Drinking and taking drugs won't solve your gender issues

Pic : Queen Beyonce

The sad story of Tovhowani Makondo (33) from Tshifume, Ha Khakhu , Venda in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Queen Beyonce as popularly known, faced lot of abuse due to his sexual orientation which is still a concern to most of our communities.

“Growing up as a gay was not easy for me and nearly put my family in danger. I was born like this and most of my friends were girls. There were lot of things going around at school and my area, no one understood me and that gave me lot of trauma”, said Beyonce.

He had to move away from home to Polokwane without knowing anyone or where to sleep and things turns worse. “My aim was to go to ZCC in Moria for spiritual assistance but realized that I took a wrong bus. I stayed on the side of Mankweng Hospital in the streets for few days, it was too bad and hell. I bravely went to the nearest Police station (Mankweng Police station) to seek help. I was offered an accommodation and a job of selling kotas (bunny chew) and my life started to pick up a bit. I will never forget what Mankweng Police did for me”, added Beyo

However, that was only the beginning, later on Beyonce saw himself being beaten up because of being a gay “I was stabbed and could not feel safe at all. I was going through a lot of trauma and had to protect myself and my mother from being called names , so I moved out and rented somewhere around. Firstly, I was beaten up for protecting a friend of mine from going with strangers because she was drunk. Secondly, I was drinking, I think I got spiked on drinks and the last thing was to find myself lying in front of a gate where I was staying with my trousers being removed and torn”, he continued.

In 2014, he was admitted at a hospital named Witkoppies for 8 months due to depression and was later found out that he was HIV positive. It was a messed up circumstance but fortunately he got lot of support from the nurses and other people.

“I accepted my situation and am happy now. Many people love me because am friendly and open, I do not hold grudges, I speak my mind if something is not going well. An LGBIQ person, you must not hide your gender because of people. Drinking or taking drugs won’t solve your gender issues. Being a gay is not a virus and people must stop killing us, we are also humans” he concluded.

Anyone living with HIV and seeks mental / life support can contact Beyonce : 071 365 7390 (calls or whatsapp) | Facebook : Beyonce Makondo