Tiwonge is a LGBTI refugee from Malawi now living in Mannenberg just outside Cape Town. She was imprisoned in Malawi for being gay/transgender. PASSOP (People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty) has been aiding her with her refugee status and integration into South Africa. PASSOP is a community-based, non-profit organization and grassroots movement that works to protect and promote the rights of all refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in South Africa working very closely with LGBTI refugees. Tiwonge, like most LGBTI refugees in South Africa, are often doubly marginalized as they are not accepted into their own refugee communities because of their sexual orientation/gender identity nor are they accepted into LGBTI communities because they are foreigners. They encounter homophobia, xenophobia, violence, discrimination and abuse by the general population, their own refugee communities as well as the police and government officials. They struggle to find employment due to lack of proper documentation, which is often denied to them based on their sexual orientation/gender identity, or they are fired once their sexuality, or in some cases HIV status, is revealed. Many are kicked out of shelters, rejected from housing and denied medical services all because of homophobia. Tiwonge has had four violent homophobic attacks since fleeing to South Africa. She is currently unemployed, helping out at the PASSOP office. She lives in an informal housing area with her husband from Malawi. She is photographed here with her husband at their home and at the PASSOP office in the city of Cape Town.
'My name is Tiwonge Chimbalanga. I am Malawian age 27 currently residing in Cape Town South Africa. I came here to South Africa in the year 2010 and the reasons that brought me here was that in the year 2009 I got marriage to Steven and it was the first time gay marriage in my country. Then it was not allowed for gay people to get marriage in my country. On the 28th December 2009 I was arrested along with Steven Monjeza my former partner. It was a very painful experience because it was my first time to be in prison. I was later released on the 27th May 2010 after the United Nations General Secretary Ban-Ki-Moon had some talk with the former President of Malawi Bingu Wa Mutharika. After I was released from prison I experienced a lot of challenges in my country. People were calling me names and it was a very difficult time for me. So I decided to run away to South Africa. When I came to South Africa I met a lot of people from my country who started insulting me and calling me names again. I found that life very difficult even in South Africa. One of the being that I have been trying to find a job. But its hard for me to find a job. This has been a very big challenge for me.'
