Media Statement Gender DynamiX 20 May 2010

Today activists the world over protested the conviction of two gay men in Malawi. Even though activists from many different political persuasions joined hands in a protest in Cape Town today, local transgender activists are highlighting the fact that Tiwonge Chimbalanga clearly expresses a female identity.

 According to Ian Swartz from OSISA (Open Society Institute of Southern Africa) Tiwonge Chimbalanga sees herself as a woman. “Tiwonge so clearly identifies as a woman and she has expressed her identity as such more often than not. I think if she knew the word Transgender she would come home to a world of understanding of herself” he said recently after visiting the couple in prison. A local activist who calls her “Aunty Tiwo” visited her too and to him she said: “I am just a woman who loves my man. I’d rather remain in prison than to be released into a world where I am kept away from Steven”

“Advocating for Transgender peoples rights in most African countries is problematic for us” says Robert Hamblin advocacy manager for SA Transgender organisation Gender DynamiX. “Gender variant identities are not acknowledged and just about any sexual minority is called gay or homosexual. This is because a person is assigned a gender based on their genitals, despite how they self identify.”

Gender DynamiX stood together with other activists today in a protest called by Social Justice Coalition (SJC). SJC was joined by LGBTI organisations protesting the conviction of these two people. The group of activists urged the SA government to negotiate the release of the couple and to offer them asylum in South Africa. The group also demanded that the SA government end the continued silence about human rights abuses against sexual minorities on the rest of the continent.

Gender DynamiX condemns the conviction of Steven Mongeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. We call on the South African government, as the only state in Africa to recognise equality for sexual minorities, to uphold the South African constitution by offering asylum to the couple.
“Even though the identities of Tiwonge and Steven are misunderstood by the world we stand together with gay and lesbian activists in their work to try and get justice for our trans sister and her partner.” says Tebogo Nkoana outreach officer at Gender DynamiX.


Robert Hamblin: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it                            
  +27 21 633 5287 ext 2037

www.genderdynamix.org.za
http://www.youtube.com/user/GenderDynamix

Are you a trans person who is married?

Are you delaying or questioning legal Gender Reassignment in order to protect your rights as a married person?

Have you gotten a divorce in order to legally change your gender after 2003?

Do you want to help trans people and their partners to access the same rights as all South Africans?

If you answered YES to any of these questions we need your help.

Gender Dynamix is challenging the Department of Home Affairs to enforce Point 3.3 in Act 49 of 2003.  The point states “Rights and obligations that have been acquired by or accrued to such a person before the alteration of his or her sex description are not adversely affected by the alteration.”  Despite this document the Department of Home Affairs expects individuals to provide a divorce certificate in order to legally reassign their sex.

Gender Dynamix is calling for a trans person, with the help of their partner, to apply for a change of identity without divorcing.  If the application is rejected this will enable a court case to be opened.  Gender Dynamix is working with a lawyer who will assist the couple through the litigation process with no fees to the couple.

If you have already had your sex legally reassigned and had to divorce your partner to do so after 2003, please contact Gender Dynamix.  It is not necessary for you to have undergone gender reassignment surgery to be helpful.  Your experience could aid the litigation process.
For seven years the rights and dignity of trans people and their partners have been protected on paper with no visible change in government practices.  Step forward to protect and uplift your community while holding the South African government accountable.

“Your silence will not protect you” – Audre Lorde

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela


Contact details:
Advocacy Manager: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
021 633 5287