MambaOnline had the opportunity to speak with Palomino Jama, one of the newest Members of Parliament and a bold, defiant voice for both the youth and LGBTQ+ South Africans.
Jama joins a growing list of out queer legislators shaping the country’s political future, including Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dion George; and Deputy Minister for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike.
A Radical Presence in the Halls of Power
For 28-year-old Jama, entering Parliament is a historic and deeply personal milestone.
“Forgetting that I’m young and forgetting that I’m queer was not an option for me,” she shares. “How I present is quite jarring in that way. But now I’m there, and there’s nothing much anyone can do about it. I’ll be there for the next four years. It’s just a reflection of our country and where we are.”
Jama was deeply engaged with student politics at Wits University. She has since served as a member of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Task Team on Gender-Based Violence, and sat on the board of the National Skills Authority before joining Parliament.
She is well-known in activist and queer cultural spaces for her grassroots work, community-building, and joyful defiance. Her commitment to accessibility remains unwavering.
“I answer all my DMs. I answer all my WhatsApps. I want to continue being accessible to everyone. No one should feel weird about reaching out to me,” she says. “Being here is the result of years of effort. Our democracy is able to allow for everyone to be here.”
Changing the Culture Through Visibility
Despite her historic appointment, Jama is not naïve about the challenges of navigating spaces of power while being visibly queer and unapologetically herself.
“There’s a lot of looking down… It’s quite jarring to people. But just my presence is a shift in the culture. It really shifts the culture and makes people believe and see things in a different way.”
As a legislator, Jama is committed to mainstreaming inclusion across all areas of governance. One of her core political priorities is addressing queer poverty and ensuring that LGBTQ+ South Africans, especially youth, are not left behind in conversations about access, education, and economic justice.
“We’re all not going to school because we don’t have parents. I really want to get this sorted out,” she explains. “It’s not optional. The numbers are ridiculous. It’s a matter of necessity.”
Show Up or be Left Out
She is also passionately involved in shaping the new Marriage Bill, where she’s fighting to ensure that queer relationships, including non-traditional partnerships, are recognised and protected under the law.
“There are many things people don’t understand about queer relationships, like the concept of partnering instead of marriage. It’s political. It’s serious. And it must be treated as such.”
The parliamentary hearings on the bill have already drawn backlash from conservative voices, making Jama’s presence, and public support, more vital than ever.
“We’re doing public hearings… and a lot of the comments coming in say they don’t want to be in the same boat with us,” Jama reveals. “Homophobes are very diligent. If we don’t show up, we might be left out.”
The Power of Living Openly
Outside of Parliament, Jama is grounded in joy, culture, and connection. She spoke about the importance of queer nightlife, music, and the spaces that allow LGBTQ+ people to simply exist and thrive.
“You’ll find me at live shows. I’m really into Zoë right now. And I love Lelowhatsgood, their sets are just incredible. There’s something magical about a queer DJ fusing beats with activism. It’s a good place for all of us to feel free.”
Jama also refers to a touching video on TikTok that resonated deeply with her, a friend offering a rainbow cake and Skittles with the message: “See who you are for your pride.” That moment captured, for her, the simple yet radical power of living openly.
“One of the bravest things in this world is to be openly queer. Once you’ve taken that step, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
