Vera, a transgender woman who was born Charles Austin Nlewedum, recently spoke to the LGBTIQ website NoStringsNG about her life and struggles in Nigeria. Read her story below:
"I am Charles Austin Nlewedum living in Nigeria. I am a transgender woman. My trans name is Vera, and I was assigned male at birth. I am trained in physiotherapy. My friends know that I am a transgender woman, but my family does not know, as I fear they will disown me if I tell them.
Childhood
While growing up, I felt different from the sex that was assigned to me at birth. I felt like a woman. My expressions mirrored a typical reflection of what society describes as a woman. Because of this and the stereotype associated with male homosexuality, many see me as gay, but I have always seen myself as a woman.
Experience with the LGBT community, friends and other people
I have experienced a lot of abuses from people. I have been attacked, beaten and tortured. I was raped at age 15, and I have been living a fake life here in Nigeria as a man while I actually feel like a woman inside.
My experience with the gay community has been mixed; I have been partially accepted. Many still struggle with accepting that I am transgender.
When I came out to most of my friends, many rejected me, as I guess it was difficult and complicated for them to deal with. Ever since then, I have been living what I can describe as a fake life. Sometimes I will have to pretend that I am gay, just to fit in, whereas I know that I am a straight woman who loves men.
Emotional struggles
This has affected and limited me in so many ways, because I can’t express myself completely as according to the way I actually feel. Sometimes I feel like trying on some female shoes, make my hair, and do my make up, but this is hard, because of what people will say, and possibly the reaction it will provoke from people who do not understand me.
At some point in my life, I became very miserable, and attempted suicide twice.
Hopes
I am hoping that one day I will fully transition into the woman that I was actually meant to be. I do not want to live a fake life anymore. I want to engage in activities that reflect who I really am inside. I feel completely tortured.
I want to go to a place where I will be accepted as me, where I can actually make my inside match my outside. I want to be me. I want to be Vera.
44 comments:
Before dat wil happen cancer of d anus must hv visited u
Good for her
You can dress like a woman na...see bobrisky...and he is owning it.You can also relocate to where it is acceptable to be transgender.simple
You can dress like a woman na...see bobrisky...and he is owning it.You can also relocate to where it is acceptable to be transgender.simple
Ew another yoruba born by mistake.
So this one na some ones son huh?
WHAT FREEBORN WAN ASK IS THIS!: DID GOD MAKE A MISTAKE BY CREATING u a GUY HUH? ARE U GUYS MOCKING GOD HUH?
i am not against gay or transcend because they have their life to live but all am trying to say is that,you must not go through knife to prove some thing na.
FREEBORN WEPT FOR THESE GENERATIONS OF VIPERS
#sad indeed
Ew another yoruba born by mistake.
So this one na some ones son huh?
So this one na some one husband to be huh?
WHAT FREEBORN WAN ASK IS THIS!: DID GOD MAKE A MISTAKE BY CREATING u a GUY HUH? ARE U GUYS MOCKING GOD HUH?
i am not against gay or transcend because they have their life to live but all am trying to say is that,you must not go through knife to prove some thing na.
FREEBORN WEPT FOR THESE GENERATIONS OF VIPERS
#sad indeed
Is this one news? Just passing jejely
I ain't Judy so I ain't gonna jude u, man.
#PourSpit
Such an idiot!
I ain't Judy so I ain't gonna judge you, man.
fuck u linda,i wonder why u keep posting transgender stories.oloshi
RUBBISH... TRY IT AND DIE
Disgusting
Nonsense! Linda take note!
When you allow the devil into ur home.
Na him sabi
...merited happiness
*****************************now dix ix completely crazy...... I have given up on d world *******
*****************************now dix ix completely crazy...... I have given up on d world *******
This dolt is as confused as that individual ruling Nigeria at the moment, your place is in abyss.
#GrachiDynasty
Where are d Igbo bigots here?! Later they will say transgender is only associated wit Yorubas. There goes ur brother fools! Waiting to see more lyk him, hahaha
Me too
Just slide abeg.
Thunder weh how fire you still deh Sambiser forest deh fight Boko Haram.Complex fool.Nobe only woman.Idiot.Rather than for you to be proud of whom God the Omnipotent creator made you to be, uou are busy trying to re-creat yourself.Come practise that nonsense for Nigeria and am sure that jail awaits you.Stinking piece of shit.You have tried to commit suicide twice, it's very simple, let me teach you how to try for the third time and am very sure it will work perfectly, locate any supermarket or should very close to you, but a full bottle of Bleach or jik, pour in a clean cup and mix with just half cup of Shaving powder.I can guarantee your death after that.I will await hour Burial Poster afterwards. Try this now and am sure you must get a befitting result in hell.
ode
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Good luck with your transition
This brother is not well...
Linda please stop giving this people attention, they're the reason God is unhappy with the earth. All these disasters are happening because of these their act. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah.
Dude... Take a chill pill. Nothing should be assigned to one tribe. Its ignorant for any body to suggest only Yoruba's have transgenders. But dude.. What makes you think this guy is Igbo? Because I didn't see any indication of tribe or region on the article.
Linda please people like this are the reason why God sent Buhari to Nigeria out of anger, among other disasters happening in Nigeria. Please stop giving this people publicity.
And what makes u think he is igbo
The devil is actually thinking he's winning
Well-done and sorry for all the emotional trauma!
Hes name is charles Nlewedim .....HE IS IGBO..YES HE IS
Instead of you to say that you want travel to America or Europe to escape the economic hardship of the nation you are claiming to be a persecuted trans. This is a failed attempt to attract sympathy from the LGBT of the developed nations. Transgender ko, cogender ni. Abeg, shift let us focus on pressing issues like the free fall of naira.
U are so stupid and dumb cos that name is a Yoruba name abi? Must u comment ob everything? Jobless boy
Enter your comment...get ur life right man is what God has made you image man
Lol...@born by mistake
Lol...@born by mistake
Bitch
Confusion breaki bonni...yepa!
Then u both must b suffering from glaucoma cos d name on d post indicates n suggests he is ya brother! Gerrarahia mehn!
He is the most ill mannered Igbo. Very illiterate. Igbo s don't talk like this. He has hate in him. Don't respond @ Anon 9:10
Freeborn or cageborn is really insane. I doubt if he can read at all. Do dull headed.
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