For the first and possibly last time in my life, I bought a copy of Rooi Rose (for any non South African readers, it’s an Afrikaans women’s magazine and although it’s come a long way since apartheid days, it’s still one of those magazines that one thinks of as safely mainstream i.e. hardly relevant to me, as part of the LGBTQI spectrum).  I bought it for the story about Robert Hamblin, the artist formerly known as Adele Hamblin; photographer extraordinaire.

Robert’s physical transiti...

Both in and out of the lesbian community, butch lesbians take the most flak.  We're the most easily identified of the species and so right from the get go, we're on the firing line.  We are also constantly accused of "wanting to be men."  Now that's complete nonsense right from the start, because a woman who wants to be a man is called transgendered and within that, may be any sexuality on the spectrum.  If you're going to insist upon adhering to society's expectations and definitions, then y...

There are people in my life and on the periphery of it, who will never ever truly accept me, because I am queer.  Sure, some people have altered their thinking enough to embrace me without saying, "If only ..." but at least one close family member, some friends and a whole bunch more acquaintances do their best not to be homophobic, but are nonetheless.  It's probably painful on both sides and I have grown past that youthful fervour that is convinced that some form of universal justice will p...

So I went to Joburg Pride this year - yay me!  Is there anything better than thousands of queers all together?  Alright, that probably sounds a bit separatist, but hey, it's really nice not to be outnumbered for once.  The sun was out and so were we - most of the boys looking fabulous and most of us lesbians looking ... well, wearing jeans and t-shirts really; myself included.  I contemplated a pink grim reaper outfit, but just didn't get it together.  Anyway, my girlfriend I scored QueerLife...