Key Populations Groups engage SADC PF on the newly developed Model on Law for Key Populations

Yesterday, 07 November 2017, a diverse group of activists were identified by ARASA to serve on a panel to engage the SADC Parliamentary Forum Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes on the draft developed and titled “Model on Law for Key Populations”.

The panel composed of countries like Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Seychelles.  The panel focused on various target groups within the Key Population community; with Botswana Speaking on Intersex issues, Seychelles on Injected Drug Users issues, South Africa on Transgender issues, Namibia on LGBTI issues, and Angola on MSM issues.

The diversity in presentation aimed to advance the legal framework, the current realities and linkages that lead to recommendations proposed by each panelist within their focus target group.

It is imperative to note that the SADC Parliamentary Forum Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes had a comprehensive outlook on the Model Law on Key Populations thus the panelists input was critical in shaping the final development of the SADC Model Law on Key Populations.

 I must say that the space was very enabling as the parliamentarians was very frank and interrogative on issues of LGBTI as more time was spent on understanding the target group and further also called the LGBTI community to order as there was a consensus engagement that the time has come for the LGBTI community to reflect on their approach and organizing within the sub region.

The leadership also noted that the LGBTI movement needs to start dealing with issues within by focusing on the inequalities of race, class and socio-economic developmental issues and stop using the resources to uplift their lifestyle. Finally the LGBTI community was also requested to find strategies on how to address conversations with Traditional and Religious leaders as these are the key change agents of ensuring transformation and inclusion.

Overall the Committee leadership appreciated the presentations and shared that they have learned a lot on issues as the needs of the community are at times not understood within their spaces, of which the panelists were requested to submit their research, reports on  the status of the  legal framework, current programming and the aligned - direct expectations on how to strengthen the current document under review : “Model of Law on Key Populations”.

Namibian LGBTI Community Need to Reflect on Internalized Homophobia and Transphobia

A journalist from a local media and says- Hello Ms. Baumann … 

I am **** from the **** … 

I am busy writing an article on LGBTI community- Looking at internalised homophobia, transphobia within your community and why homophobia and transphobia is only placed on persons who do not identify as homosexual… 

And finally I want to know about the mushrooming of LGBTI organizations in the country. 

Now that is an interesting story to match up to because rarely do we as persons who identify as LGBTI ever reflect on internalised phobias that shifts bridges as our focus is always on persons from the outside…

In our community the rifts are so high that we do not even understand nor tolerate the diverse background, identities and expressions within the LGBTI community. 

The conflict, internal violations amongst each other and just the general lack of comprehension of who we are a community and our role in this dispensation… 

When it comes to the mushrooming of LGBTI organisations… Well that clearly carries its social philosophies of establishment with very minimal political foundation hence the continuous attack from within and outside… 

I wonder at times what it would take to have us as the Namibian LGBTI convene to engage on the basics that would lay a collective agenda, collective understanding and having collective modalities that would advance and benefit the greater LGBTI community and nation at large… 

30 October 2017

14h10

MY MATRIARCH

 My Mother 

Our Mother
Someone's Daughter

A Parent's Child
An Offspring
An Innocent Soul
A Pure Being
A Reality in Flesh
A Human with Purpose

My Mother
Our Mother
Someone's Daughter 

A Maiden with Honour
A Soldier portraying bravery
With unimaginable strength
Grace she is
Wisdom occupying her space 

My Mother
Our Mother
Someone's daughter

A human being filled with compassion
An example of unprescriptive love and patience
Truly a pure being
My Mother she is...

Sacrifices she has made not only for me but for so many of us who have seen your liberal character.
A character which refuses to give up and give in to defeat
An innocent soul you remain as you know just how to focus on the good and forgive that which is adverse 

My Mother
Our Mother
Someone's daughter
Unlimited remains your potential, while you prevail unbounded.

By: Linda RM Baumann
15h28
20 September 2017

Shorter version Biography of Linda Reanate Magano Baumann

Linda RM Bauman is a Feminist, Human Rights and Communications Activist who specialises in the human rights of Women, Girls and LGBTI people. She is currently the Interim Coordinator of the Namibia Diverse Women’s Association (NDWA)- an organisation that advocates for the rights and the bodily autonomy of Women, Girls and Trans Diverse persons in Namibia.

Linda was the Director of Out-Right Namibia who administered the strategic, programmatic operational and management of the organisation as well as movement building, from 2010-2016 and one of the founding members.

Before joining ORN, Linda worked as the Project Officer- Human Rights and Media at the Rainbow Project, the national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex organization in Namibia that closed in 2009.

Linda started to work in the human rights movement in the year 2000 and equivalently focused on the rights of young girls, women and sexual minorities. Linda is a trained paralegal by Legal Assistance Centre and chaired the Namibian Paralegal Association 2006-2010.  She worked with the Namibian Girl Child Association and was very active in establishing young girls support group systems.  

Linda was radio presenter at Base FM from 2009-2013, where she hosted topical programmes and a social program impacting the lives of the listeners. She also chaired the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA)- Namibian chapter 2009-2011. Additionally, Linda served as the Female Co-chair of Pan Africa ILGA from 2007-2014 and was the Alternate secretary general of ILGA World 2011-2012. Linda has vast experience in working at SADC, regional and international level.

Linda further started chairing the Media Institute for Southern Africa- Namibian chapter 2009 until this current period. She is one of the few women in the country who served on a weekly National Television Programme the “The Week that Was” as a Media Activist commentator. The focus of this programme was to review the weekly newspaper headlines as assessments for discussion with an overall national view on key issues affecting the country.  As a human rights defender Linda has been very active in a number of local NGO forums and organisations within and outside of the country. She is currently serving the Management Committee as Chairperson of Women’s Solidarity Namibia a local women’s organisation working on gender based violence and Human rights violations towards women and young girls.

With these foundations and principles, she prioritizes leadership development, human rights, social justice, emancipation of movement building as well as Health & Wellbeing and legal reform as its main strategic areas of focus.

Namibian LGBT Activists engages in historical dialogue with Catholic Church

Namibian LGBTI community engages as the Catholic Church extended to build bridges with the LGBTI community by inviting Lesbian woman, Linda Baumann and Gay man, Wendelinus Hamutenya, to address the Arch Bishop, Priests, Deacons, Sisters, Brothers and lay people at the annual Archdiocesan Pastoral Council Meeting on the topic of ‘What life is being a lesbian or gay person within the community as well as What we expect from the church?’

Before the meeting commenced we were briefed regarding the protocol of the session and the perimeters we were to stick to throughout the process. As the discussions started our presentations focused on our individual lived realities as a lesbian and a gay person, however it was imperative to extend the conversation to persons who identify as trans diverse persons as well.

To my astonishment the space was very enabling as Arch Bishop Nasheenda kept emphasising to fellow leaders to feel free to ask and speak their minds while reminding us that we were in a safe place and that everyone was there to learn and understand- “Speak my child?” He urged quite often.

During the question and answer stage, it became evident that the main focus of the discussion had shifted to gender identity and gender expression with minimal advancement of sexual orientation as the key issue. Additionally, discussions started with the reservation of sexual practices, this as a result that reproduction questions came to the fore.  To mention a few -

1-    “Why do you guys promote your issues – are you recruiting our children?”

2-    “What made you different from other man?”

3-    “In our culture we have always known people who don’t act like they are expected to- we called them ‘eshenge’- and now this word is regarded derogatory- what is the right word to use these days?”

4-    “You guys want same sex marriage to be legalised, with us heterosexual people when our partner dies they are either a widow/widower. With you guys what will it be?”

5-    “Can you please share how many LGBTI people are in Namibia? What are the statistics that we need to work with as faith leaders?

6-    “How can two people from the same sex have a child?”

With the questions raised above- intense engagement and clarification was done to advance the understanding of our realties. Indeed, this left the room in a roar of comments, fidgeting and having side conversations which continued after the presentation.

A number of attendees shared their appreciation as they saw our willingness to share our stories as bravery, as others asked for material, however, such was not allowed to be distributed. They further shared that they never had exchanges with persons who proudly identified themselves as LGBTI within their communities and that they would like for us to go down to their communities to start dialogues of this nature.

The group also tried to understand the difference between a lesbian woman and a transwoman and how we were actually considered as WOMAN. This opened up discussions which addressed questions of whether or not there was any attraction to men and why is it that we do not pray to strengthen our faith to do away with such emotions. 

Further encouragement was given to us to us as the Bishop urged us to continue, saying “you are gifted, there is a reason why you are leading the message, one day we shall get to understand how to improve our diversity in our communities”.

Surely I must say the space was really encouraging and as a community we have to carry the responsibility to engage our own spaces of faith to ensure our narrative is understood and personalised.

My requests and personal expectations included: Acknowledging the existence of LGBTI community within the church, engaging LGBTI people on their journeys of sexuality and spirituality while advancing the dialogue by demystifying debates on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Furthermore, requests included uniting families within the narrative of love by ensuring tolerance and extended acceptance are attained for the unification, while at the same time creating an enabling environment that embraces diversity through community dialogues on issues of sexuality, sexual reproductive health and rights, socio-economic equality and equity for all within the church

Below is a debrief of Deyonce and myself on our experience of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council Meeting.

https://youtu.be/kcPBwWDJyoQ

By: Linda RM Baumann

04 September 2017

The biological connection does not define my Love

How small my world becomes at the thought of you being miles away from me.

Reeling on thoughts of reality and biology- manifesting Power I knew I never needed, power I knew was not optional to the circumstance of you and me.

Shattered my soul becomes as I feel you being pulled out of my embrace

 Imagination of the life you are to lead, leaves me with swells of tears rushing down my inner self.

Death cannot compare nevertheless the sensation runs parallel as I catch my breath, Oozing out the love I have… fact remains you are my life.

Watching you play and laugh, seeing you dream and wonder, one inquisition after another, struggling to keep up to your pace remains my Joy, my light, my serenity…

 No being on earth could ever encompass that which exists between you and I- as our bond is laced with affection, respect and love that no words on earth could ever describe.

You’re my baby regardless of the strings attached at birth, irrespective of the cord that was cut, not ignoring the blood that exists.

Thousands can criticize me for actions controlled by who I am, however to you- Parent I remain.

By: Linda RM Baumann
04 September 2017
03h27

Tides of the Winding Road

As I drive through my beautiful desert country- the landscape oozing colours and forms claiming its own vegetation

Environment diverse in its existence- dry land covered in a blanket of Stone- Beauty pushing me to excel in a road winding swiftly as I push my foot against the petal...

Mountainous scenery surrounds  me “Black Rocks” – making me realise the power of our creator sharing the sexy figure outlined with white and yellow markings leading the way.
Arrogant enough it feels as if the earth surrounding me were cheering me on along my journey.

Fresh Air fills my lungs as I release the mystery and wonder of amazement
On and On and On the road goes as the exhilaration and applause given to me by the wind as it races alongside me, brushing carelessly through the stems of the bushes alongside me...swarms of birds hover above finding destination wherever they are, while my destination predetermined comes once Only...

Away from the city’s busy streets and stops- with vegetation scarce, farm owners peaceful as their flock roam unsupervised- herding gracefully... creating consciousness within me effortlessly as I embrace and allow the nature surrounding me to consume my thoughts and show me simplicity ----Elegantly...

By: Linda RM Baumann
30 June 2017
17h29

The unspoken fantasies

What would you think of me if you knew my fantasy of you going down on your knees eating my pussy?

What would you think of me if you knew I was thinking of wearing my six inch heels and a silky lace silhouette as I sit and ride you all night

What would you think of me if you knew how many times I imagined how you undress me on the beach and penetrate me deep as the ocean whistles nearby

I even go as far as seeing you handle me roughly, bend me over to your will… I cross my legs firmly as I can almost feel you grope my breasts and toy with my nipples…

My clit throbs at the anticipation of grapping your biceps as their mould turns me on, I lick my lips as I can almost come at the thought of you entering my wetness- I even see the smirk you carry as you have me beg you to enter me.

I shudder as I fantasise your soft moist lips touch mine....and just like that I etch marks of lust and desire deep down the smooth surface that seems to shield me.

Your mouth leaves mine exploring my ear, your sharp teeth chewing on its lobe- Deep raspy voice breathing loud- hair covering your face as you hold tight on my hips, simultaneously I grip tight on your ass imposing your thrust again and again-  then my thighs draw closer together as I come loudly moaning

I wonder what you would think of me if you knew my fantasy.

By: Linda RM Baumann

21 July 2017

15h00