Small Town to Big City: A Transgender Woman’s Story of Perseverance in Zimbabwe
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Harare in Zimbabwe, where Leese, a transgender woman with big dreams experienced harsh disappointment and rejection but ultimately found success
In 2020, at the age of 20, Leese left her small hometown of Kariba and moved to the big city, Harare, roughly 350 kilometres away, to pursue her dream of becoming a medical practitioner.
With her cousin and his family living in the capital, she believed the city held more opportunities for her ambitions. As the youngest in a family of nine, Leese was the last to leave the family home, with her siblings having already married or moved out.
“I grew up in a loving home and never faced discrimination within my family. As the youngest, I was practically allowed to do anything I wanted, and everyone just let me be,” Leese shared.
Carving Out an Identity in a New City
Moving to Harare brought significant changes to Leese’s life. For the first time, she experienced privacy and independence, along with the positives and negatives of living in an urban centre.
“I had my own room, laptop, and mobile phone. With this privacy, I began redesigning my clothes and experimenting with my sister-in-law’s makeup and jewellery. I would model in front of the mirror, take pictures, and feel so good about myself. It was a way of linking my identity with my expression,” she explained.
Leese also began exploring social media, creating a pseudonymous Facebook account where she posted photos of herself in her redesigned outfits. However, this self-expression as a transgender woman came at a cost.
One day, Leese’s sister-in-law discovered photos of her wearing feminine clothing on her phone. She secretly took screenshots and showed them to her husband, who then shared them with Leese’s family, claiming she had joined “satanism.”
“My brother came to Harare unannounced, ransacked my room, and demanded access to my phone. He manhandled me as though I were a criminal. That night remains etched in my memory,” Leese recounted.
Navigating Rejection and Unemployment
Hurt and humiliated, decided to leave her cousin’s home and rent a small room in a nearby suburb. However, as an unemployed transgender woman, she struggled financially and eventually turned to sex work to survive.
“I started meeting men online who were interested in dating me. Some left me with money to buy food and pay my rent in Glenview. As I gained more clients, I managed to move to a better room in a low-density area for privacy and security,” she said.
Despite her initial plans to enrol in a medical programme, her fallout with her cousin’s family derailed those dreams. Her parents, however, reacted with unexpected understanding.
“When my cousin showed my parents the photos, my mother wasn’t shocked. She remembered how, as a child, I used to wear her heels and wigs around the house. My dad even reprimanded my brother for his actions, telling him no one has the right to control another person’s life,” Leese revealed.
While sex work sustained her, Leese discovered a passion for cooking, inspired by compliments from her clients.
“Some clients loved my food and encouraged me to open a restaurant. This motivated me to pursue a diploma in hotel and catering to professionalise my passion,” she said.
Survival, Truma, and Strength
However, financing her studies proved challenging.
“I couldn’t afford the fees and had to drop out for several semesters. I lied to my parents, telling them I was working as a marketing agent. To make ends meet, I increased the number of clients I saw daily, which was exhausting and dangerous as a transgender woman,” she admitted.
Leese faced numerous challenges in sex work, including clients who refused to pay, threats of blackmail, and even violence.
“One client became violent and raped me, forcing me to do things we hadn’t agreed upon. Despite such traumatic experiences, I endured because I was determined to finish my diploma,” she said.
Her perseverance paid off. During her internship at a local hotel, her dedication impressed the head chef, who recommended her for a permanent position. Within three months, Leese was earning a salary and had begun building a stable career.
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Leese found new joy and a stable livelihood by expressing and professionalising her culinary talents
The Transformative Power of Education
“Without an educational qualification, I wouldn’t have been able to leave sex work and secure formal employment. Education gave me the skills and credibility I needed to rebuild my life,” Leese reflected.
She emphasised the need for education grants for transgender individuals, noting that many lack access to schooling due to family rejection.
“Initiatives [supporting the trans community] often focus on HIV/AIDS, sexual health, and mental health, but there’s little support for education. Yet education is a powerful tool for empowerment,” she said.
Leese’s journey highlights the transformative power of education. Despite the odds, she used it to escape the cycle of poverty and discrimination, proving that with the right support, transgender individuals can overcome adversity and thrive.
Her story underscores the urgent need to invest in educational opportunities for marginalised communities, fostering a future where everyone can realise their potential.
Article by Tanaka M, a trans journalist and podcaster from Zimbabwe.
This article was made possible with the support of the Other Foundation. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Other Foundation. www.theotherfoundation.org.
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