End prejudice against the LGBTQIAP+ community
Individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex LGBTQIAP+ communities continue to be subjected to hate crimes and gender-based violence (GBV).
Tintswalo Chauke, who identifies as a lesbian, reflects on her journey and the challenges she has encountered in society and at work.
According to Tintswalo, it is imperative to educate and bring awareness about the LGBTQIAP+ community.
"There are instances where we get discriminated against and bullied. An example that I can give is when someone would make fun or make inappropriate comments by referring to us as 'he/she or she/he'. That is not right because we need to feel comfortable and accepted as human beings".
The passionate Tintswalo added: "I am a human being at the end of the day, just like you. Over the years, I have developed a character to not get offended easily. I just laugh and educate an individual on the different terms and classifications within the LGBTQIAP+."
The 38-year-old was born in Venda, Limpopo and relocated to the City of Gold to seek better work opportunities. She joined the Public Service in 2009 after obtaining her Bachelor of Technology Degree (BTech) in Cost Management from the Vaal University of Technology.
Her passion for accounting and numbers saw her climb the ladder to the Assistant Director post, in the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management.
Tintswalo said she developed self-confidence during her tertiary years as the environment allowed her to wear whatever she was comfortable with.
"Unlike in high school where it was mandatory to wear skirts, I was able to express myself without fear or judgement in varsity. I would wear what I was comfortable with and felt free."
South Africa's LGBTQIAP+ community has been rocked by a series of brutal hate crimes.
According to Tintswalo, government should look at hosting more workshops to educate and encourage tolerance amongst community members.
"Education and awareness are important. There is a lot of education and information
sharing that needs to happen. A lot of people discriminate and are not even aware of their actions.
"For example, there are terms such as butch and femme used in the lesbian community to describe a feminine and masculine lesbian. A butch describes a lesbian who is more masculine while a femme lesbian has a more feminine identity in terms of dress code."
Tintswalo added that while the provincial government has created platforms for engagement and education, more still needs to be done.
"I also like that there are now television programmes like 'Becoming' which offer education to the public. Government can look at hosting a mass LGBTQIAP+ programme in collaboration with other departments to create awareness and a dedicated LGBTQIAP+ desk in each province to address the LGBTQIAP+ hate crimes."
Government, she explained should condemn the violence perpetrated against the LGBTQIAP+ community as unacceptable and immoral.
"I would like to encourage others to speak up if they know someone who is abused due to their sexual orientation."
Tintswalo revealed that the support she received from her family played a huge role in her life.
Although Tintswalo said it took her mother some time to accept, she eventually gave her the protection and love of a mother.
"My mother saw that I was different in my own special way. I did things a certain way and my behaviour was kind of tomboyish and I enjoyed playing soccer unlike doing girlish things."
Tintswalo's aspiration is to grow her family with her partner and live in a country where the rights of women, children and the vulnerable are protected.
