The People’s Matrix marked and celebrated the International Transgender Day of Visibility. 31st March is a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of transgender people and raising awareness about the discrimination and violence they still face.

This year’s theme, “Trans Equality Now,” highlights the urgent need for equal rights and protections for transgender individuals around the world. Despite some progress in recent years, transgender people continue to face high rates of discrimination in education, employment, healthcare, and public accommodations.

The People’s Matrix in collaboration with Southern Africa Litigation Center (SALC) and Women and Law Southern Africa (WLSA)Lesotho jointly published a Gender Legal Recognition Brief, which is a document that provides information and guidance on the interpretation of the legal frameworm and challenges faced by transgender and non-conforming people in obtaining legal gender recognition in Lesotho.
The brief aims to provide emperical evidence based on up-to-date international scientific understanding and best practices, on issues pertaining to legal gender recognition, including changing ‘sex’ or ‘gender’ markers on identity documents. It also explains the relationship between sex and gender, gender-affirming practices and gender-affirming healthcare.

The event was graced with the presence of representatives from Trans identifying persons, who shared their experiences and challenges encountered in different spaces;business, education, health and politics.

One exceptional speaker, Sheriff Mothopeng, who became the first transgender individual to permeate the political space and actually got nominated to stand for a constituency in the October 2022 General Elections emphasized some of the challenges transgender persons still have to face. Sheriff highlighted and called out African countries on their silence regarding Uganda’s anti-LGBTIQ+ law, because they are failing to hold each other accountable.
Anti-LGBTIQ+ Law criminalizes any person that identity as LGBTIQ+ and any association. Sheriff indicated that the passing of that law has so many implications, “Until today, countries like Lesotho have not committed yet in writing if they recognize and protect LGBTIQ communities, so it leaves an opportunity for oppressors to one day wake up and criminalize the LGBTIQ+community.”

According to the Women and Law Southern Africa(Lesotho), Mpho Theko highlighted that, upto this far, Lesotho has no specific laws that protect or prohibit same sex relations. However, Theko indicated that the Counter-domestic Violence Act of 2022, which aims to protect the rights of all citizens in domestic relations of all forms of abuse, ‘could’ also protect same sex couples. This is because in terms of the Act, domestic relations vary from married couples, co-habiting couples, dating couples and intimate couples etc.
In attendance as well was a representative from Department of Gender, Mahali Sekants’i. Sekants’i indicated that the Gender policy does recognise gender is diverse, however the classification of the marginalized groups within the policy is not specific as to who are these marganalized groups.

There are many challenges that still need to be addressed. That as it may be, the transgender community remains resilient and vibrant, with many individuals leading the way in activism, art, business and sports. Transgender people are making their voices heard and demand change.

On this day of visibility, let us celebrate the achievements of transgender people and commit ourselves to fighting for their full equality and human rights. As Moruti Mbela said, “We need to move from a place of shame to self-worth, self acceptance and self understanding.”

Also in attendance were representatives from the military, ministry of education and ministry of health.

16 November 2022

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE 

The People’s Matrix Association was established in 2008 as a unique Non – Governmental Organisation. The organization is charged with creating an enabling environment for people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion, and cooperation among LGBTIQA+ people in Lesotho and developing new partnerships nationally, regionally, and worldwide.

For generations, the transgender population has suffered various forms of abuse (and even death) for challenging the views, notions, and stereotypes around “male” and “female” identities. Every year we set aside November 20th as a Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is meant to honor, commemorate, and memorialize those who face discrimination and stigma (often on a daily basis) across the nation. This day is also meant to advocate for transgender people’s rights and focus on the persistent struggles they face in their everyday lives, and how others can share their love, support, and hope.

International research, as well as analysis from Lesotho, suggests that not being able to change one’s gender marker impacts access to healthcare and mentnal health and well-being. For example, one in three transgender people in Lesotho (36 percent) is denied access to health care.

The Gender Legal Recognition, jointly published by the People’s Matrix Association, Women and Law Southern Africa (WILSA), and Southern African Litigation Center (SALC),  also provides information and guidance on the interpretation of the legal framework and other social challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming people in obtaining legal gender recognition. This is presented as a solution to mitigate discrimination against transgender and gender-diverse persons. The report can be found here. 

The People’s Matrix Association will host a march and gather strategic stakeholders in government and NGO space. We will start with a peace march to raise awareness, followed by sessions where we will reflect on the advocacy and commitments necessary to promote, protect, and realize the rights of people with diverse gender identities and expressions.

Details are as follows:

08h00: Solidarity March – Setsoto Stadium to Victoria Hotel 

10h00: Victoria Hotel; Machabeng Hall

The theme for the day is Black attire: Please bring a candle for the candle vigil.

END

The People’s Matrix Association is pleased to invite you to the commemoration of Transgender Remembrance Day 2022 which will be held on Friday 18 November 2022.

We invite you to celebrate this day with us in solidarity with the fallen transgender souls in the LGBTI community.

We will start with a peace march to raise awareness, followed by sessions where we will reflect on the advocacy and commitments necessary to promote, protect, and realize the rights of people with diverse gender identities and expressions.

Details are as follows:

08h00: Solidarity March – Setsoto Stadium to Victoria Hotel

10h00: Victoria Hotel Machabeng Hall

The theme for the day is Black attire: Please bring along a candle for the candle vigil.

For generations, the transgender population has suffered various forms of abuse (and even death) for challenging the views, notions, and stereotypes around “male” and “female” identity. Every year we set aside November 20 as a Transgender Day of Remembrance. This holiday is meant to honor, commemorate, and memorialize those who face discrimination and stigma (often on a daily basis) across the nation. This holiday is also meant to advocate for transgender people’s rights as well as focus on the persistent struggles they face in their everyday lives, and how others can share their love, support, and hope.

Join The People Matrix Association for a solidarity March and speeches on the 18th of November. Details on the location to follow in the week.

Call for applications

The People’s Matrix Association invites suitable candidates for the position of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for EpiC project.

Roles: The EpiC M&E Officer will be responsible for:

1. Providing the technical and strategic oversight of M&E activities within the key populations program,

2. for ensuring that the program maintains its strategic vision, and that its activities realize the intended outputs and outcomes in a cost effective and timely manner.

3. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that suitable monitoring and evaluation systems are in place, implemented as intended, and

4. that there is reporting in a comprehensive and timely manner to facilitate the effective program implementation and achievement of desired outcomes and impacts.

5. The incumbent will also be responsible for leading the planning and implementation of research and learning activities within the program.

Applicants must send their Curriculum Vitae, Cover letter and copy of qualifications to lepotamasamo@gmail.com

Deadline: 11th November 2022

May 2, 2022

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2022 “Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights” LGBTIQ+ across the country with The Peoples Matrix will celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBiT) on the 14th, 17th, 21st and the 28th of May, 2022 in four different districts.

The theme for this year’s annual celebration is “Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights.” A great theme under which many forms of advocacy are possible: claiming our rights to live our sexualities and to express our gender(s) freely, but also demanding to be from physical violence, from conversion so-called “therapies” to forced sterilisation of Trans and Intersex people. A theme that reminds us that many of us across the world live LGBTQI-phobias in their very flesh every day and that our bodies are being abused, ruining our lives.

Coming together as LGBTIQ+ persons and stakeholders continues to be a critical component of fostering a culture of equality. During IDAHOBiT, we will acknowledge the turbulent history of the LGBTIQ+ civil rights movement, as well as celebrating the courage, strength, and resilience that defines this willful community. In the midst of adversity and the pursuit of equality, the members of the LGBTIQ+ community will share their stories of overcoming and living pridefully with confidence and bravery on all media platforms.

LGBTIQ+ are musicians, artists, inventors, business leaders, educators, and healers. They are lawmakers and activists, and family members. If we are to live up to the democratic ideals that set the foundation for this country. We must ensure that all Basotho have an equal opportunity to live freely and successfully, and we must treat all with respect and dignity. No one should ever be persecuted or held back from living their lives because of who they are or who they love. Our bodies should not make us subjects of violence, but should allow us to enjoy our human rights in a diverse way. Love is love and it is stronger than hate. Matrix will seek to advance the human rights in Lesotho with specific focus on SOGIE.

For more information, contact: +266 58811547/58183362

Physical Address: Naomi House Building02/296 Bowker Road, Old Europa, Maseru