This pre-conference was considered the first step towards planning the Trans Health, Research and Advocacy conference scheduled for 26 – 28 November 2011, an event which would be the first of its kind on the continent. Gender DynamiX selected a number of individuals to attend the pre-conference. They were invited to attend because they were selected to ensure a broad as possible variety of experiences from within the trans community as well as multi-disciplinary professionals. Forty people attended the pre-conference.

The list of professionals that attended included one or more psychologists, a surgeon, a general practitioner, an endocrinologist, a nurse, a traditional healer, a sexologist, a social worker, a family physician, a journalist and a trans lawyer from the US who serve on the board of WPATH. Gender DynamiX was represented by staff and board members. Community members were represented by trans masculine and trans feminine people from rural areas and cities, a refugee, parents of trans children and a trans woman in her senior years. The pre-conference was a great success and a milestone for the trans and intersex movements. 

The 1st Trans Health, Research and Advocacy Conference was held in November 2011.

Read about the 2nd Trans Health, Research and Advocacy Conference, May 2014

The impact of Eusebius McKaiser

One of the outcomes of the pre-conference in 2010 was that a journalist who attended, Eusebius McKaiser, published an article in the Mail and Guardian in December 2010 in which he not only acknowledged his own previous ignorance of trans and intersex issues but it would mark the start of his ongoing support for the movement. Eusebius’ first real introduction to nuanced issues that are important for trans people came as a result of attending. Following his introduction to trans people during the conference he wrote a touching story, describing how his experience of attending the conference shaped his thoughts, acknowledging that LGBT people in general do not know half as well as what they even imagine about the lives of trans people. This personal account was published as a full-page contribution in the Mail & Guardian.

In the article, he writes:

“This (lack of a full understanding of the nature of transgender bodies) is exaggerated by well-meaning organisations and funding bodies, which have a “catch all” approach. They imagine that in targeting the wider, mainstream gay or LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) communities, all sexual minorities are thereby accessed. In reality, the ‘T’ and the ‘I’ in LGBTI are invisible.”

He ended the article by stating:

“Prejudice against sexual minorities is not restricted to acts of overt violence against black lesbians. We need to be more vigilant about other manifestations of prejudice. Such vigilance must start with checking our own attitudes. Even victims of prejudice, including gay men and women, need to guard against trans-phobia.”

McKaiser passed away on 30 May 2023.

A tribute to Eusebius McKaiser  (28 March 1978 — 30 May 2023)

In the years since the pre-conference in 2010 he established himself as a brilliant journalist, philosopher and political analyst He also remained an ally to the trans and intersex movement, he was a brilliant journalist, philosopher and political analyst.

It is with shock and disbelief that South Africans and the world learned of the sudden and untimely passing of Eusebius McKaiser. Countless political, LGBTIQ+, Human Rights and anti-racism activists, journalists, academics and critical analysts, posted memories and tributes in comments on Eusebius’ own Facebook wall, Instagram and other social media platforms. He was a brilliant voice and thinker with a public opinion who did not shy away from controversial topics and was not scared to call issues by its name. He challenged journalists and other public figures to seek truth and honest, ethical reporting. 

He was also a voice of reason and a critical ally to the queer community, from being out of the closet and publicly so, speaking up for LGBTIQ+ people, highlighting issues about bisexuality, about being gay and the challenges trans people live with, on a daily basis. He was a supporter of sex workers’ campaigns in decriminalization. 

After Eusebius’ first introduction to trans and issues, he also spoke on his timeslot on Radio 702, in his talk show about how the “rest of the LGBT acronym” tries to silence the identity of T. He mentioned it again as a moderator in the Other Foundation’s Kopano in the video clips above.

Eusebius McKaiser speaks out against The Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda, 2023

Recently Eusebius spoke out strongly about the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill that was recently passed by the Ugandan government as the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) in his podcast series: “In the Ring with Eusebius McKaiser”  – Episode 157 – WE SHOULD ALL BE BLOODY PISSED OFF ABOUT THE UGANDAN BILL CRIMINALISING IDENTIFYING AS GAY (22 March 2023)

Eusebius’ last tweet on the day of his passing further underscores how strongly he felt about the Anti-Homosexuality Act:

The QueerSona series of Iranti, 9 February 2023

Earlier in 2023, during the time of South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation, the organisation Iranti had a series on their social media campaign titled  “QueerSona”

Eusebius added his voice and made a short statement too. His statement was trans-inclusive.

Iranti was very appreciative of this and publicly thanked Eusebius for his contribution:

“We are grateful to you Eusebius Mckaiser for sharing your #QueerSona Eusebius McKaiser – Author, Broadcaster & Political Analyst. The President’s State of the Nation Address is upon us. We demand that President @CyrilRamaphosa acknowledge our demands and commit state officials and state resources to ensure an end to discrimination and acts of violence against LGBTQIA+ people. Join us, and hold the president accountable. #QueerSona#Sona2023#Sona23“

Tributes to Eusebius McKaizer

Liesl Theron on Facebook (Liesl is the co-founder of Gender DynamiX)

Whenever I saw there is some hectic nonsense going on in Mzanzi I always said “It is time to listen to Eusebius, to understand what is happening” because he analyzed political happenings so well, I liked to listen to his podcasts when I was cooking in the kitchen. I remembered how he graciously sat silently and took all the “new” information in when we invited him to attend the first Trans Health Conference’s pre-conference in Hout Bay. He asked me why we invited him, as he doesn’t know much about the subject, and I replied, “That is why we want you here”. After attending the conference, he wrote a full page for M&G about the struggles trans people face daily in their lives. He was brilliant! After that, we were once co-panellists for the launch of a Queer book about Malawi LGBTQI community members, Muholi was the photographer and Eusebius, and I was invited by GALA to the launch as panellists. But beyond that, he was my guide about South African news, especially now that I live in Mexico.

Marion Stevens on Facebook (Marion was on the planning committee for the pre-Trans Health, Research and Advocacy Conference)

Life is so fragile. I remember our first meeting in Hout Bay in 2010 at the pre–Transgender Health conference. You sat in the back listening and then wrote a piece for the Mail and Guardian, putting transgender health struggles in the public domain for thought and consideration. I had a toddler with me, Xanny was about 4 years old and you kindly put up with their questions and requests for more orange juice. Since then the thoughts you put in the public domain have been an enormous contribution to our democracy. At times of course you were irritating and arrogant. I am so shocked at your passing, life is so fragile, so soon this.  Condolences to your loved ones – your partner, your Dad, aunts and cousins – and many friends. Eusebius Mckaiser rest easy.

Sally-Jean Shackleton on Facebook (Sally-Jean was the inaugural chairperson of Gender DynamiX)

Eusebius, Mckaiser was a giant – in intellect and in bravery. What a devastating loss. I am grateful for his generosity in supporting and speaking up for sex workers, for being visibly queer, and outspoken…. for being a loyal and steadfast defender of what is right and good. How bizarre to be speaking about him in the past tense. Joining others today in mourning and sending comfort to his family and partner. Rest in power #eusibiusmckaiser

Gender DynamiX (GDX), the first registered South African-based organisation and one of the first African-based organisations 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 would, during the beginning years of GDX’s existence, be known as the ‘founder’ in order to allow Lex employment security. The inaugural Board meeting took place in July 2006. 

Vision

Gender DynamiX seeks to be a key role-player towards the realisation of all human rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people within and beyond the borders of South Africa.

Mission

Using a human rights framework, Gender DynamiX undertakes to advance, promote and defend the rights of trans and gender non-conforming persons in South Africa, Africa and globally.

Objectives

• To increase the visibility and acceptance of trans diverse and gender diverse persons.  
• To advocate for a society where everyone is free to express their gender, within, across and beyond the male-female binary without fear of discrimination and to promote self-identification.  
• To provide training and education for key stakeholders including and not limited to health care workers, law enforcement, educators, public service and religious leaders in order to build sensitivity towards trans diverse-, gender diverse-, gender non-conforming-, and gender questioning people.  
• To challenge and assist people to re-examine their understanding of gender diversity.  
• To assist significant others, family, friends and colleagues of trans diverse-, gender diverse-, gender non-conforming-, and gender questioning people with information and education about gender identity and expression.  
• To use a human rights framework, to support trans diverse and gender diverse persons to access and advocate for their rights. 
• To increase awareness and acceptance of trans diverse and gender diverse persons in Southern Africa by doing outreach work in townships and rural areas.  
• To participate in and conduct research in the field of trans- and gender diversity.  
• To play an integral role in trans activism in South Africa, Africa and globally by participating in relevant human rights networks.  
• To form strategic partnerships to realise service provision to trans- and gender diverse persons, and to liaise with other organisations who are also working towards the realisation of Human Rights.  
• To advance Human rights by lobbying government, civil society, national- and international decision-makers and the media to combat prejudice, discrimination, violence against and intimidation of trans diverse-, gender diverse-, gender non-conforming-, and gender questioning people.  

Focus Areas

• Advocacy and research
• Capacity enhancement
• Community access to direct services
• Organisational development.

Contact

Website
+27 (0) 21 447 4797
Email: info@genderdynamix.org.za
Facebook
Twitter (X)
YouTube
LinkedIn
TikTok

Watch: Video about Lex Kirsten and the founding of GDX

Liesl Theron Reflects on the Beginnings of GDX

“I cannot separate the story of the founding of Gender DynamiX from my own story. My first relationship with a trans man was in the mid-1990s.  I knew nothing about transgender, activism, feminism or even the LGBT movement. In 2003, thirteen years later, and, after I had moved far away to Cape Town, a friend who knew about my previous trans partner, got in contact with me to tell me that they had a friend who was considering transitioning but had no information or idea how to go ahead with the process.  My friend was hoping that I could share information or advice with this person because back then, South Africa didn’t have an organization that focused on transgender and there was no group or organisation this person could turn to for medical or legal information or help.

It is also important to remember at that time there was the internet, but it was quite limited back then.  Not many people in South Africa had a home computer, let alone one that was connected to the internet.   It was a real privilege to have that. Mobile phones and social media were also not developed as it is today. There were no smartphones, that could do online searches. I realised that I could potentially have some answers and I agreed to meet him. We started chatting and really got on well.  So well, actually,  that Lex became my second trans partner.  

As soon as we attempted to get information from state departments about the transitioning process, I became aware of the differences in service delivery and access points in the country.  There were no guidelines in the public health system.  There were no guidelines or procedures at the Department of Home Affairs either, which is where citizens have to register all personal information and obtain birth certificates and Identity documents.  We discovered that information about transitioning was hidden so far away, it was as if it was a big secret not to be spoken about.  Lex felt isolated, yet we knew there had to be other trans people in the country who were dealing with the same issues. I knew there were more people, because not only was I in a previous trans relationship, I remember my ex talking about other trans people in the waiting room at the hospital during his transitioning time in Pretoria.

I started to search online for more information, about transgender in general, about activism, and about how it is in other countries. Lex worked night shifts every second week and there was an internet café in our neighbourhood with a nighttime special between 8 pm and 8 am where you only had to pay for the first 3 hours. So, I made use of that special and when he went in the evening to his night shift job, I went onto my own “night shift job” searching information online, right through the night. 

I learned that, during the mid-1970s even the 80s, the international guidance given by psychologists and psychiatrists to trans persons was that after the person medically and surgically transitioned, it would be better for everyone if they could ‘disappear’. The advice was that only family members should know about it and that it would be better if the person could start with new friends, a new job, in a new city – if they could emigrate it would be even better. I finally realized why it was so difficult to find first-hand information from other trans persons who already transitioned. Every trans person literally disappeared together with their information. Every trans person who wants to transition basically had to start the path by themselves as if they were the first person to go through the process. That also meant there was no support system in place.

After two years of gathering information, we decided to start a system of information sharing. We reached out to all the possible networks and LGBT organisations we could think of and we started spreading the information through them to reach trans people.  The message was simple: Get in touch with me if you need information and help me to create a database of information to assist others in turn. Initially, we just thought of it as the creation of a database, or data service, and did not even know that what we were doing was going to spiral into becoming the first non-profit trans organisation in Africa!

Soon after we started spreading the word, people started contacting me with requests for information in general, or how to get access to doctors, psychologists, or how to change the gender on their legal paperwork. I was surprised when we were contacted with calls from parents, about their trans child. We also received requests for legal advice, as lots of trans people were unfairly dismissed from work if they were outed or decided to come out. I would approach labour lawyers to ask them for assistance. They would reply: “Sorry, I am not an expert in that field, I can’t help you”. To which I would reply, “You are an expert in labour law. I know all the transgender-related terminology and information you need to know. I have lists of examples of case law in other countries, of how labour cases were won in courts, together we can do it. You can become an expert in South Africa on this topic. We need you to apply your common sense to the Labor Law you already know and combine it with South Africa’s Constitution and Human Rights”. I did not take “No”, for an answer in those days. 

We realised that our ‘database’ was far more than that and after I hosted the ‘Gender Diversity Awareness Workshop’ at the GHMCC which led to the formation of Gender DynamiX.  Right from the start I got personally involved in assisting assist trans asylum seekers from other African countries who flee to South Africa, for various reasons: access to transitioning, or an unbearable situation in their own country, as in many African countries any LGBT person can go to jail and in some cases receive the death sentence.  

Others came to South Africa in their hopes of the promise of Nelson Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation” and our liberal Constitution, the first in the world to stipulate there will be no discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender. We gave workshops, like general awareness raising to the public, family, friends, and even journalists. Because there was so much secrecy and public stigma at the time, Lex did not want to be publicly involved or have it known publicly that he was part of it –, he was scared he would lose his job. 

And that is how the history of the start of the African trans movement was on the foundation of a cisgender person starting it – even though, actually it was both of us who started. Me with grit and perseverance, and Lex funding our initial work for which he was eventually publicly acknowledged when he received the Inyathelo Philanthropy Award.

In the beginning years of Gender DynamiX the language was still “FTM” and “MTF” and really considered in terms of a strict binary. It was not like how it is today.”

Watch: Celebration of GDX’s 20th Anniversary — We interviewed the current Executive Director, Liberty Matthyse, inaugural Executive Director, Liesl Theron, and other stakeholders (4 July 2025)