Living Our Truth, Why Eswatini Pride Is More Than a Celebration

By Nonduduzo Ngcamphalala

Asexual and Proud

In a Eswatini, it’s still hard for LGBTQI+ people to be open and accepted. That why Pride is more than just a fun event with colors and music, it’s a way to tell the world:” This is who we are.” This year, under the theme Living Our Truth, gives the LGBTQI+ a chance to show their true selves, speak up for their right as the LGBTQI+ community to express who they are, demand equal rights, and reclaim their dignity in a society that continues to marginalize them.

  Members of the LGBTQI+community and       allies proudly March during the Eswatini   pride celebration, holding a colorful banner with rainbow flags and raised fists symbolizing unity and equality.

Across Eswatini, LGBTQI+ individuals especially transgender people still face discrimination in critical public services. In hospitals, trans people are regularly denied the respectful, gender-affirming care they deserve. Their needs are dismissed, their identities ignored, and their right to proper healthcare compromised. This isn’t just a gap in service; it’s a denial of humanity.

At immigration and home affairs offices, the situation is equally troubling. Transgender people continue to be denied the right to update their gender on identity documents. This means many are forced to live with IDs that don’t reflect who they truly are, leading to embarrassment, exclusion, and even threats to their safety.

These are the daily struggles LGBTQI+ community in Eswatini face. But instead of giving up, they rise. They live their truth.
Pride is that moment where truth becomes visible. It’s a celebration, but also a protest. It gives queer people a space to be seen, to educate others, to share their stories, and to demand change. Pride pushes back against the silence and shame imposed by society. It says clearly: “We exist, and our lives matter.”

This year, THE UNITED VOICE FOR DIVERSITY (which is a group that brings together all the LGBTQI+ organizations in Eswatini), is proud to organize Pride under the theme Living Our Truth, a powerful message of self-acceptance, courage, and visibility. The event will include a community parade, speeches from activists and allies, performances by local artists, and safe spaces where people can connect and learn from one another. It’s more than a party, it’s a movement.

Mehluko Dlamini, said” that the meaning of the pride month is more like celebrating the LGBTQI community, their truthiness, sexuality, being pride, express themselves without any judgement and facing homophobia on people and the uniqueness of the transgender.” As they do not have a member of parliament it painful for them because they can’t express their selves in this country.” “So they are not recognized, especially the fact that the LGBTQI is not legalized in Eswatini more like in South Africa, it hard as they faced many challenges and homophobia whenever they go home they feel that they are going to be judged by the community as the society is more concerned in their believes and is not gonna be that easy for them to accept them as the minority group.” He further said that “the fact that they don’t have a member in the parliament to represent them it is struggle for them to go to hospitals as they are not a group that is recognized and in hospitals they don’t take them seriously.” Even if someone identifies as female, they may still be listed as male in medical records.” He added.

A proud participant of the Eswatini pride march beams with joy, wearing a shirt symbolizing unity and equality.

What pride aims to do
• To provide a platform where LGBTQI+ people can celebrate diversity in an inclusive environment
• Help people to understand how the current laws and politics hurt LGBTQI+ right
• To recognize the historic and ongoing contributions of LGBTQI+ individuals, both locally and globally

Importantly, Pride also serves as a reminder that while Eswatini still has a long road ahead, progress is possible. In countries like Uganda, LGBTQI+ communities are being criminalized and persecuted more severely than ever. But here in Eswatini, Pride shows that there is still space however, limited for love, visibility, and resistance.

Fanelo Khoza says, “For me, as a lesbian queer woman living in Eswatini, pride is more than just a celebration, it’s courageous act of resistance. It’s is about making space for our stories to be seen, our voices to be heard and our identities to be honored without apology”, Says Fanelo. She continued says “in a country where silence is often expected, pride is bold statement that we exist, we matter and we are not going anywhere.” This time of year allows us to transform the pain of stigma, rejection, and discrimination into strength and solidarity.” “Pride is our mirror, it reflects the struggles we’ve endured and the beauty of how far we’ve come.” She added. “It is a reminder that our love is not shameful, our existence is not a secret and our future is worth fighting for.” She says.

“This pride, l stand for every lesbian who feels unseen, for every queer girl whose voice was silenced and for the younger me who thought she had to hide.” Today, l live my truth and to me that is powerful”, she says.
According to David Maseko, pride month “it is a time where we come together, finding power in community and unity. It offers hope to those still living in fear and isolation and it reminds us that we are never alone”. says David. “Pride helps us dream of better tomorrow, one built on acceptance, equity and love.” he says. This year’s theme, Living Our Truth, is deeply personal,” it means breaking free from silence, standing proudly in my identity, even when it’s hard. It means loving fully, leading boldly and existing authentically in spaces that have tried to erase us.” Living Our Truth is not just a theme, it’s a call to action, a declaration of courage and a promise to myself to never dim my light for anyone.” He explains.

Safety, of course, remains a concern. That’s why this year’s Pride events, including the parade and performances, are being planned with care and collaboration with support from the Manzini Municipality, Royal Eswatini Police Services, and local security. The proposed venue, Manzini Club, was chosen to ensure both accessibility and protection for attendees.
The theme Living Our Truth is not just for the LGBTQI+ community it’s a call to action for the nation. It challenges leaders, institutions, families, and individuals to reflect on how they treat those who live differently. It urges us all to create a society where identity is not a crime, where love is not hidden, and where healthcare and justice are truly for all.

As the LGBTQI+ community raise their rainbow flags, march in pride, and celebrate their existence, they are sending a message: “We will not be erased. We will not be silenced. We are living our truth proudly, unapologetically, and together.”
Because true freedom means everyone, no matter their gender or sexuality, is allowed to live with dignity, safety, and pride.