BAYANDA HLONGWANE
Picture : by Sbongakonke Khumalo
Sbongakonke Ndlovu a dedicated LGBTQIA+ activist took pictures with the community members including kids, after an educational LGBTQIA which was hosted in in Newcastle
A voice for change, meets a 21-year-old vocal and dedicated LGBTQIA+ activist, Thabiso Sibongakonke Ndlovu. He was born and bred in the small community of Newcastle. At a young age, he is making an impact on society. Age is not a barrier for a young aspiring activist.
An unwavering champion of LGBTQIA+ rights, Ndlovu is a committed member of LGBTQIA+ and an activist, a member of Global Equality, a social media and communications director of Ubumbano Newcastle LGBTQIA+, and a former graphic designer at Duma Literacy Foundation. Sibongakonke grew up in a religious family which made it very difficult for him to come out as a gay person. From a young age, “I have been living in a homophobic family background, it has been a tough journey for me to come out as a gay person, especially coming out to my father,’’ he said.
His mother’s side of the family is the most accepting side, unlike his father’s side of the family. Homophobia against LGBTQI+ individuals is the highest rate of crime in his community. Growing up in a homophobic background all those struggles inspired him to stand for the LGBTQIA+ community. That is where he decided he wanted to change, and he decided to fight for equality. What inspired him to stand up for others like him is that he realized he is the only one who is living with a homophobic family.
Ndlovu said that he saw a reason to be the voice, for the voiceless, to speak on their behalf that the LGBTQIA+ community does exist.” Ndlovu is also passionate about creating an educational space, He likes to emphasize to people that there is so much in heart than what you see in a person.
As a social media and communications person at Ubumbano Newcastle LGBTQIA, Ndlovu is one of the people who are at the forefront of the organization. “We create a positive change by inviting people together and hosting discussions, we hosted an event with an organization in DUT called Icon Invest, which deals with behavior changes and social changes in communities, “Ndlovu explains. With the projects he mentioned its purpose was to study human behavior and the issue of acceptance when it comes to LGBTQIA individuals.
After that initiative, he came up with solutions for solving issues of acceptance against the LGBTQIA+ community. Hate crimes in the community, by advocating and raising awareness in different schools and the community of Newcastle. With the cooperation of these organizations, they have succeeded in raising awareness. They have created lots of conversation within the community. Ndlovu does everything in his power to make people engage in conversation that brings positive change to the LGBTQIA+ community. Conversations debate on how to solve LGBTQI+ hate crimes and help people in the community understand the meaning of human rights.
An organization called “Ubumbano” also works with a gender-based violence organization, which clearly shows as much, as he stands for LGBTQIA+ rights, he also stands for every human right. Sibongakonke as an activist, does multiples of work through collaboration to bring positive change in society. In every project that includes human rights, he collaborates with government departments.
Last year July 14 they had an LGBTQIA+ event which was created by the KwaZulu Natal legislature. After that, they had an LGBTQIA simplism, which has been held annually ever since 2021. These kinds of events raise lots of awareness in society. Sbongakonke said, “Government needs to also do more on bringing social justice, to raise voices to alert the people, the communities that an LGBTQIA+ community do exist in.
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