GLR November-December 2025

ices because of misconceptions that they require special psy chiatric care. Ultimately, negative experiences with healthcare providers can erode trust in the system, discouraging them from seeking the care they need, which perpetuates a cycle of neglect and poor health outcomes. In my experience, interactions with nurses are often un comfortable. Beyond the occasional piercing glances, I’ve en countered instances in which they misgender me, engage in gossip, and offer unsolicited opinions. I frequently hear com ments like: “You’re so handsome. Why would you want to ruin yourself like this?” The worst part is their insistence that these comments come from a place of genuine concern. Experiences like these have led me to doubt my safety within these institu tions. I often wonder whether I can rely on healthcare profes sionals to give me trustworthy information about my transition and ensure the best outcomes. Each time I have an appointment, a sense of dread washes over me, and I find myself mentally preparing to brush off unprofessional behavior. While the qual ity of the medical care itself is generally acceptable, the overall atmosphere is unwelcoming and unpleasant. Another issue often faced by transgender people, especially the young, is family abandonment. Although statistics on how many transgender kids are disowned after coming out are hard to come by, the phenomenon is all too common. Many of these young people find themselves homeless, as they may be forced to leave their parents’ homes or feel unwelcome there. This lack of support can lead to a cascade of challenges, including emo tional turmoil, difficulties in accessing essential resources, and a heightened risk of both physical and mental health issues. The struggle for acceptance can leave lasting scars. Take the case of Owethu, a 26-year-old transgender woman who was kicked out of the house after coming out at age fifteen and was homeless for at least four years. She lived with friends for a while before she was forced to turn to sex work to earn a living. Her family eventually became more understanding, but the trauma she en dured remains with her: “I wish I had never been forced to sell my body, because all of the trust issues I have with men now are because of the work I was forced to do to survive.” Transgender and gender-diverse people in South Africa also know they may encounter brutal violence that could end in death. In 2021, there was an increase in attacks on the nation’s LGBT community, with sixteen reported murders, predomi nantly targeting black lesbians and people who identify as trans gender. In 2024, there were fourteen reported murders, with one transgender woman, Aobakwe Mahlobo, surviving a brutal at tack at a local tavern. The violence against LGBT people in South Africa also includes “corrective rape,” which is inflicted upon lesbians and transgender women supposedly to “correct” their sexual orientation or gender identity. While the situation may appear hopeless—especially in other African countries such as Uganda and Nigeria—South African transgender activists and organizations are dedicated to improving the rights and lives of the community. Their efforts encompass legal advocacy, awareness initiatives, and direct sup port services aimed at fostering a more inclusive society. We still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful of being able to enact change that betters not only our lives, but the lives of gen erations to come—because they deserve it. They deserve to live in an Africa that has reclaimed its history and culture.

Resurrection Sequence We summon the host of heavenly bodies. Madonna. Lady Marmalade. Diana. Summers. Set the lights in shades of holocene: baby-blue and pink. Bright, enough to convince ourselves we’re stars in a coming-of-age flick on MTV. This is the scene we forget about the war on culture, and by culture we mean love and decency. The scene where mother calls us home than the clay dirt floor of a Michigan basement that flooded last summer and still hosts the carcasses— June bugs drowned in the season’s heat. Shells still shining the same jade of the eyeliner that sparkles across the room at me. An invitation to put arms around this shimmering body. To feel the 12” single of Donna telling me I Feel Love. To proclaim this declaration. To play it on repeat. S HANLEY S MITH -P OOLE to dance and we pretend our feet stand on something more solid

inclusive residences leaves some transgender students vulnera ble to mistreatment. Transgender men may be assigned to women’s housing based on outdated documents, while transgen der women are placed in male residencies, exposing them to bul lying and violence from peers. When students are required to share accommodations, transgender men are often assigned to rooms in female dormitories with cisgender female roommates. When these cisgender students express discomfort or concerns about their safety, it is typically the transgender or gender-diverse person who is relocated. Take Loni, a twenty-year-old transgen der man who attested to having to relocate and adjust to prioritize the needs of cisgender female peers: “At the time I was placed in the female residency because my sex on my ID was still marked as female.” When the girl he was living with complained, Loni re ports: “I was forced to seek accommodation off-campus, which was more expensive, especially for a single tenant.” Transgender people in South Africa also face discrimination and mistreatment within the healthcare system, particularly in hospitals, where they often encounter stigmas and barriers to accessing appropriate care. This not only leads to poorer health outcomes but also exacerbates existing health disparities. And not enough healthcare professionals possess the necessary knowledge and understanding to deliver competent care, in cluding gender-affirming treatments. Structural barriers, such as long wait times and bureaucratic hurdles, further complicate their access to care. Many trans people report negative encoun ters with healthcare providers, including mistreatment, ridicule, and gossip, which can lead to feelings of alienation. Moreover, some find themselves excluded from primary healthcare serv 20

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