Effery / Ghana
“I grew up in a very strong religious family, so my sexuality and emotion is nothing we talk about. There was a time in my life that I thought I was the only person of my kind on Earth, was very lonely, emotionally traumatized and looking for people I can relate to. My dad was very strict but I usually have a feeling my mum knows. We lived in a family house where my uncles and aunties take the slightest thing I do serious and personal and am being punished for being myself. I managed to live with this situation until I met someone like me. ‘A friend’ he introduced me to some people and NGO’s undertaking LGBTI interventions. There I was able to express myself, and got more information about my sexuality and everything. Even with that, I still struggle with life cause I have to be two people at time : in the house, at church, at work place and everywhere. Still can’t talk about my sexuality.] I got to know that I’m a trans female now, so for me now is like coming out twice.”