LGBTI community stigmatized at workplaces

HAZVINEI MWANAKA

MASVINGO- “I don’t know who informed my seniors at work that I am a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community, they had to come from Harare to have a meeting with me,” said one transgender person from Matebeleland North province.

Transgender people are those whose gender identity is different from the one they were ascribed at birth.

“At that time I did not have any option but to tell them that there is no law in Zimbabwe that allows me to be dismissed at work because of my sexual orientation. However, now they are talking of retrenchment and I am afraid that I could be the first one to be targeted,” said the transman.

These are some of the challenges that are being faced by the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe.

According to him, his workmates knew about it and most are very supportive and they appreciate his sexual orientation.

“Growing up, I always knew that I was different. At school my schoolmates used to laughed at me and diss me especially the way I talked and dressed. So when I went to secondary school I then realized that I was more attracted to women than men, but that time I didn’t have a term to define myself.

“I then started having relationships with women until I got to know that I  was a transgender in 2018 and in 2019 I went through hormonal therapy,’ he said.

Though he did not face many challenges with his colleagues who were just curious to know more about him, the only challenge that he had was his family. He was once disowned but they have since warmed up to his situation.

At one time he stopped going to church because of the way he dressed.

Asked how safe they are at workplaces he said most people in his community are still afraid to come up in the open for fear of discrimination and stigma.

“I think as a nation we are still to recognize this community, which also makes it difficult for different organizations to be inclusive making our lives very hard. Our community needs to be continually empowered so that we self-sustain ourselves,” he added.

He however added that advocacy plays a bigger role in changing the mindset of people to accept and include them.

Another member of the LGBTI from Masvingo Province said she is yet to disclose her sexual orientation at her workplace for fear of discrimination and losing her job.

“I am afraid that some people are getting an idea of who I am at our workplace, the abuse comes verbally through some jokes which are discriminatory in nature. At first I could just hurt and stay quiet but now I try to diffuse the situation like why are they saying that.

“Back then, we did not have access to the internet. I had no one to ask but I knew I was different. I carried it for a while which actually affected how I grew up and my performance at school,” she said.

She however ended up having fewer friends and only confined indoors.

“It only came to light when I was at college, I tried dating men but it was difficult, I then knew that I was a lesbian and it has been almost 12 years now,” she said.

According to her, along the way she lost some friends, but some were very supportive. Some of her family members knew about her situation, but others are still in the dark.

She however, added that there is need for sensitization trainings where workers are taught about the community.

“If sensitization programs are done it will promote how people see us, as people first and our sexual orientation later. The business community has a role to play in acceptance of us as a people, we are part of the workforce and we are contributing a lot towards the economy of the country therefore we need to be protected at the workplace for our safety is paramount,” she added.

Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) services and policy advocacy officer Sylvester Munyaradzi Nyamatendedza said there are a number of violations that the LGBTI community faces.

“Looking at our violations report, there are a lot of unfair labor practices on the basis of one either disclosing or when their orientation is discovered. We have had cases of people who have lost their jobs, contracts not renewed, some demoted and some fail to get support from co-workers,” he said.

He added that there is also stigma and discrimination as well as harassment to the community.

“Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe outlaws discrimination on basis of sex or gender and it therefore follows that all people are equal and should be treated fairly whether one is an LGBTI or not. If one again looks at section 65 of the constitution it provides ambiguous terms for the right to fair labor standards.

“Then to discriminate one on the basis of their sexual orientation then it becomes unlawful as it is against the spirit of the constitution. One should also be reminded that what is outlawed in Zimbabwe is same sex marriage and not being an LGBTI,” he said.

The story is published with support from the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) and the Embassy of Canada in Zimbabwe under the Investigative Journalism Fund Program.