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In the coming weeks Gender DynamiX and Ugandan partner SIPD* will kick off the second year of its Transgender, Intersex African Exchange programme. The programme brings together emerging and established Transgender and Intersex activists for empowerment and network building. This year Gender DynamiX will see one of its first staff members, outreach officer Tebogo Nkoana, as a peer when we all meet in Uganda!
*SIPD: Support Initiative for People with atypical sex Development (SIPD), Uganda
In his years at Gender DynamiX, Tebogo has grown from a young transgender man looking for answers for his own transition into a powerful transgender activist and role model for Transgender people across the continent. Tebogo was Gender DynamiX’s first outreach officer and was responsible for most of the outreach Gender DynamiX has done in the last three years.
He is now ready to take the next step in this calling and has spread his wings to start a new trans organisation called Transgender and Intersex Africa. He will be based in Gauteng, working with transgendered populations in rural areas around Gauteng, Limpopo, Kwa - Zulu Natal and others. Transgender and Intersex Africa will concentrate on hands on advice, service with a grassroots approach in rural areas.
Gender DynamiX will continue its advocacy work for the rights of trans people by pursuing medical access and legal services, and lobbying stakeholders and relevant government departments.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge that we, in partnership with the SIPD are proud to see the hard work of the exchange program with the goal of trans leadership and movement building carrying such rich fruits. We are also happy to see the emerging organisations of Trans Bantu in Zambia, Rainbow Identity in Botswana, and the Trans desk at ORN in Namibia. Similarly, the development of a strong trans network is emerging in the Eastern Cape. Transgender work in South Africa will be strengthened by the establishment of these new developments.
Gender DynamiX Management committee and staff wish our peers new and old, all the success that we all need in this venture and look forward to our collaborations and work together. The emergence of new transgender leaders is key to the success of this transgender movement - organisations founded and built by transgender people for transgender people.
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