Second Day back.

This visit to Africa is very different – I am living alone and a bit more stressed. Don't get me wrong, for the one full day that I have been here it has been mostly pleasant. But really, since my time here is so terribly brief most of the days will be busy with work and only work. Every day is so timed and carefully scheduled that there really is no time for leisure. I'm having internet difficulties so with 99 percent of my tasks being web-related...this is adding on extreme frustration.

Yesterday evening I went to a lounge call House of Nsako, a neighborhood hotspot that many cultural and international students like to hang out…even some celebrities (South Africa celebrities aren’t a big deal here…my friends say one sees them so frequently that just blend in very well). They were showing Obama's inauguration ceremony on three projections. After the ceremony finished, a live band played some contemporary live jazz. It was hard going to bed...just kept thinking about what I had to do the next day.

Oh, and I'm being blocked from our parsons server, prolonging trial and error testing.

[ standstill ]

Joe is across the Atlantic now. I'm still here on dry ground. Making a list of things to do while I still can but, sadly, there's just not enough time in the day. Projects, in my opinion, are somewhat at a standstill (not drupal site - fellows get to call 99% of the shots on that one). I've been waiting for confirmations, answers, and materials from internal and external sources for a few days now. it started off a bit frustrating to very frustrating. However, I've dealt with small-teams of grassroots and non-profits before - this type of break in the progression is typical. I was hoping it wouldn't last as long as it has but I've managed to do some other small tasks while in the office. We were hoping to launch some of the near-to-finalized items before I leave, but my gut tells me with the continuation of slow responses and actions, it's not possible.

While I couldn't eat what was braai-ing, looks like Pefo knew what she was doing.

I really enjoy having "Mo" as a roommate. With Mauriello gone, it's just the two of us in this house on top of the hill. He's given me a very youthful but scared perspective on the South African LGBTI community - particularly along the lines of a younger-generation battling with the fears of "coming out" and the public risk of being proactive in the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. We sat in my bedroom last night talking about what he has seen, what he has heard, what's working forward and backward, and lastly a personal outlook on the country and his future. Some individual video interviews were not conducted in the office because of the very fears he has - about being "discovered." I respect this decision.

[ behind the scenes diary ]

A fun side-project Joe and I have been doing is documenting ourselves here in Joburg (this is different from the recording of BTM members). It's quite amateur - in other words, very random. It's a compilation of discussions snippets about anything from foods, cockroaches, animals, load shedding to how Mauriello and I managed to live with one another as complete opposites. I'll be sure to show all of you when we get back. Too bad the Joburg team don't know or even own final cut pro. While pieced together in your simple iMovie, it's hilarious.

Stillframe: One week in.

Stillframe: One week in.

Stillframe: Four weeks in.

Stillframe: Four weeks in.

Stillframe: Six weeks in.

Stillframe: Seven weeks in.

[ braai! ]

Even though I'm not leaving for another week, Behind the Mask is throwing a braai (aka barbeque) as a farewell to the "Bonnie and Clyde" team. They've invited others from neighboring organizations that Joe and I have met. I don't really know how big this thing will be but hopefully there will be something I can eat, since meat is no option for me.

[ from the eye of thuli ]

Status: Busy. (I have my do-not-disturb face on)
Thuli calls the below images: Doris-in-action and Joe-in-action.

Doris taking a photo next to South African Police
(who really aren't taken the protest seriously).

Mauriello never wants people to know he's taken their photo.

[ cleaning up dirty design ]

New challenge: Re-edit and re-design a 35-40-page Annual News Magazine in 1.5 weeks.
Behind the Mask needs to quickly reproduce this publication and are taking advantage of the time that Joe and I have left here. This piece was designed by outside sources and the final result was completely unacceptable. And so, it's been passed down to us to clean up the mess. Already it's a headache, I just hope that by the end we're still alive. Here's a video of yesterday's Soweto Gay Pride March: Vimeo !t.

[ mountains, horses, gay pride ]

Click Above for Saturday Photos in Magaliesberg + Hartbeespoort Dam.

Click Above for Sunday Photos in Bela Bela and Mabula.

Click Above for Monday and Soweto Gay Pride March.

[ sneak preview ]

What: Annual Narrative Report 2007
Status: Being proofed by contacts in ZA an NL, still receiving content from some sponsors (why it remains as a draft)
Size: 90.5 MB
Total Page Count: 35
Design: Original photography and layout by Doris Yee
Description: Each chapter is a color of the rainbow. The cover was desired to be the crimson yellow image so where it would typically pop in the color sequence is replaced with this steel photograph I stylized. It throws off the rainbow but the rest is at least consistent. There is still content flowing in from external funders so there are currently some placeholders in the below compressed thumbnails. These are just chapter spreads, obviously with other pages that populate each section. Color seems to be off when making them web-viewable but color palette of the real thing is much more vibrant. Somewhat like a Pantone booklet. Some data visualizations representing bandwidth usage, web site statistics, and financial audit were also made to be included in the final piece. I believe last year's annual report existed as a word document.

[ office prop ]

Man-haters?

[ 07 07 07 ]

Sitting alone today in the "shop", where the 07-07-07 campaign members organize their advocacy and media communications. Some of the most dedicated feminists are situated in here but currently on retreat for the day. We needed to make space for someone in the media room and I volunteered to work in this cold, cold and quiet room. Hopefully it's not haunted like most other sectors of this facility.

Today is spent drupaling and making data visualizations for the 2007 audit report.
In the "shop" by myself.

07-07-07 formed as a reaction to the murder of Sigasa and Massoa and named after the date of their killing (July 7, 2007). Together, members raise awareness among South African leaders and local communities about unfair violations on the LGBTI community.

Sigasa and Masooa's bodies were discovered by a jogger in a field in Meadowlands, Soweto, on Sunday 8 July. According to various reports, the couple, who were romantically involved, had been tortured, and possibly raped, before they were shot dead. No arrests have yet been made.

[ soweto + religion ]

This weekend sure was something. While hate crimes towards those within the LGBTI community is a major problem in Johannesburg, most of it occurs within a certain demography - the South African township. Referencing from the testimonies I've recorded of my coworkers, the words of gay and lesbian belong to this foreign terminology throughout a child's upbringing that was neither used or permitted for practice. In townships, it was just assumed you would marry the opposite sex. The Christian church plays a heavy role in these townships - as we have heard, seen, and visited this weekend in Soweto. In fact, Joe and I were noticed in the first church we visited, taken by the hand, brought forth in front of this 100-person audience, introduced, and inducted into the Methodist society with the entire service as our witness. I was so shocked about how quickly we got sucked into the institution. They even sang a Zulu song to us. Yes, the church (if not the most important player) than the second vital asset to keep up in the game. If you're not playing by the church's rules, you'll face the penalties.

Methodist Church members who welcomed with open arms and song.

Kids at play in Soweto streets.

Hanging outside house that is guarded by cheaper fencing.

In solitude.

Solution for the one-woman heavy-load carrier.

Looking dry, maybe feeling dry.

Using resources, being smart. Fence made out of cars.

These kids told me that they love bologna.

Occupied shop.

With Granny.

These boys were cleaning up a littered field in order to make their own soccer field.

Going home.

Coal burns for a "warmer" evening.

In Soweto we were, from morning to near sunset. It's by far the most beautiful place in all of Johannesburg - every pedestrian greets you with a smile. No child will run away from you but actually ride up to you on their old bike and want to shake your hand. Even with shacks as homes and the poor reputation, these people still have lots to be happy about.

I have three more weeks - I'm completely saddened by it. Wish I could stay longer.

[ where are my female condoms ]

Even in an organization where a majority of the staff identify themselves as lesbian, the men still get special treatment...

I find it hilarious we only supply condoms in the male washroom at BTM
and there are no female condoms in the women's lou.

It's been a shared opinions by many in the office that a black South African lesbian
is targeted more for discrimination than a black South African gay man.

[ disgrace to the nation ]

Dirty politicians just don't make sense. I wonder if they even understand themselves. Projects are still rolling. Roger out.

[ ++ more assignments ]

Bonnie (left) and Clyde (right).

If you haven't noticed, the blog posts of the "Bonnie and Clyde" team are getting shorter and shorter. With just a few weeks left, we try to take advantage of every minute of our BTM internet time and resource strictly for our BTM assignments and tasks. But some real progress and excitement has been reached:

+Mauriello is really shaping and defining the form of the Drupal site.
+Video interviews of each member are detailed and distinct from one another. Editing the recordings will take time but hopes to be fully captured and rendered before my departure.
+A launch of the new brand is planned to be completed again before departure.
+Fellow LGBTI and civil rights organizations in the building have been liking the new work (even trying to tap into joe and my services)

[ internet percentage ]

When we look at the stat 10 percent, our jaws drop. But for third world standards, it's amazingly good. However, the number is (slowly) moving up. South africa is really trying some new tactics and ploys to make this country internet-equipped, affordable, and accessible. Lets just cross our fingers. Such optimism would only benefit Behind the Mask since their website is their primary communication vehicle.

[ we are one ]

Friday: Completion of the 28-page annual report. Currently going through proofing by managing editor and managing director.

Saturday: Walked the city with Godfrey and treated him fifty flights to the tallest point in South Africa.

Local taxis seating 15-16 people. 7 rands/ride.

While there are cars everywhere, much is still done by foot.

Godfrey overlooking ZA.

East Johannesburg.

Me and Godfrey.

Sunday: No electricity in the morning. No water for the whole evening. During the afternoon Joe and I visited the Cradle of Human Kind and went down the Sterkfontein Caves with Jan. Jan has been living in ZA for 37 years but can't afford to visit some of these leisure and historic sites. After I paid for his ticket at Maropeng, we were given these sticker bracelets to wear. When the lady behind the partition gave him his, Jan held and looked at the bracelet for a minute - he was confused. I then wondered, "Has Jan ever visited a museum?" I didn't ask but I showed him how to put on the bracelet. I even let him put on mine for good practice. He whispered in my ear, "I have never done this before. You seem to know what you're doing." It was like watching a baby enter the world for the first time - maybe even a bit too interactive for Jan. He was scared when it came to this interactive boat ride that drifted you through all five mass extinctions.

Jan outside of Maropeng.

Jan and Me (practicing Joburg gang)

Monday: Since last Friday, I started recording one-t0-one testimonies of each individual BTM member as a means to explore what is really behind the mask. Two people have been interviewed thus far - capturing elaborations on their advocacy and activism as well as personal reflections as rather an internal or external member of the LGBTI community. I was quite emotional recording today's testimony - hearing about items from devastating hate crimes to the heroic story of coming out in an anti-gay township.

[ drag queen murdered ]

Daisy Dube (formerly known as Desmond Dube) was shot to death in a nearby neighborhood called Yeoville on June 2, 2008. FEW (For the Empowerment of Women) is hosting a commemoration event called Speak Out and End Hate for the tragedy. They asked Behind the Mask to quickly provide a poster and flyer for them.

BTM only had a few hours to make the deadline so Thuli asked me to piece something together. What was requested was a color A3 poster, b+w A5 newspaper announcement, insertion of the 07-07-07/rainbow trademark colors and typeface, in addition to doing a play with "Daisy." This is what was made.

[ LGBTI arrests in Kampala ]

Two weeks ago BTM found itself in frenzy as many of our activists had to finalize their reports on the LGBTI arrests made during a peaceful protest in Kampala, Uganda. The event has brought upset to not only gay and lesbian communities in South Africa but to Amnesty International.

National police in Kampala arrested three activists during a peaceful protest organized by local LGBT organizations on June 3, 2008. These activists along with other demonstrators held up signage that called for the attention to HIV/AIDS vulnerability among comrades in the LGBTI community. This was a reaction to a statement by the Chairman of the Uganda AIDS Commission the day prior who said: Gays are one of the drivers of HIV in Uganda, but because of meager resources we cannot direct our programs at them at this time.

The three activists were charged with criminal trespass and will face a court hearing later this week. According to Amnesty International, these arrests make it clear there are preventative obstacles LGBTI communities are fighting as a mean to increase prevention and care of HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

[ aggressive words for positive action ]

Meet some members.


Musa Ngubane. Video and journalistic activist. One of the first members working for BTM.


Lesego Masike. Toughest soul in the office. Journalism intern turned into full time reporter. Lesego is one of three members that will go design and layout training with me.


Abeli Kilonda. One of two heterosexuals in the office. Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, he is our French reporter/translator.


Nthateng Mhlambiso. Senior online reporter.