Gender DynamiX

Sex in Transition Launched, South Africa

The publication, Sex in Transition: Remaking of Gender and Race in South Africa, by Professor Amanda Lock Swarr takes the reader through the Apartheid times of South Africa, and how the lives of those who lived across or in between the gender binary system were impacted. It also explores how people from different races in …

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Appeal to Parliament Regarding Failure of Implementation of the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, South Africa

Gender DynamiX (GDX) and a cohort of other trans organisations lodged an appeal to the South African Parliament on 13 November 2012 with regard to the ongoing failure to implement the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, Act 49 of 2003.

Transitioning Africa (TA) Meets with the USAID Africa Bureau

The three directors of the Transitioning Africa (TA) coalition met in Nairobi with Dr Chloe Schwenke from the USAID Africa Bureau. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss support from the U.S. Agency that would culminate in an African Blueprint for the Provision of Comprehensive Care for Trans Persons, similar to the Blueprint in …

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Trans Health & Research Pre-conference

November 2010 – Gender DynamiX hosted the pre-Trans Health, Research and Advocacy Conference in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. The purpose of the pre-conference was to create awareness around the baseline situation experienced by trans people throughout South Africa – both in rural spaces and cities where there is, at minimum, a basic level …

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Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme: Year 1, Part 2

The second part of the Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme hosted by Gender DynamiX (GDX) and a partner organisation in East Africa* achieved two tangible and practical results. The first was that the 16 activists finalised the details for the “MSM/WSW & Trans Position Paper”, and it was released internationally …

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Lusophone Trans Workshop, Mozambique

For the first time on the African continent, a Lusophone* trans workshop was presented by IGLHRC (the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, today known as OutRight International) and Gender DynamiX (GDX) in Maputo, Mozambique. Due to language barriers, it is extremely difficult to establish networks in Mozambique and Angola where the main spoken …

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Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme: Year 1, Part 1

The first part of the Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme, hosted by Gender DynamiX (GDX) and a partner organisation from East Africa, was launched in Namibia. It was with great excitement that the 16 activists met, and there was a very energetic buzz in the room, as participants had great …

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SistaazHood Founded, South Africa

SistaazHood is the first sex worker support group in South Africa, founded by trans women who were part of the Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) based in Cape Town. Led by trans women sex workers, Sistaazhood focuses its support and advocacy specifically on trans women sex workers. SistaazHood was founded after an initial …

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Launch of Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme

South Africa’s Gender DynamiX (GDX) and a partner organisation in East Africa* formed a partnership to host an Eastern and Southern African Trans and Intersex Regional Exchange Programme, which would commence in May 2010. The Programme would bring together 16 activists from Botswana, Burundi, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for this learning …

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 The Humiliation and Death of Auntie Victoria, Tanzania

The death and humiliation of Aunty Victoria, Tanzania Auntie Victoria was reportedly the first openly identified trans woman in Tanzania. She received gender-affirming surgery in Europe many years ago (surgery dates undocumented). When she returned to Tanzania, her home country, she owned a tavern, and generated her own income. She was constantly ridiculed about being …

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First Trans and Intersex African Presentations at the Gender Odyssey Conference and University of Washington

Gender Dynamix (GDX)’s Tebogo Nkoana and Liesl Theron submitted abstracts to present at the Gender Odyssey Conference. The proposals were accepted and Liesl, who was already in previous contact with the University of Washington Associate Professor, Amanda Lock Swarr, reached out to explore the possibility of presenting at the University while they were in Washington, …

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First African ARC International Conference, South Africa

Gender DynamiX (GDX) attended the ARC International conference in Johannesburg. This was the first time that ARC held a conference in Africa, and it was at this conference that many self-identified trans people from other countries and trans-African activists met in person. This conference played a significant role in the preliminary understanding of trans in …

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Gender DynamiX (GDX) founded, South Africa

Gender DynamiX (GDX), the first registered African-based organisation focusing solely on the trans community, was founded in South Africa by cis woman, Liesl Theron, and her trans partner, Lex Kirsten in July 2005.   Due to work insecurity and a lack of knowledge about the employment rights of trans persons, the cis-trans couple decided that Liesl …

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