Cape Town - Members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered at the Equality Court in Cape Town yesterday in support of a transgender woman, Jackye Majawie, who was allegedly denied access to a ladies’ public toilet by a cleaner last year.
Majawie, 36, is an anti-genderbased violence activist from Worcester, who started her transition from male to female in 2015 at Groote Schuur Hospital.
She said the incident took place at a mall in the CBD on March 23 last year, when she entered a public bathroom and was told to use the mens’ toilet.
“I was misgendered and my human rights were being violated when I was denied access to use a female toilet by another woman who works for a cleaning company.
“I took the matter to the Equality Court because my dignity was disregarded.
“I entered the toilet and she pulled me out of the toilet and refused me access because she identified me as a male and not a female.
“I always use the female toilet and identity as a female because all my identity documents state I am a woman.”
The court case was postponed to August 2.
“I feel there has been progress with the case since last year and now that I have a lawyer on my side, I feel justice will be served.”
In 2016, Majawie registered her NPO called Majawie Safe Space to serve the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I have been on this journey for more than 20 years. It was a bit of a struggle for acceptance from family and friends but now that I have made it through and have the acceptance, it is very difficult to face hate crime and hate speech in public spaces.”
NPO Gender Dynamix, which focuses on the rights of the transgender community, and non-profit human rights organisation Triangle Project were at court yesterday in support of Majawie.
Medusa Iro, the communications officer for Gender Dynamix, said: “It is important to stand together and raise all voices because these are traumas and challenges we all face every day, but until we are not together and celebrating all prides we have no freedom and no dignity.
“We are at court a day before Mandela Day but Madiba’s legacy was equality, freedom, dignity and respect for all, not just for trans or cisgender people but everyone because we are all human beings and must be treated as such.”
marsha.dean@inl.co.za
Cape Argus