Naledi lives her truth as a transgender woman

POLOKWANE – When the word ‘gay’ didn’t feel right to describe her, transgender woman Naledi Netshidzivhane (25) had to research what exactly she identified as.

Naledi explained that being transgender means identifying different from the gender you were assigned to at birth.

She indicated that from as early as Gr 4, she knew she was different from other boys but she thought she was gay but never had publicly identified as a gay person.

“The word ‘gay’ did sit well, I felt like it was misrepresenting me. I used to spend quite a long time alone and when alone I would wear my cousin’s garments and play dress up. That’s when I felt complete. I felt like the woman that I was destined to be,” she said.

At the age of 17, she started suffering from gender dysphoria and it started affecting her studies.

She would use the internet to research about what was happening to her and that was how she came across the term ‘transgender’ which she felt identified her completely.

She shared that coming from the village, it was difficult for her family to accept her identity.

“I started it as a joke asking what they would do if I disappeared for six months and returned as a female. That didn’t go well but I understand their reaction didn’t come from a place of hate, it was from a place of love. They were protecting me and themselves from the negativity that it associated with the LBGTQI community,” she said.

Some of the challenges that come with being a transgender woman are rejection from the corporate industry and not having proper healthcare or access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Not all is negative, she has found her happy place and she is living her truth. She loves being able to get dolled up, doing her hair, wearing makeup, skirts, heels and dresses.

“I love every aspect of being a woman, we are stunning. We come in all shapes, sizes, races and no matter what, we are always beautiful. We don’t have to listen to the stereotypes society has laid out for us, because we’re gorgeous just the way we are,” she added.

Her message to transgender women who are trying to find themselves is to walk tall, take up the space, own your power, make your presence be felt don’t let anything or anyone oppress you.

“Your mental health is the most important thing, if you feel like you can’t take it anymore or you seek information go to NGO’s like Poverty Alleviation and Support for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PASPWA), they are more welcoming to the trans community,” she concluded.