Colour Me Bold: The Lesbian-Led Foundation Rewriting Rural Queer Futures

In a world where queer narratives are often painted in grayscale—reduced to pain, trauma, or invisibility—the Colour Me Foundation is shouting in full, unapologetic technicolor.

Founded by lesbian couple Sithembiso Thipe and Faith Edmunds, this grassroots powerhouse based in the North West Province is challenging erasure, building economic futures, and centering the lived realities of queer women, especially in rural and small town South Africa.

Born from what Thipe, who otherwise works in waste management and recycling, calls “the exhaustion of invisibility,” the foundation’s name is both a call and a declaration: Colour Me bold, visible, and worthy. “It’s an invitation to the world to see queer people not in greyscale but in full vibrant spectrum – layered, intersectional, and resilient,” she explains.

For Lesbian Visibility Week (21-27 April), Colour Me isn’t just making a statement—they’re building a movement.

More Than Survival: A Blueprint for Lesbian Power

“As lesbian founders, our existence has always been resistance and resilience,” Edmunds, a brand positioning strategist, says. “But instead of leading with trauma, we chose to lead with innovation, economic power, and healing.”

Their foundation flips the script: instead of treating queer women as a subset of the LGBTQI+ movement, it places them at the center. From entrepreneurial support to mental health initiatives, Colour Me Foundation is a direct response to the triple bind many queer South Africans face—being Black, rural, and lesbian.

“We are building a reality where LBTQ identifying females thrive, lead, and are remembered in history books not as victims, but as visionaries,” says Thipe.

The Urgency of Now

The issues they tackle—economic exclusion, visibility, and mental health neglect—aren’t abstract. They’re deeply felt. “Every day we delay, another queer creative closes their business, another young lesbian hides who she is, another Trans person is misdiagnosed or ignored in the health care system,” Thipe warns.

One of their most impactful initiatives was the Be Free to Be You campaign with ORBIT TVET Colleges. Edmunds describes the campaign as “a moment that truly captured the soul of Colour Me,” watching rural queer youth speak out publicly, not in fear, but in pride. “We weren’t just running a programme—we were watching a generation step into power not despite their queerness, but because of it.”

Visibility Must Come with Value

As the world celebrates Lesbian Visibility Week, Thipe offers a powerful reflection: “Personally, lesbian visibility is sacred. It’s a mirror that tells me: You exist. You matter. You are building something revolutionary.”

But she’s quick to emphasise that visibility alone is not enough. “We need to see lesbian businesses funded, lesbian creatives booked, lesbian-led movements supported. Visibility without access is a performance.”

Silenced and Sidelined—But Not Stopped

In South Africa, lesbian voices—especially Black lesbians—remain underrepresented, both within mainstream society and the broader LGBTQIA+ movement.

“Too often the LGBTQIA+ narrative centres CIS gay men in urban spaces,” Thipe says. “Meanwhile, lesbian and queer women are doing the invisible labour of building safe spaces, leading advocacy and keeping our communities alive with little to no spotlight!”

Edmunds adds that the missing element in lesbian storytelling is range. “We are often only seen through trauma—while that reality is valid, it’s not the full story. Where are the narratives about lesbian joy, wealth building, motherhood, entrepreneurship, leadership? We are not a monolith. We are a movement.”

The Market Chillas: Where Visibility Comes to Life

This year, the Colour Me Foundation is putting their mission into action with The Market Chillas, a dynamic event taking place on Saturday, 26 April 2025 at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, in celebration of International Lesbian Visibility Day.

The event promises to be a vibrant community gathering—complete with local artist showcases, diverse LGBTQIA+ stalls, and entertainment that celebrates queer creativity and connection. It’s more than just a market; it’s a space for authenticity, joy, and visibility.

This Lesbian Visibility Week, Colour Me Foundation reminds us that the most radical thing a lesbian can do is not just survive—but thrive. Not just speak—but be heard. Not just be seen—but be respected.

Because queer women, especially Black lesbians in rural and small town South Africa, are not just part of the future—they’re designing it.

Follow the Colour Me Foundation on Facebook.