LGBTQIA+ experiences in School and Varsity

The other day a friend and I were walking in town and she a Trans-woman says to me; ‘do you remember how in University I was forced to sleep in the male dormitories and yet I don’t identify as a male ? How I was mandated to live with the males at school and have them verbally attack me because I was different’.

This part of the conversation came about as we were reminiscing on our university days but, what can be picked from it were the challenges we faced as LGBTIQA+ identifying personnel. It goes without saying that it was very challenging to live in a space where people are visibly discriminatory. During our conversation, she re-called of how one day her locker was broken into; and her clothes including her skirt, bra and underwear taken by her roommate. This was indeed a violation of one’s privacy and a violation of human rights. On another particular occasion, her roommates came up to her in the middle of the night, held a gun-lighter close to her hair (weave) and attempted to burn it. The University establishment is meant to be a place whereby individuals should feel welcome and safe, without harassment and discrimination. 

"Harassment" is a specific form of discrimination. It can further be described as unwelcome behavior, based on a protected classification, which a reasonable person would perceive to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for academic pursuits, employment, or participation in University-sponsored activities. As alluded by the Eswatini Universities information pamphlet; harassment is discouraged as the University is committed to providing a safe environment for all students and staff and thus strives to foster an environment free from any form of harassment. What if the policies themselves prevent such a harmonious and safe space for students?

The policies present currently in the University tend to acknowledge male and female genders and as such, accommodation is allocated according to both genders. Non-gender conforming individuals tend to be shut out by this as it merely insinuates that individuals are grouped or located according to their birth sexuality and not their gender identity. Policies like these tend to outcast transgender / tran-sexual and intersex individuals. Transgender individuals tend be gender non-conforming as they don’t identify as per their birth right. They are forced to conform to these policies which are not pertinent to them as individuals. It goes without saying that policy changes are necessary to provide a harmonious, all-round inclusive and conducive environment for all students. In a space where one was meant to feel free to express themselves, this indeed was not so relevant to us.

Policies that acknowledge the diversity of individuals in respect to sexual orientation and gender identity are crucial in Universities. Policy changes and regulations would allow for all individuals to fully express themselves in a conducive environment. The University of Eswatini enrolled about 5556 individuals in the 2010/2011 academic year alone (UNESWA Webpage). In a study by Meerwijk and Sevelius (2017), a notable figure of 1 in every 250 adults can be noted as being Transgender. Moreover, as opined by Guy (Population Statistics Division) in 2017, in a study carried out in the United Kingdom; individuals aged 16 to 24 years were most likely to identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual (LGB). This is the age category of individuals enrolled in the University institution. This indeed is a cry for concern as the current policies neglect such apprehensive data. Sexuality is a fundamental aspect of one’s life, and as so, defines how that particular individual interacts and relates with the outside society.

What eventually emanated from our situation was that my friend sought refuge in my dormitory from time to time. She was finding ways to avoid returning to her room because of the trauma she had. This in-fact was a cry out for help. No student should feel violated and out of place in an area where individuals are meant to have the best time of their lives. In-fact, no individual should feel left out and discriminated by his or her peers. Let us provide safe spaces in all avenues, including varsities and schools. Hate and discrimination are not African ideals. Let love always win, and let policies favor all beings, regardless of gender and sexual orientation.