Homophobic hatred and violence in Pietermaritzburg: drawing on faith to establish counter communities of care for black Izitabane women.

Abstract

The challenges faced by black Izitabane women, especially in relation to their sexual orientation and their religious beliefs, are significant. The compatibility of Ubutabane and Christianity has been a topic of debate, with some Christians advocating for coexistence while others view it as contradictory to core Christian principles. Black Izitabane women often experience marginalization and discrimination in various aspects of society. This autoethnographic research, which drew on queer theology and used a qualitative approach, aimed to explore the individual experiences, perspectives, and beliefs of nine black Izitabane women regarding their sexuality and faith. All participants identified as Isitabane and considered themselves devout Christians. The study used purposive sampling to select and invite participants and gathered data through a focus group discussion and individual interviews focusing mainly on the faith, violence, culture, and sexual experiences of black Izitabane women in Pietermaritzburg. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the women who were part of this exploration perceived the church as unwelcoming and fellow Christians as judgmental. They faced rejection and isolation in the very place where they expected to be supported. The study suggests that, in post-apartheid South Africa, the church should take a proactive role in advocating for social justice and combatting homophobic hatred and violence, which continues to marginalize black Izitabane women.