Pens and Presentations Down

A session that was supposed to be about experiences of hate crimes, and remembering people we have lost due to homophobia, ended up into an emotional session. The session started well with presentations from the panels. Chan from Zambia, who identifies as a transgendered man said, he feels and has seen that there is no unity within the feminist movement. When issues affecting women are addressed, it is not very often you hear trans people mentioned.

Two Palestian women expressed their views on what they thought about homosexuality, in which a lot of people felt uncomfortable hearing such expressions and called them homophobic, especially in the context we were in. Isn't that interesting? But what we need to realise is that, they have their own different background, and to quickly judge and crush is really not a strategic move, especially when we are in one struggle for change. These are the approriate spaces we can use for assertive and progressive responses that will enable understanding.

Like I said, what was suppose to be a session about hate crimes in South Africa and experiences, ended up into an emotional session. People expressed their anger and hurt by organisations, and how excluded their felt by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trasgendered, Intersex organisations. These are some of the quote:

"We attend matches, risk our lives on TV and papers for change, we write about our experiences of hate crime during the 16 days of activism, we attend the same meetings that are facilitated by the same people, the terminologies are beyond our understanding, and there is never a follow up. Follow up, is it important?".

"After our brave efforts on TV and papers, we are never called the next day just to check how we travelled home and if we are safe or not. We face chances of re-victimisation again, but we still continue because we are in solidarity. But there has never been a change to protect us or empowerment for those who need it, those who risk their lives for change, and we call it solidarity".

Some felt the need to go corporate because the movement is not inclusive of other marginalised people, doesn't recognise the need to empower so to strengthen the collectiveness. In South Africa, black lesbians have taken brave stands to speak out as an effort to change and be part of but it is not in reality, it is an ambition I say. We have never seen a young, black lesbian in any of these panels, representing other young voices in our language unlike the number you see in the street, outside the courts.

A lot of people, particularly black lesbian felt that they are important during the 16 days of activism and matches to increase the number but never in these spaces. Others felt that they are not feminst and in fact the lesbian movement on its own is divided. There is no unity.

As a young, black feminist with a lesbian identity, I share the same sentiment with those who expressed how they felt to an extend. It is painful, it is tiring. Some even gate crashed the meeting just to hear what other feminists are saying, be in the space and express what they felt needed to be told.

Are we really in solidarity? Is empowerment important and for who? Are we in one mind and one spirit if we are to work in collectiveness? We are represented, wow, great effort but is it how we would want our voices to be painted?