By Kellyn Botha
Kellyn Botha is a transgender, neurodivergent researcher and activist. She has worked as a research consultant for ILGA World since 2020, focusing on the effects of laws criminalising LGBTQIA+ identities around the world, and has also worked for queer civil society groups in media documentation, education, and a variety of human rights-oriented projects.
Kellyn says: “For several years now, LGBTQIA+ South Africans have benefited from some of the most progressive protections on the continent when it comes to workplace discrimination. A vibrant civil society and media landscape have also slowly meant that more subtle forms of discrimination have lessened over the years. Nevertheless, South African society remains largely conservative, and there are fears that the right-wing populism of America and Europe will embolden regressive actions here. Some would argue that the early signs of this are already showing.
“For most LGBTQIA+ people in the workplace, stigma and discrimination can be a barrier to career advancement, though a lucky few may work in more accepting spaces than others. For transgender workers in particular, medical needs, changes in name and gender marker, or a preference for certain clothing, can all hinder hiring or promoting practices in more prejudicial workplaces.”
