We exist. We belong. And we are not going anywhere

Research proves as much but the danger continues to loom large

- Matuba Mahlatjie

For years, we have been told we do not exist. That being gay is un-African.

That we are a threat to families. That we are recruiting children. That our love is a sin. We have been told that we are not part of the village. The village has always known better.

This week, we have the evidence. Admission Reserved, the landmark survey released by the Human Sciences Research Council and The Other Foundation, finally puts numbers to what we have always known: we are here. We are part of South Africa. And we are not going anywhere.

For the first time, we have a reliable estimate of South Africa’s LGBTI population: 2.5% of us are gay, lesbian or bisexual; 1.4% are transgender or non-binary; and 2.7% are intersex. That is about 2.37 million people.

That is our families, our neighbours, our colleagues, our friends. That is us.