Huffington Post
Meet The Rainbow Girls, The Proud And Beautiful Lesbian Community of South Africa
Terra, Long Street, Cape Town, SA, 2012. "My name is Terra, and I was born in Cape Town on 21st April 1989. I got kicked out of the house when I was 16 years old because I’m a lesbian. Up until then, I lived a secret lesbian life and living a lie is very difficult; you have to come out and be yourself."
Backstage, Miss Lesbian beauty pageant, Khayelitsha, South Africa, 2012.
Inga, backstage, Miss Lesbian beauty pageant, Khayelitsha, South Africa, 2012.
Contestants getting ready backstage, Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha, 2012.
Vee, backstage, Miss Lesbian beauty pageant, Khayelitsha, South Africa, 2012.
Zelda, Gugulethu, South Africa, 2012. “My name is Zelda, I’m 28 years old and I’m a lesbian woman. I’m having problems at home because of my sexual orientation. I’ve not been tolerated for my sexuality and I have never been accepted to live my life freely and I’ve been told to change if i want any support. My parents threw me out of the house and told me to never come back till I change or bring a child as a woman or bring a man of my own to them.”
Contestant Sino, Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha, 2012.
Contestants Zintle (left) and Inga Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha, 2012.
Contestant Nozuko, Miss Lesbian Beauty Pageant, Khayelitsha, 2012.
written by Priscilla Frank
Many of Julia Gunther's photographic subjects have faced oppression, discrimination and isolation before they were 20 years old. Many were pushed out of their homes and ostracized from their families. They faced atrocities including rape, beatings and expulsion. All because these women are living proudly as lesbians in South Africa.