As an engaged organisation, GDX has brought to light that trans and gender diverse persons experience various challenges that hinder us from living in freedom, dignity and equality. Due to the dominance of cisnormativity and heteronormativity in the context of conservative legal-political systems and often adverse socio-economic circumstances in southern Africa, we have found that trans and gender diverse persons:

 

• Fear expressing who we are;

• Are deprived of legal and societal recognition;

• Are not affirmingly recognised in government policies to support gender diversity;

• Are marginalised and excluded from accessing resources, services and opportunities such as healthcare, education, legal assistance, employment, social services, etc.;

• Face societal ignorance, intolerance, stigma and discrimination;

• Experience gross human rights violations; and

• Are sometimes negatively portrayed by insensitive media outlets.

 

For this reason, GDX’s theory of change can be outlined as follows: