Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “My name is Terra and I was born in Cape Town on 21st april 1989. I got kicked out of the house when I was 16 years old because I’m a lesbian. Up until then I lived a secret lesbian life and living a lie is very difficult; you have to come out and be yourself. I started then living with my grandparents who were very strict and taught me to be disciplined. Life was hard but you always have to remember - if I’m not gonna make it through this - who is going to make it for me?”
Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “The name Terra is a butch name and it gives me respect where I live. I’m not safe living in Gugulethu as a black lesbian. I’m not safe in my community. I’m not safe in South Africa and I will never be safe. I’m living in fear but with the respect I got I seem to be able to stay out of trouble. “
Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “There are people who discriminate and criticise me when I walk down the street with my girlfriend. Community can break people’s heart by being harsh with their presumptions but we all have to fight hate crime otherwise I think we will always be the victim. We have our own freedom and shouldn’t live in fear.”
Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “I’m Siya, 28 years old, and I was born and raised in Khayelitsha township. I have been volunteering since 2010 at Free Gender, a black lesbian organization based right here in Khayelitsha. My job is to develop young people’s skills in the community like painting & cooking and also teaching primary school kids. I have a full time job working at a phone company but I make time ‘cause I want to help.”
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Siya: ”The Miss Lesbian beauty pageant is our way of having fun, being happy and expressing ourselves. We are doing this for the younger generations to come.”
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Siya: “Khayelitsha is our home, too. We grew up here and we are claiming our streets. You can’t be scared all the time, you cannot stay scared. We are a collective, a lot of us together, standing up.”
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Terra: “Even though they hate us, rape us and kill us - all we have is love! We love each other and they can’t break us ‘cause we are gonna fight - new generations like us. We are able to respect and love and people here in our community, in our townships need to know this.”
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Contestants get ready, Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.
Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “I work for Inclusive and Arming Ministries (IAM) and we advocate that faith communities in Africa become more welcoming, inclusive and arming towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people. We have an IAM centre in Gugulethu township and a shelter for girls and boys that are being cast out by their families because of their sexual orientation.”
Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. “My name is Zelda, I’m 28 years old and I’m a lesbian woman. I’m having problems at home because of my sexual orientation. I’ve not been tolerated for my sexuality and I have never been accepted to live my life freely and I’ve been told to change if i want any support. My parents threw me out of the house and told me to never come back till I change or bring a child as a woman or bring a man of my own to them to witness that I have changed.”
Gugulethu township, Cape Town, South Africa, 2012.