Every year this month is celebrated to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York. That Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Initially the last Sunday in June was celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the US the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include parades, picnics, parties, workshops, and concerts.
Before covid memorials were held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost due to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The true purpose of pride month is to recognize the impact that Queer individuals have had on history locally, and internationally.
South African queer people enjoy the same rights as non queer people in the eyes of the law. Other African countries have a long way to go before queers not only enjoy their right to equality but can also live their lives safely and in dignity.
While we celebrate pride month this year, we must remember the lives of the Queer Kings and Kweens who have been brutally taken away from us due to homophobic violence, intolerance and hatred for living their truth.
There are many organizations in South Africa and Africa who dedicate their time and energy to protect the rights of all queer people. I urge you all to support their efforts by donating to them as many are greatly underfunded.
To all those brave brothers and sisters I salute you and all the work that you do.
Sandiswa and Amandla met when they were working together, Sandiswa was then Amandla's superior. Fast forward a few years the two got married but things did not turn out as they envisioned. They called it quits and found love in other people. while with other people they became each others side dishes, and now they are back together again married, inlove and each others best friends.
Find out how this queer couple navigated their love life and made it full circle.
Follow Sandiswa on Facebook - Sandiswa Nyati-Ludidi
Amandla - IG - amandla_nyatiludidi
- Facebook - Amandla Nyati-Ludidi
- Twitter - @nyati_ludidi
Relationships that start off via social media are not always about instant gratification and meaningless sex. Bokamoso & Tshoanelo are living testament to the fact that love can be found in the most unlikeliest places.
From a twitter post to DM to WhatsApp to their first date and finally the day Tshoanelo proposed, this fun queer couple tell us how it all came together and why they decided to move in together during peak lockdown.
Lauren offers counselling for a variety of concerns, including addiction, marriage, relationship problems, trauma, bereavement, HIV/Aids and general lifestyle issues and concerns. Her clientele is generally between the ages of 5 and 55 and are looking for holistic counselling, to improve their lifestyles from an overall wellness perspective.
"If you are struggling, you do not have to do it alone. If you are unable to find solutions, let's explore your options together. I offer a non-judgmental space where you are able to just be yourself and speak freely and openly".
EXP Medical Centre
Vlakhaas Avenue
Roodepoort 1709
087 250 2389 x85
Call Lauren Loots for a phone consultation now - 087 250 2389 x85
The term “chronic kidney disease” means lasting damage to the kidneys that can get worse over time. If the damage is very bad, your kidneys may stop working. This is called kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live.
Listen to Goliath**speak about how he discovered that he had chronic kidney disease and would have to live the rest of his life on dialysis. This young queer has had to overcome depression and live his life in fear during peak covid 19 lockdown. He has come full circle in accepting what he cannot change and is now living everyday to the fullest the best way he can.
Former media practitioner Mbulelo Xinana from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape knew that his life was to do more than be behind the camera covering stories. The trajectory of his life work changed when he covered a LGBTQI+ event in the city of his birth Port Elizabeth.
Together with the organization that he works, ISICEBISI, this young queer coordinates events that aim to teach the youth about LGBTQI+ education, Gender Based Violence as well as sensitization workshops for parents and teachers of queer youth at schools in Port Elizabeth.
Follow this remarkable young man on social media on the following handles:
Twitter - @mbuleloxinana
Instagram - @mbulelo Xinana
As a teenager, Khanyisa Pinda, was told he had six weeks to live because he had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – an enlarged heart. But now, he is a medical doctor who has been working on the front line during the pandemic
Dr Pinda was a first-year medical student when he was diagnosed with DCM, a condition in which the heart’s ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. In some cases, it prevents the heart from relaxing and filling with blood as it should.
In 2017, doctors put Pinda’s name on an urgent transplant waiting list after his condition deteriorated so much that his heart was left with only 10% functionality. With the help of medication and frequent check-ups, Pinda’s condition has since improved, allowing him to graduate and work as a doctor at New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town.
At present, his heart functionality is 26% and he has been delisted on the donor list.
Follow this phenomenal queer on social media on the following handles:
Twitter: @khanyisa_pinda
Instagram: khanyisa_pinda
Depression - A mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide
Anxiety - Intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating and feeling tired may occur. Anxiety is only an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive, all-consuming and interfere with daily living.
Nomfundo has always known since her younger days that something was amiss with her, she didn't know what it was or if there was a word for it.
"When covid happened and the country was on lockdown, this baker from Witbank in Mpumalanga saw her life going from 100 to 0. She lost her job and her depression and anxiety was at it peak". On this episode Nomfundo speaks about her journey with coming to terms with her mental health issues and how she copes with her everyday ups and downs.
Follow Nomfundo on the following social media accounts
Twitter - @I2_meleng_fufy
Instagram - @i2_meleng
We speak to Reiki Master Ingrid Pollak , a Social worker with a Special interest in: Anger Management, Anxiety, Brain spotting, EMDR, Depression,
Grief & Bereavement, Chronic medical conditions, Trauma, Transpersonal Therapy (Spiritual Psychology).
Queers are encouraged to seek professional help should they feel overwhelmed by everyday life.
contact Ingrid on the details below
Tel: +27 (0)82 331 8424
email: ingrid@inneressence
http://www.inneressence.co.za
Gang Raped at the tender age of 17 , Siyabonga Makhonxa speaks to us about dealing with being gang raped and living with HIV.
Born in Port Elizabeth and raised in Fort Beaufort , a small town in the Eastern Cape. This young man has lived a life filled with suffering and pain but has risen above all that and has become an outspoken HIV Activist and ARV ambassador.
Follow this phenominal queer on Facebook @Siyabonga Makhonxa.
15 years in the LGBTIQ+ advocacy space, Sibonelo Ncanana Trower, who runs a clinic called Engage Men's Health in Port Elizabeth speaks to us about the importance of taking prep as a sexually active Queer person.
Follow Sibonelo on the following social media handles:
Facebook: Sibonelo Ncanana Trower
Twitter: @ncanana2trower
Man what a journey it’s been developing and producing this 1st series of Queer Talk on Identity...
I want to thank you the listener for taking the time to listen to our pilot series, you guys have been great!
I close this series topic with these questions for you to ponder on… is identity something people are born with? Or is it given to you? Or is it something people create for themselves?
Known by her followers on Twitter and instagram as Queen A, Anele speaks to us about her journey into understanding her identity as a transgendered woman. Born to a family with a strong Christian background Anele had to "come out" to her family twice, first as a gay man at 16 and as a transgendered woman at 21 years.
This Mafikeng based Gender Activist, socialite & motivational speaker says she has always been educating. Educating her family, potential suitors and society about how she identifies herself. She speaks openly about how she finds it difficult to date as a Trans gendered woman and how she has come to love the body that she is in because of hormonal treatment.
Follow Anele on social media on the following handles:
Twitter - @anele_xhati
Instagram - anele_queen_a_xhati
Disowned by his family when he came out to them as a trans gendered man in 2018, Ayanda Nino Maphosa speaks to us about his journey that lead him to being the man that he is today.
Follow Ayanda on Social Media on the following handles
Instagram: nino.ayanda
Facebook: Ayanda Nino Maphosa
Ophola Zinto born in the Eastern Cape and moved to Johannesburg this vibrant lesbian woman knew from a young age that she didn't like boys although she couldn't explain it.
She tells us of how her mother found out that she was lesbian via Facebook and how her mom called the congregation ladies to come and pray the devil in her.
Follow Ophola on the following social media handles :
Facebook: Ophola Williams
Instagram: mam_thug
Twitter: @mam_thug
On this episode we speak to Mashaba Biti, a bisexual male from Johannesburg about his journey to identifying as Bisexual.
He recalls how he was always surrounded by women growing up and how he grew up questioning his attraction to men.
Mashaba is in a committed relationship with a woman, and does not see himself ever settling with a man.
Mandiso Mnyango a queer man from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape speaks about how he is judged by his own queer community and the heterosexual community for being feminine.
He narrates how he was bullied at school and how he had to act a certain way growing up in an all boys household.
Mandiso knew from a very early age that he was different but couldnt put a name to it.
Follow Mandiso on social media on the following handles:
Twitter: @MandisoMnyango
Instagram: mandiso_m
YouTube: https://youtu.be/L0OmZvhrsvc or search Mandiso Mnyango
On this episode we speak to Nkokheli Mankanyi a Queer Activist on a mission to educate the world about Gender & Identity.
His Activism work stretched all the way back to his Varsity days at The Cape Peninsula University ,in Cape Town South Africa. This is where he had volunteered as a peer educator and founded the institutions most active LGBTI institution, GlosCPUT.
Mankanyi says that Trans and gender diverse individuals in South Africa are still the most marginalised community and for that reason their rights and needs are often neglected.
Follow this Queer whose resolute determination in educating the world about LGBTI rights on social media
Twitter: @Nkokheli17
Instagram: @thee.kendol
In this episode we define what the word Queer means. we also outline what the podcast QUEER TALK is about.
