Progress with services to LGBTQIA+ community reviewed

GEORGE NEWS - The George Municipality's LGBTQIA+ Help Desk, in collaboration with Gender Dynamix, held a summit at the George Civic Centre on Friday 19 September, focusing on gender-affirming healthcare and legal gender recognition for transgender and gender-diverse people.

Various government departments and civil society organisations were invited to be part of the discussions on the progress that has been made in these matters in the Garden Route District.

Gender Dynamix, a leading organisation for gender-diverse people based in Cape Town, acted as facilitator.

Juliana van Jaarsveld, clinical manager of the Mossel Bay subdistrict of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, gave feedback on gender-affirming healthcare and services.

Van Jaarsveld touched on aspects that are receiving attention at the department, including the opening up of dialogue with the community to identify their needs, and developing a transgender standard operating procedure to provide protocols that promote fair patient care and destigmatisation of transgender individuals.

Van Jaarsveld said a section dedicated to gender-affirming healthcare has been drafted and will be included in the next revision of the department's Practical Approach to Care Kit (Pack). They are also advocating for the inclusion of gender-affirming healthcare in the Garden Route District Health Plan 2026-2027.

On a provincial level, the provincial service priorities unit has convened a working group focusing on policy regarding access to integrated services for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The DSD's social workers: Megan Wolhuter and Siyanela Mtshotana, and the event's organiser, Khanyisile Fortuin of the George Municipality's LGBTQIA+ Help Desk.

No response from absent Home Affairs

Questions regarding the slow process at Home Affairs for gender marker change and name changes for transgender people remained unanswered as that department did not attend the meeting.

According to Khanyisile Fortuin of the LGBTQIA+ Help Desk, the administrative process of a gender marker and name change takes up to three years.

"When your application is with Home Affairs, you cannot do anything that needs an ID, like travelling internationally or applying for a job. It is as if you are a non-existing person. To be in that position for three years is unbearable, and we want to know from Home Affairs if they have made any progress in speeding up their processes," she said.

However, Fortuin said she was deeply moved by the success of this summit. "It has shown the power of collaboration, courage and community in creating spaces where voices are heard, knowledge is shared and inclusion is lived.

"This gathering has not only strengthened our collective vision, but has also reminded me why we do this work - to build a future where dignity, equality and humanity are at the centre of everything."

The Western Cape Health Department was represented by Juliana van Jaarsveld (Mossel Bay subdistrict's clinical manager), Edith Swanevelder and Brad Africa.