I was beaten by my father when he found out I was a lesbian - Alex

Alex says her life as a lesbian was not easy as she was subjected to stigma, and discrimination and would be beaten by her father.

In a book My Body, My Human Rights and My Activism on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Fiji, launched by DIVA for Equality, Alex says she realised she was a lesbian at the age of 15.

She says her mother used to cry watching her father beat her as his beating bruised her body.

Alex also says at the age of 58 her mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer and she had to look after her as they lived in Labasa and her siblings were in Suva.

She further says her mother passed away in 2010 and she didn’t know how to look after her father who still did not accept she was a lesbian.

She adds she joined DIVA for Equality in Fiji in 2013, through an invitation from a friend, from where she decided to move with them.

Alex says she came to a stage when her father started to suffer from hypertension and diabetes and was losing weight.

She says she didn’t know what to do which made her worry and lose weight herself.

Alex also says she was invited by DIVA for a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights group workshop through which she was challenged because of what had happened at her home.

She says she finally stood up and walked into her father’s room, asking if they could talk, to which he agreed and both cleared out their differences.

Alex adds her Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is about her sexuality, her health and her human rights.

The booklet launched by DIVA highlights stories of Violence, Discrimination and Inequality from people in different areas.