Beautify yourself – struggles and strategies of LGBT*-communities in contemporary post-colonial Namibia

Abstract

The current social, political and legal situation of the LGBT*-communities in Namibia allows many conclusions to be drawn about the broader historical and current areas of social tension in post-colonial Namibia. With the help of post-colonial, intersectional approaches, the article examines the following sub-aspects: What are the struggles and challenges in the work of LGBT*-activism in contemporary Namibia? To what extent do relationships of colonial power and exploitation still affect these struggles and what answers and strategies can be found in these struggles? Due to the historical derivation of key moments for the constitution of identities and institutional rights of LGBT*-people, this article asks about the effects and relics of colonial and post-colonial gender discourses and politics on the communities and refers to existing patterns of heteronormative power relations.