battling hate against township lesbians

By Yolanda Mufweba, Saturday Star

January 17, 2004: Every week Zanele Muholi risks her life by going into the townships around Johannesburg. Initially she even resisted having her picture taken for this article. Muholi documents incidents of hate crimes perpetrated against black lesbians, specifically in the townships.

She drives to townships as far out as Sebokeng in the Vaal to listen to the stories of girls and women who have been raped, assaulted, sexually assaulted and verbally abused by relatives, friends and neighbours.

"I've come to terms with things. I know that anything can happen. I'm not Shera (the strong female cartoon character), I'm a woman. I'll just have to deal with the situation when it happens," she says.

"I go to the townships with the intention of meeting lesbians. I want to know what it's like to live there, what do they go through every day…is it safe? When people tell me about these things, I feel it. I listen to them and I look at myself, because it hits you. You may be in a better position, but you might end up being in that situation."

When the Saturday Star spoke to Muholi in November last year, she had recorded 33 cases of abuse; she now has more than 40. "People are living under terrible conditions. I visited some girls who were chucked out of their homes. "They are so poor they don't even have money to buy pads. They end up using their facecloths.

They are so desperate, they'll do anything to get money, even if it means doing something with boys," she says.
She says she has broken down many times, and relies on the counsel of Lifeline and her partner to get through some difficult sessions.

"As a woman first, I feel their pain. I'm told I need proper counselling, but this needs to be done. If I don't do something who will?" she says.

Since January last year, black lesbians ranging from 16 to 35 years of age have come forward to tell their stories to Muholi, who works for the online gay and lesbian publication Behind the Mask.

"One of the worst stories I had to listen to was of a girl who was shot dead after she visited a straight bar. The saddest of it all is that the guys who shot her were released on bail and fined R500 for possessing an unlicensed firearm," she said.

This is just one of the many horrific cases she has to listen to.

"The world needs to know that its not easy to be a lesbian. There's a Zulu saying that says: 'izandla ziyagezana', that means that through helping someone, they can help others. I can only be a sister," she says.

Muholi is originally from Durban and met her first love when she moved up to Johannesburg.

"I've been very lucky not to go through what some of these women have experienced. But the fact is that I am a woman. Before people see a lesbian they see a woman, and with the crime in this country anything can happen," she says.

The information she's collecting will be used in a report and recorded as part of research for the gay and lesbian archives.

"It's not only collecting stories, it's educating, giving people information…it's about empowerment and developing talents. We aim to bring people of all classes together," Muholi says.

Muholi has given many depressed and suicidal lesbians a second chance by providing free computer training, shelter and an ear to listen.

"If someone wants to become a singer or a soccer player or photographer, I want to help them. I believe that I am a community builder making a difference, don't give people money, give them skills so they can do it for themselves," she concludes.