Content provided in partnership with
Tsitsi Tiripano: Fighting for lesbian and gay rights in Zimbabwe
Off Our Backs, Apr 2000 by Smith, Jenn
oob: So you knew at the time you were married that you were a lesbian?
TT: I didn't know at the time that there was a word for it--lesbian. I was just knowing that I do love other women because my friend and I, we were just friends for a long time and we would usually be together all the time and every day, we used to spend the whole night together. She was my first partner, so I didn't know that I was lesbian but I did know that I had feelings towards women. But later I found out I was a lesbian because someone said to me, you are a lesbian, and I said what is a lesbian? She said a lesbian is an English word that means someone who goes with other women. Oh so I guess that means I am lesbian! She said yes yes you are, sorry I didn't tell you that earlier.
- Most Popular Articles in News
- The Ten Best Laptop bags
- Tata plans cheapest-ever car for Indian market
- GLOBALIZATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD WORLD
- Corn is good for you; Corn is not only a tasty treat, but also a cereal that ...
- THE 50 BEST STYLISH HANDBAGS TO CARRY
- More »
oob: Is there a word in your language for lesbian?
TT: Not for lesbian, but there is a word for all gays and lesbians its, "ngochani." It's the word for homosexual.
oob: Did anyone ever come after you after you ran away?
TT: No no, no one knew where I was so no one came. They were looking for me and they went to the police but they didn't find me. I was very scared that my dad would take me back to that husband.
oob: Now you have two children who are in their teens or are grown now?
TT: The first one is 18 years and the second is 16.
oob: How do they feel about your activism and your sexual orientation?
TT: They are very supportive, yesterday they sent me an e-mail saying "Hi mom, how is your speaking tour and your interviews going?" So that is nice.
oob: How do other women's organizations deal with the issue of lesbian rights?
TT: There are some other lesbians working with the women's NGO's but in Zimbabwe when you are working with those organizations some women don't come out. Maybe they think they would be in danger or something or they can lose their job. Some other lesbians they come to socialize and have party but they don't want their work mates to know they are lesbians. In Zimbabwe I just joined this NGO interested in working for women's rights. I introduce myself as a lesbian and a member of GALZ at conferences and meetings. So I keep talking about being a lesbian so that they can understand that lesbians are visible and at their meetings.
oob: There are lesbians here in the united states that feel that their issues are pushed aside and gay men's issues are given more attention, funding, etc. Do find that to be true in Zimbabwe?
TT: Yes, exactly. It's everywhere, it's the same in Zimbabwe. For example in the company you can see that men are on the top and women are always down, if you raise your issue the first one to step forward to solve the issue is a man, then you, you come second. In our organizations gay men always say "we are the bosses, oh listen to us" (laughing) so it's everywhere.
oob: Are there any groups in Zimbabwe that are just lesbian women?
TT: Yes, we have got a white lesbian group called women culture club (WCC) and also we have got a black lesbian group, we haven't named it yet, the group is just starting and we have 15 members in that group and we are working with GALZ.
