Investigating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex+ community hate crime accounts and psychosocial impact on lesbians in Sekhukhune, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

This research investigated the accounts and psychosocial impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) hate crimes against specifically the lesbians in the Sekhukhune District in Limpopo province, South Africa. The study employed intersectionality theory as a guiding and conceptual framework to explore how multiple, intersecting systems of oppression shape the experiences of lesbians in particular in this rural context. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and methods to collect the data. Semi-structured interviews were held with seven research participants. Five of the participants were the lesbian individuals aged between 18-50 years old, while the other two research participants were the two professionals from the local NGO working with the LGBTQI+ community in the Sekhukhune district. Initially, the interview schedule was a piloted with two community members who are necessarily lesbians to test the efficacy of the interview schedule and to refine the research approach. The findings of the study reveal that hate crimes against lesbians are prevalent in the Sekhukhune district with deeply adverse social and psychological effects on members of the lesbian community. The effects result in or lead to severe mental health challenges for members of the lesbian community. The findings further reveal that members of the lesbians faces marginalization, discrimination and isolation from other community members and live in constant fear of attacks, exacerbated by societal rejection and discrimination. The study also finds that intersecting identities significantly influence the types and severity of hate crimes experienced by lesbians in the Sekhukhune district, with individuals facing multiple forms of marginalization and discrimination at an alarming rate. Furthermore, it has been found that members of lesbian community face obstacles in reporting hate crimes to the South African Policy Service (SAPS) due to a lack of trust in law enforcement. They are further reluctant to report hate crimes committed against themselves as lesbians due to fear of victimization by the perpetrators. The study, however, found out that members of the lesbian community do not sit on their laurels but come up with own initiatives to mitigate the risks that they are exposed to as lesbians. These initiatives, among other things, include community connectedness, mainly through local initiatives, that plays a crucial role in mitigating some negative impacts of hate crimes against lesbian community. The value-add of this research study is that it contributes to the construction of new or existing body of knowledge on the LGBTQI+ by advocating for policy changes and wider community interventions to stop hate crimes against the LGBTQI+. The study calls for targeted strategies to respond to the distinct concerns of the LGBTQI+ individuals and work towards a more welcoming and understanding society so as to lessen negative stereotypes levelled against lesbian members.