Based on a life story interview with Cindy (21 September 2019)

My name is Cindy. I left Uganda in October 2016. I have been living in different parts of Kenya ever since I came. I have been homeless, sometimes facing eviction from houses by landlords, because of my sexuality. Right now, I’m in the process of resettlement, and I’m at the embassy stage, which is quite a privilege. I am currently a director at Pride Umbrella Kenya, which is a community-based organisation (CBO) of refugees. We are based in Rongai and I’m so happy that I am helping the community to move on, that I’m part of community work.

I define myself as a transgender but transvestite. In public, I prefer to look like a man but when I’m in a safe space like home with the community, I just love to cross-dress. Even right now, if I had cross-dressed, with my wig on, my best makeup on, I feel I would give out my best, I would feel comfortable. Yeah, I feel very comfortable when I cross-dress. Much more than when I am like this [gestures towards the casual clothes she is wearing]; I feel like I am not that person I really want to be. It’s funny. But because of the public and the way people look at you in situations, you just have to be like a man, like the society expects.

When I cross-dress I feel really myself! For instance, we were at a proactive grant workshop. There was this grant that was coming, and we were called as CBO leaders to come and discuss how we are going to use this grant. So I was called and I decided that when I go like this I will not feel comfortable, so I packed my wigs and all that in my bag and I went. I was actually really confident and I gave my best. That’s the day I felt that when I’m cross-dressing I’m really myself, I really feel confident, and people are looking at me and they really take on what I am saying.

I came to Kenya in 2016. When I got here, I barely had anything; I was just seeking refuge with friends.