Africa’s first Transgender Visibility day this December

Africa’s transgender community will make its voice heard this December when Johannesburg hosts the continent’s first-ever Transgender Visibility Day.

The event will be held at the Women’s Jail in the Constitution Hill Precinct, Braamfontein, on Saturday 5 December from 10am to 6pm.

Organising group, Iranti, says it will be an exciting day of debates, speakers, exhibitions, films and entertainment.

The event aims to “raise awareness, share stories and create a safe space that embraces our Trans* bodies.

“Transgender activists from Uganda, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa will gather to celebrate International Human Rights Day and engage openly on transgender rights and our social justice work,” the organisers said.

“We call on you to stand with us in fighting transphobia in all its forms and visibilising the challenges faced by the Trans* community on our continent.

“Join us in claiming our rights – to access health care, to legal recognition, to employment, to safety and security. It’s a platform to highlight key issues and to advocate for more gender affirming services.”

Registration takes place at 9.30 am, after which the event will feature panels, speakers, films, exhibitions and workshops on topics such as legal recognition, access to health care and personal stories.

From 3.00 pm, participants will be treated to music, poetry and entertainment, until the close at 6.00 pm.

For more information on the Africa Transgender Visibility Day please contact africantransvisibility@gmail.com or visit the Facebook event page.