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