This study explores the intimate relationship experiences of cisgender (i.e., not transgender) female partners of masculine identifying transgender persons, with a particular focus on these partners’ self-understanding of their sexual orientation. Limited research about this topic has been conducted to date. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight South African women who are or have been cisgender female partners of masculine identifying trans persons. Although the interviews showed that the relationship experiences of female partners of masculine identifying trans persons are diverse, several common themes emerged in the narratives. The way that participants labelled their sexual orientation did not change from before to after their relationship with a transgender partner. The participants reported varied family and community responses to their relationships. Specific emotional and informational support needs for women with transgender partners were identified.

Transgender people are an important key population for HIV risk globally, and several studies have found HIV prevalence rates in transgender populations that are significantly higher than those among other key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM). There is a lack of research on transgender populations in Africa, and at present, there is almost no data available on HIV prevalence and risk among transgender people on the continent. It is possible that the invisibility of transgender people in epidemiological data from Africa is related to the criminalisation of same-sex behaviour in many countries and the subsequent fear of negative repercussions from participation in research. Alternatively, transgender people may be being overlooked in research due to confusion among researchers about how to ask questions about gender identity. It is also possible that transgender populations have simply been ignored in research to date. Without research on transgender-specific HIV prevalence and risk, it is very difficult to know what interventions and services are needed for this risk population. Therefore, it is important that researchers, governments, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and donor organisations begin to pay explicit attention to transgender people in their HIV-related research and programmes in Africa. Keywords: transgender, Africa, HIV/AIDS RésuméLes personnes transsexuelles son tune population clé importante pour le risque au VIH à l'échelle mondiale, et plusieurs études ont montré que les taux de prévalence du VIH au sein des populations transsexuelles étaient significativement plus élevés que ceux parmi les autres populations clés comme les hommes ayant des rapports sexuels avec les hommes (HSH). Il y a une carence dans le domaine de recherche sur les populations transsexuelles en Afrique, et présentement il n'y a presque pas de données disponibles sur la prévalence et le risque relatifs au VIH au sein de la population transsexuelle sur le continent. Il est possible que l'invisibilité de la population transsexuelle dans les données épidémiologiques provenant de l'Afrique soit liée à la criminalisation répandue des comportements homosexuels dans beaucoup de pays et la peur des répercussions négatives consécutives à la participation aux activités liées aux pratiques homosexuels. Alternativement, la population transsexuelle pourrait être en train d'être négligée dans la recherche en raison de la confusion parmi les chercheurs sur la manière de poser les questions sur l'identité sexuelle. Il est aussi possible que les populations transsexuelles aient simplement été ignorées dans les recherches jusqu'à présent. Sans la recherche sur le risque et la prévalence spécifique chez les transsexuels, il est très difficile de connaître quelles interventions et quels services sont nécessaires pour cette population à risque. Il est donc important que les chercheurs, les gouvernements, les ONGs et les organisations donatrices commencent à prêter une attention particulière à la population transsexu...

This paper demonstrates the enthusiasm of the young trans movement in sub-Saharan Africa. The rich history of the struggles and successes of various trans-related events and work in the African continent has not been documented. With this first publication, which forms part of the larger collection of an African trans archive, the authors provide a credible reference source to those doing research on, working with, or interested in knowing some of the history of African trans and gender-nonconforming persons, communities, and movements. A brief reflection into apartheid South Africa and the lives of trans people before democracy leads to a short description how Gender DynamiX, while only in its emerging stage, embarked in archiving and documenting material and history of trans people throughout the country. This placed Gender DynamiX as the key witness of the emergence of the first trans movement in sub-Saharan Africa.

Considering marriage a primary institution through which norms are transmitted, the authors examine the ways in which entrance into heteronormative respectability is differently available to transgender-cisgender couples and lesbian couples who marry in South Africa. Through qualitative work with transgender-cisgender and lesbian couples, the authors conclude that though marriage through the Marriage Act should speak for itself, admission to heteronormativity requires a labor of doing heterosexuality, conditioned, for the couples represented here, upon a denial of the transgender person’s transgender identity. At the same time, the Civil Union Act, through which same-sex couples access marriage, has been positioned as a ‘different kind of marriage’, though it offers the same legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities available through the Marriage Act. While marriage through the Marriage Act promises entrance into heteronormativity, lesbian couples who marry through the Civil Union Act become engaged in a discursive process of consolidating respectability within the parameters of their marriages.

IntroductionTrans people are disproportionately impacted by HIV yet have not been adequately prioritized in national HIV responses or policy documents. This review aims to understand the extent of meaningful inclusion of trans people in national strategic plans (NSPs) for HIV/AIDS as an essential step in ensuring that HIV policy aligns with epidemiologic data, and trans‐specific programming is funded, implemented and sustained.MethodsHIV NSPs from 60 countries, across five global regions, were assessed for the level of inclusion of trans populations between January and March 2021. The most recently available NSP for each country, published after 2011, was obtained through publicly accessible online sources or through researcher networks. Data were manually extracted from NSPs using a framework of indicators focusing on trans inclusion in these five major sections of NSPs: (1) narratives; (2) epidemiological data; (3) monitoring and evaluation (M&E) indicators and targets; (4) activities; and (5) budgets.Results and discussionWithin all reviewed NSPs, 65.0% (39/60) mentioned trans people in at least one of the five key sections but only 8.3% (5/60) included trans people in all five key sections. Trans people were more commonly mentioned in the background/narratives of NSPs (61.7%, 37/60) but less commonly included NSP activities (38.3%, 23/60), in M&E indicators and targets (23.7%, 14/60), in epidemiological data (20.0% 12/60), and in NSP budgets (13.3%, 8/60). Countries in the Asia and Pacific region most frequently included trans people in all five key sections (38%, 5/13), while no countries in Eastern and Southern Africa included trans people in all NSP sections.ConclusionsThis analysis finds substantial gaps in the inclusion of trans populations in NSPs globally. Results highlight the pressing need for states, technical partners, and international funders to engage with trans communities to improve trans‐inclusion in all key sections of NSPs. Trans inclusion in NSPs is an essential step towards reaching the populations most at risk of HIV and ultimately achieving country‐level epidemic control.