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Even though women who have sex with women are usually understood to be at no or very low risk for HIV infection, we explored whether lesbian and bisexual women in a geographical area with high HIV prevalence (Southern Africa) get tested for HIV and whether, among those women who get tested, there are women who live with HIV/AIDS. The study was conducted in collaboration with community-based organizations in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Data were collected via written surveys of women who in the preceding year had had sex with a woman (18 years and older; N = 591). Most participating women identified as lesbian and black. Almost half of the women (47.2%) reported ever having had consensual heterosexual sex. Engagement in transactional sex (lifetime) was reported by 18.6% of all women. Forced sex by men or women was reported by 31.1% of all women. A large proportion of the women reported to ever have been tested for HIV (78.3%); number of lifetime female and male partners was independently associated with having been tested; women who had engaged in transactional sex with women only or with women and men were less likely to have been tested. Self-reported HIV prevalence among tested women who knew their serostatus was 9.6%. Besides age, the sole independent predictor of a positive serostatus was having experienced forced sex by men, by women, or by both men and women. Study findings indicate that despite the image of invulnerability, HIV/AIDS is a reality for lesbian and bisexual women in Southern Africa. Surprisingly, it is not sex with men per se, but rather forced sex that is the important risk factor for self-reported HIV infection among the participating women. HIV/AIDS policy should also address the needs of lesbian, bisexual and other women who have sex with women.

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) in lesbian and bisexual women is a relatively unexplored topic, particularly for women from low- and middle-income countries. Despite perceptions that women who have sex with women (WSW) are at negligible risk of contracting STI, existing research demonstrates that WSW do become infected with STI. Given the opposition between assumptions of invulnerability and the observed risks, we explored how WSW would respond to symptoms of STI (i.e., wait until symptoms passed, see a medical doctor, and inform sexual partners). We used data collected as part of a collaboration between academic researchers and community-based LGBTQ organizations in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Chi-squared tests were used to test whether participants’ responses to hypothetical STI symptoms varied in relation to several intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural factors. Multivariable logistic regression (backward) was used to assess whether these variables were independently associated with women’s responses. Most women would be proactive in response to potential STI symptoms and would see a medical doctor. However, most women would not inform their sexual partner of symptoms of STI. Findings demonstrate several intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural factors that influence WSW’s health agency, and show a clustering of high-risk factors among women who would not be proactive about their health. Our findings suggest the need for improved health and health care of WSW in Southern Africa.

This paper locates its position from the Southern African context in order to rethink knowledge production in sexuality and gender relations. Grappling with the brutal violence and murder of Black lesbians in particular, the paper unpacks how what I call ‘the queer turn’ has simultaneously advanced and made invisible particular struggles. Finally, based on the experience of the #RhodesMustFall movement and in artistic cultural productions, the paper argues for reimagining the category queer not just as sexual or gender identity, but also as a form of destabilizing notions of belonging attached to the racist and heteronormative neo-colonial project.

These essays give a multidimensional perspective on South Africa's democracy as it turns twenty, and will be of interest to general readers while being particularly useful to students and researchers.

Este artigo parte do contexto sul-africano para repensar a produção de conhecimento sobre relações de gênero e sexualidade. Lidando com a violência brutal e o assassinato de mulheres lésbicas blacks em particular, sigo as maneiras como aquilo que venho chamando de “virada queer” contribuiu simultaneamente com o avanço e a invisibilização de determinadas lutas. Com base na experiência do movimento #RhodesMustFall e algumas produções artísticas e culturais, argumento pela reimaginação queer não apenas em relação a identidades de gênero ou sexuais, mas também como uma forma de desestabilizar noções de pertencimento articuladas pelo racista e heteronormativo projeto neocolonial.

Este artigo parte do contexto sul-africano para repensar a produção de conhecimento sobre relações de gênero e sexualidade. Lidando com a violência brutal e o assassinato de mulheres lésbicas blacks em particular, sigo as maneiras como aquilo que venho chamando de “virada queer” contribuiu simultaneamente com o avanço e a invisibilização de determinadas lutas. Com base na experiência do movimento #RhodesMustFall e algumas produções artísticas e culturais, argumento pela reimaginação queer não apenas em relação a identidades de gênero ou sexuais, mas também como uma forma de desestabilizar noções de pertencimento articuladas pelo racista e heteronormativo projeto neocolonial. This paper locates its position from the Southern African context in order to rethink knowledge production in sexuality and gender relations. Grappling with the brutal violence and murder of Black lesbians in particular, the paper unpacks how what I call ‘the queer turn’ has simultaneously advanced and made invisible particular struggles. Finally, based on the experience of the #RhodesMustFall movement and in artistic cultural productions, the paper argues for reimagining the category queer not just as sexual or gender identity, but also as a form of destabilizing notions of belonging attached to the racist and heteronormative neo-colonial project.

HIV-prevention and service programmes have long either ignored or overlooked lesbians. The experiences of lesbians with HIV have similarly been unrecognised and unreported. This erasure has contributed to the invisibility of lesbians in relation to HIV and related health risks. This community participatory study, based on in-depth interviews with 24 self-identifying African lesbians living with HIV in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, focuses on their personal experiences and circumstances. Women's experiences shed light and challenge popular notions around lesbian risk. In particular among this group are lesbians who self-report exclusive sexual relationships with women. For these women, experiences of living with HIV are challenging as they struggle to understand the possibility of female-to-female transmission. While battling with their own perceptions of invulnerability and accepting their HIV-positive status, they have to deal also with wide-ranging misconceptions about risk. The paper argues that within the context of HIV, lesbians cannot be regarded as a 'no-risk' group. Health services and health providers are encouraged to respond to the health needs of lesbians living with HIV.