had recently taken the test, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience for her. I never forgot that story and how I promised myself never to take that test.

I’m now 24 years, although I changed my mind years ago towards pap test, I still haven’t taken it.

From doing some research I discovered that if you’ve had a vagina for 21 to 65 years and have had sex, even if it is only been with women. Then you should be doing a pap test at least once in three years.

A pap smear was discovered by and named after Dr Papanicolaou a Greek-born American scientist.  It is a screening tool to find early warning signs that cancer might develop in the cervix (the neck of the womb) in future. The pap test is not for diagnosing cancer, but rather, for finding early changes which might become cancer. Another way of protecting yourself from cervical cancer is to avoid the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major cause of cervical cancer and one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). Chances of getting cervical cancer increase if you start having sex before age 18, you or your partner have multiple sex partners and if you have or have had an STI. About 75 percent of sexually active people will get HPV sometime in their life, and since it rarely shows any symptoms most people never know they have it.

I also discovered that doctors describe pap smear as a simple and quick test where the patient lies on an exam table. The doctor puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix before using a special stick or brush to take a few cells from inside and around the cervix. The cells are placed on a glass slide and sent to a lab for examination. They also agree that while usually painless, a pap test can be uncomfortable for some women.

The subject of pap smear was discussed by Inkanyiso crew with 8 butch lesbians, a show of hands revealed that most had not done a pap smear. The question that was asked was whether our sexuality has any bearing on the matter. I posed this question to fellow butches and while some chose not to participate, most were open on the subject.

Mazet Nzimande says although she’s been thinking about doing the pap test, she has not taken any action. However she says her sexuality has nothing to do with not testing, she gets nervous and is shy. But says its normal nerves “it would be much easier if I go with my mother, a very close friend or a partner for some moral support”.

Anele Khaba like Mazet has been contemplating the test, especially since she started experiencing some pains. She says its important to take care of our bodies, especially if a person is considering having kids in future.

Lerato Mthombeni was no different, with plans to go for the pap smear but doesn’t want to do it alone. She says some lesbians are not planning on falling pregnant and don’t see the point of doing such test.

Nontobeko Buthelezi differed, saying that being butch has a huge influence on doing things like pap smear. “Being butch is associated with being masculine and procedures like pap test are viewed as girly or feminine, but I will do the test” says Buthelezi.

Busi was part of a door to door campaign encouraging people to go for Pap smears, but admits to have never tested. She doesn’t see a link between her sexuality and reluctance to test, “cancer is very dangerous and should be taken seriously” she concludes.

A 30 year old who prefers not to be named, did the test six years ago. ” My sexuality has no influence on the matter, I have to take care of my health” that is what gave me the courage to go alone she says.

“I have lost relatives to cervical cancer, I’m going to do the test before the year ends”. Manyelang Ntshong has never done the test and says it is more about lack of courage than her sexuality. “I’d feel more comfortable seeing a female gynaecologist for obvious reasons, more education should be provided for most butch lesbians, we all need to be checked no matter how ‘hard core’ one might be. It might just save a life” concludes Ntshong.

Previous articles by Lerato

2013 April 24: Noxolo Nogwaza’s fading memory

and

Brutal murder of a lesbian activist condemned

Also contributed  articles in Blacklooks and Freegender sites

2011 May 13:  Kwa-Thema Praying for homophobic victims.

and

2011 May 3:  Black Easters for black lesbian community

On Inkanyiso 


2013 April 2: Do good even when faced with difficulties
and

2013 April 2: He loves us all, just go to church and find God

and

2013 March 28: Failed justice



and

2013 March 28: Feather Awards (re)viewed

Posted in As we are, Creating awareness, Gynaecologist, Lerato Dumse, South Africa, Speculum, We Care | Tagged | 6 Comments

2013 May 6: Archiving Noxolo Nogwaza’s funeral

Posted on May 6, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

… this documentary was produced in 2011 when we buried Noxolo Nogwaza in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg.
She was a 24 year old mother of two children who were then orphaned by hate crime related incident.

It is in different languages: Xhosa,  English and Zulu. Featuring amongst others Lungile Dladla; Funeka Soldaat; Lerato Dumse; FEW members; Bontle Khalo, Victor Mukasa …

Related articles

2013 April 24: Noxolo Nogwaza’s fading memory
by Lerato Dumse

Read full transcript below, transcribed and translated by Zethu Matebeni.

Translation and Transcription for Ndibonile, 11:47

Time code Person descriptor Text
02:33-02:55 Preacher, an
old man with white hair		 (man is praying)
We are disappearing because of crime and violence. We are disappearing because of jealousy.
We will be non-existent because of battering. Where are you Lord?
Where are you now?
Make yourself visible in this time. Reveal yourself Lord.
We ask this of you knowing that you will do it for us in Jesus Christ’s name.
Amen.
03:08 – 04:50 Funeka Soldaat Amandla! Ngawethu!
(Power! To the People!)
I’m not feeling great.
My spirit is down because of this.
There are three messages I want to leave today.
First of all, one is to the priest inside here. It would have been great if he had talked about the fact that Noxolo was murdered because she is a lesbian.This should come out of his mouth.
One of the problems why we end up here is because of the way they translate the scriptures. But what we know for sure, as we stand here, God loves us.
This would have been great if it came out of the priest.
Secondly, if the lesbians who are here will note – we do not reach the age of 30.
We die before we are this age.
No one else will stop these things happening to us. It’s all up to us to end this. The people we expect to speak on our behalf will never speak for us.
Everyone will be going to the voting polls very soon, but please check next to you if the person you are going to vote for is here around us today.Check if their t-shirt is visible amongst us right now. Since the news of Noxolo’s death came out in the radio, not even a single word came from our government or a political party speaking out against this violation. Until this government stops denying what is happening to us here in South Africa, we will continue being victims.Therefore, you must think carefully about how you make your decisions.
Thirdly, the lesbians who are here, take caution and make sure that you are not the next victim tonight.
Amandla! Ngawethu
(Power! To the People!)
04:51 – 05:13 Xolile Dzanibe
Man in a yellow tshirt		 Priests say nothing to their congregation about homosexuality.
They hate it! But you are the members of those churches.
We, as gay people try to make things right, but you are resisting.
We try to make you happy and make you laugh, but behind our backs you kill us!
05:23 – 05:48 Man in grey jacket and beard holding white paper I wouldn’t love for anyone else to leave this world this way.
If you remember Eudy also left us this way, but people are still doing things like this.
It’s just unfortunate.
However, as I’ve said, as a family we have accepted what has happened.
We do hope and trust that the police will do what is right.
05:49 – 06:00 Xolile Dzanibe We’re not going anywhere, we’re seating right here.
Parents don’t teach their children the right things.
They’d rather hear children say that homosexuals are not good.
06:01 -06:09 Female person with dreads
Rev. Tebogo		 (preaching) As god is my witness, on that day my blood did spill
06:34 – 06:59 Man in grey jacket and beard holding white paper Some of us who understand these things would not blame the events on the current government.
But, we would urge this government to find the criminals. We hope and trust that the police will do their job.
This however, would not bring Noxolo back.
07:33 – 07:40 Person with pink and yellow pullover It seems as if KwaThema is becoming a haven for the killings of lesbians.
Not one year passes without a lesbian murdered.
08:12 – 08:45 Preacher praying Make the sun must not set, the moon not go down before the perpetrators of this violence are found.
Only you can help us.
Without you helping us good Lord, we will be nothing.
We will disappear.
As we go on with Noxolo’s funeral, we ask for your forgiveness.
It’s been said that we must forgive those who have wronged us for they know not what they do.
10:46 – 11:45 Voice reading obituary I was born in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape to Koliswa Nogwaza.
My primary education was at Khwezi Lesizwe and I finished high school at Thlakula Secondary School.
I was blessed with two children, Sipho and Lindiwe.
Death took me by surprise on 24 April 2011.
I leave behind my children, my mother, my grandmother, uncles, aunts and friends.
Rest in peace MamJoli, maBhengu, Thanana, Goqolo, Funeka.
Rest in peace.
Posted in Archived memories, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Solidarity, Articles, As we are, Black Lesbians & Allies Against Hate Crimes, Contributors, Crea(c)tive senses, Creating awareness, Documentation; Filming; Photography; Community, EPOC on Inkanyiso, Eudy Simelane, Expression, Family, Films, Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), FreeGender, Homosexuality, Hope, Hurt, Inkanyiso media, Johannesburg, Know Your SA Queer History, Lack of Resources, Life Stories, murdered, Networking, Organizations, Our lives in the picture, Poetry, Power of the Voice, Prayer, Professional black lesbians in South Africa, Queer visibility, Questions & Answers, Rape, Readings, ReClaim Your Activism, Records and histories, Relationships, revolution, SA mainstream media, Scriptures, South Africa, Transcription, Translation, Victims, Violence, Visual history, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, Visualizing public spaces, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Where & Who is Justice?, Women; Voices; Writings; Education; Traditions; Struggles; Cultures | Tagged | 12 Comments

2013 March 15: Inkanyiso @ 2013 SAFTA s

Posted on May 5, 2013 by inkanyiso2009

The 7th edition of the South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTA) Photo album
Venue: Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg
Dates: 15 & 16 March 2013

… by Nqobile Zungu

2013 March 15: 2013 SAFTA photo album

Inkanyiso media represented by Charmain Carrol, Maureen Velile Majola and Nqobile Zungu penetrated the mainstream space alongside top SA media crew…

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2013 SAFTA winners

Film category

Best Director of a Feature Film
Craig Freimond – Material

Best Actor in a Feature Film
Material – Riaad Moosa as “Cassim Kaif”

Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film
Material – Vincent Ebrahim as “Ebrahim Kaif”

Best Actress in a Feature Film
Little One – Lindiwe Ndlovu as “Pauline”

Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film
A Million Colours – Matshepo Maleme as “Busi”

Best Writing Team of a Feature Film
Chris Barnard – Die Wonderwerker (The Miracle Worker)

Best Feature Film

Material – T.O.M. Pictures

Best Cinematographer of a Feature Film
Trevor Brown – A Million Colours

Best Editor of a Feature Film
Ronelle Loots
– Die Wonderwerker (The Miracle Worker)

Best Production Designer of a Feature Film
Bathoni Robinson – Pretville

Best Music Composition

Orangotang Music and Michael Bester
– Semi-Soet

Best Costume Designer
Nerine Pienaar – Semi-Soet

Best Make up/Hair Stylist
Charlie Runge, Lee-Anne Nourse – Pretville

Best Sound Designer of a Feature Film
Charlotte Buys – Material

Best Student Film
Die Windpomp
– AFDA: Miklas Manneke, Jade Galbraith

Best Short Film
Umkhungo – Matthew Jankes

Best Animation
Adventures
In Zambezia – Triggerfish Animation Studios

Television Category

Documentaries:
 Best Editor of a Documentary Short
Carte Blanche
Editing Team – Carte Blanche: Riaan Manser

Best Editor of a Documentary Feature
Andrew Wessels – Sobukwe: A Great Soul

Best Cinematographer of a Documentary Short
Annalet SteenKamp – Sea Skeletons

Best Cinematographer of a Documentary Feature
Felix Seuffert – Forerunners

Best Director of a Documentary Short
Carte Blanche Directing Team – Carte Blanche – Aurora Liquid

Best Director of a Documentary Feature
Mickey Dube – Sobukwe – A Great Soul

Best Documentary Feature

Sobukwe – A Great Soul – Born Free Media

Best Documentary Short
Carte Blanche – Aurora Liquid – Carte Blanche

Drama:

Best TV Drama Series
4Play: Sex Tips for Girls – Quizzical Pictures

Best Director on a TV Drama Series
4Play: Sex Tips for Girls – Amanda Lane

Best Actor in a TV Drama Series
90 Plein Street – Mothusi Magano as “Tshepo Sadiki”

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama Series
4Play: Sex Tips for Girls – Pallance Dladla as “Jimmy”

Best Actress in a TV Drama Series
4Play: Sex Tips for Girls
– Tiffany Jones
-Barbuzano as “Danny”

Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama Series
90 Plein Street – Nazli George as “Shireen”

Best Writing Team in a TV Drama Series
Writing Team
– 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls

Best DOP / Cinematographer of a TV Drama Series
Trevor Brown – Erfsondes

Best Editor of a TV Drama Series
Tanja Hagen, Tumi Modiba, Sharron Hawkes, Yoav Dagan, Jürgen Hellberg
– 90 Plein Street

Best Production Design of a TV Drama Series
Larissa Peters – Zone 14

Best Costume Design of a TV Drama Series
Rochelle Selling
– 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls

Best Make-up & Hair Stylist of a TV Drama Series
Minuche Snyman
– 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls

Best Sound Design of a TV Drama Series
Richard Hedges – Erfsondes

Soapies:

Best Director on a TV Soap
The Wild Directing Team – The Wild

Best Actor in a TV Soap
Isidingo – Kevin Smith as “Frank Xavier”

Best Actress in a TV Soap
Scandal! – Louise Barnes as “Donna”

Best Ensemble on a TV Soap
Rhythm City – Quizzical Pictures

Best Writing Team on a TV Soap
Lerato Khanye, Mark Graham Wilson and Thomas Hall – Scandal!

Best Editor of a TV Soap
The Wild Editing Team – The Wild

Best Art Direction of a TV Soap
Anneri Gericke – The Wild

Best DOP/Cinematographer of a TV Soap
Greg Heimann, Leon Kriel – The Wild

Best TV Soap: (public vote)
7de Laan

Comedy:

Best Actor in a TV Comedy
Ses’Top La – Leroy Gopal as “Oleshe”

Best Actress in a TV Comedy

Abo Mzala – Salamina Mosese as “Ella”

Best Ensemble
 ZA News
– Both Worlds

Best Editor of a TV Comedy
Aaron Naidoo, Rod Macleod, Hugh Upsher – ZA News

Best Art Direction of a TV Comedy
Riccardo Pugliese, Lindsay Van Blerk
– ZA News

Wildlife:

Best Director of a Wildlife Programme
Dereck Joubert – The Last Lions

Best Editor of a Wildlife Programme
Susan Scott, Candice Odgers – The Last Lions

Best Cinematographer of a Wildlife Programme
Dereck Joubert – The Last Lions

Best TV Wildlife Programme
The Last Lions – Wildlife Films

Other categories:

Best Youth & Children Programme

Challenge SOS – 2 Blonds and a Redhead Filming

Best Factual Educational Entertainment Programme
Sobukwe: A Great Soul – Born Free Media

Best News & Actuality Programme
Crimes Uncovered SA – Clive Morris Productions

Best Magazine
The Edition – Engage Entertainment (Pty) Ltd

Best Variety & Lifestyle Show
Cooking with Siba – Homebrew Films

Best Music Show
Afro Café – Bonngoe Productions

Best Talk Show
Motswako – Carol Bouwer Productions

Best Reality Show
Culture Shock – Vanilla Productions

Best International Format Reality Show
Come Dine With Me – Rapid Blue

Best Game Show
Jam Alley Crew VS Crew – Red Pepper

Posted in Collaborations, Collectivism, Community, Community Mobilizing, Entertainment, Exposure, Records and histories, Relationships, SA mainstream media, South Africa, South African Black Female Photographers, Sponsorships, Visual history is a Right not a luxury, We Care | Tagged | 1 Comment