#ImStaying member, Obet Mosiapao, dreams of inspiring and motivating the LGBTIQA+ South African community and shares his own journey of realisation and acceptance.
“I was 13 years when I realised that I was attracted to boys. This happened after I watched a documentary about a woman who was in a relationship with another woman. I watched it and thought “This is me”. This woman spoke about everything I was going through.
By assuming heterosexuality, society gives rise to the dilemma, for those of us who know we are gay.
Some gay people know they are different, if not gay, from as young as five or six years old. Some people continue to believe that we choose to be gays. That we can be persuaded into heterosexuality. By assuming heterosexuality, society gives rise to the dilemma, for those of us who know we are gay. The dilemma of whether to hide our sexuality or to come out – with all that this entails.
After I realised my sexual orientation, I had a huge problem with it. Why should I love men? Only women are supposed to be with men. I had conflicting feelings and I felt that homosexuality wasn’t part of African culture. I asked myself “why me?” Out of all people that can go through this, why should it be me? I wondered what people would say if they knew. For me, it was insanity. What would my family say? How would other people take this? I tried hiding, thinking it would change how I felt about men. It didn’t change anything about my sexuality.
In spite of that we are fearless , strong, brave, ambitious, and powerful beings.
Besides being gay, I am a man and I enjoy being a man. When I was younger I wished I could be a girl so that I could have a boyfriend, not because I really wanted to be a girl. This was because I thought it was a normal thing for a girl to have a boyfriend.
Today, my life is just great. I love my sexuality. I consider myself just one of the “Proud” members of the LGBTIQA+ family. However, we also encounter homophobia. In spite of that, we are fearless , strong, brave, ambitious, and powerful beings.
My hope is that I can inspire and motivate the LGBTIQA+ South African community – no matter their violated human rights, backgrounds, or scars. We need to be unapologetic in recognising ourselves as a massive force in society. We need to come forward and take on those leadership roles.
To my dear LGBTIQA+ family, be fearless and proud of your sexuality and the skin you are in.
#ImStaying and I am proud of my sexuality.
#AcceptingMySexuality “
Edited By: Val Bruce
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