How I managed to survive loneliness as an intersex person
Lee
I grew up in the southern parts of Africa where being intersex is considered to be something that is not normal and ignorant people will boldly label you as a disabled person. For the past 26 years, I have felt disconnected from family, friends and churchmates, to such an extent that I stopped going to church because of the discriminatory eyes that people would look at me with. Waking up every day and preparing to go to school was a nightmare because I would already be thinking ahead about how other pupils were going to treat me that day.
One day I woke up and told myself that if I could survive for 26 years with only the few individuals that are connected to me, then I can continue to make it without those who choose to stay apart. I made a decision to never allow people with negative thoughts about me to define me. Now I feel brave and better than how I was before because those who remain connected to me encourage me to keep on going. I make it a point to value the connections that I have rather than the absences, and that is what has brought me to where I am today.