Find out more about the honouree

My name is Divina Loloma , a 56 year old Transwomen who comes from the province of Lomaiviti in the village of Batiki situated in the Central Eastern part of Fiji.Grew up in the City of Suva, at Sharlimar St, raiwasa. I attended Samabula Primary sch and later Gospel High Sch. During my childhood growing up, Ive always was yelled at, Assaulted and abused simply because I was feminine.I started to look avenues of comfort and lova but always ended up assaulted until I reached to a church down the road from home where I found refuge. Church started to be my place of safety and security until  I was 13. My parents moved me to my fathers older brothers family where he thought I would learn the harder way.It was worse here at another family since there were six siblings who were older and girls thinking I would be a boy but turned out the opposite.I was told to act like a boy since they needed a brother or it will be punches and beatings.Terrifying as it is , I would look for a church for comfort but was told I couldn’t attend any church because there are more to do at home.Everytime I would be forced to act like a boy, my feminity would be more visible as I was at the same time being attracted to my male cousins.At the time I would pray for GODS directions, my family would have conversations around getting me to live in the village which was going to be a hurtful experience because my dreams would be devastated.Then one day my mother who worked for immigration surprised me with a return trip to Australia in 1986 ,which I thank GOD was the greatest opportunity for my transition and made me the person I am today.

As a Activist and businesswomen, I started from a very ugly angle. When I returned in 1996 from Australia,I was interviewed by the media and graced newspapers and TV interviews as the first Transwomen in the country that have come back openly. This was devastating to my family as my father was a chief from his province and being a Transwomen ,I was breaking Tradition,cultural, and religious protocols. They saw me a hindrance to leadership lineage since I was suppose to be a male and was modelled to be a chief. This urged me to be a activist.I started activism work with the then AIDS TASK FORCE OF FIJI stationed at Ellery st, Suva where I started as a peer educator and later got promoted to be the Secretary to the coordinator Jane Taylor for ATFOF. In 2000 I did my SYB (Start Your Own Business) training by Womens Action For Change Network which later I started my business in the west as a Hair and Beauty consultant until 2012.I moved to the North and decided to follow the calling of GOD in my life and that is to  go in the church ministry.At the same year I was ordained with the Assemblies Of God as a pastor of the church. I also opened a beauty shop in the North to support me in my work.In 2013 I was a recognized Transwomen community worker, Pastor and Youth Activist with the Ministry Of Youth and Sports through my mobile trainings initiative at the shop. Later on was nominated National Youth Council of Fiji Vice President as the voice of the voiceless,the vulnerable community,Faith based and minorities.Now I would become ea recognized face around the Nation as a Transwomen Indeginous leader.Now my work will involve humanitarian ,Voluntary and something Im now comssionate about.Today I Direct and is CEO of Jewels Of the Nation and Jewels Advocacy Network.

What is one achievement I’ve accomplished and Im proud of and Why.

One accomplishment that Im proud of that Ive achieved is being the first Transwomen to stand in 2 conservative Election. Thinking this would be impossible, I gained my confidence through my work and my passion to reach out, make constitutions and now be part of policy making.The National Federation Party and the Peoples Democratic party recognized my capacity to bring change to the table as a activist and provided me a sit.I would represent the most vulnerables and minorities inclusive of the Disabilities and for those that do not have a voice.It was a honour and opportunity to be the voice of the LBGTIQ+ people and also represent us.Thou I didn’t get a sit in parliament , but the Parties were thankful to contribute to the qualifying number to have the party sit in government.With this accomplishment ,I believe that representation plays a big role in ensuring we have a sit at the Table of dialogue, discussions, and documentations of proper and a more equitable system.This is still a gap in the government of the day as we develop strategies of inclusivity and diversity documents. I will continue to find strategic measures to be the horn where it is needed.Today I direct and am CEO od Jewels Of The Nation together aligning with Jewels Advocacy Trans Network. My 2 year Organization has attracted PFF ,PSDGN,RPF,UAF funders through my proposed activities aligned with their thematic areas.I find this a great achievement but I also believe that perseverance comes with hard work and dedication.

What do I find most challenging about my work and why.

What I find most challenging is the lack of support from the LBGTIQ+ organization that has been doing the work for very long time, who also have been travelling to Bangkok and Thailand in terms of the LBGTIQ+ voice and strategic documentation. As a HRT Transwomen, ive always feel threatened in my community due to the fact that there are more cross dressers then there are transwomen like myself who are HRT.The gaps lies between that and the sad thing is they would be representing all of us which to me is cross boundary representation.There still more awareness that is needed to be carried out in terms of clarifications of representation so Im represented according to how I want to be represented.i Still see the need to have more dialogue with UN women  and im greatful that Im sharing this with APTN in terms of a more clear picture on this.This affects our rights to female washrooms,as transvestites violating the use of both washrooms leading to conversations that trans no matter who you are aren’t allowed to use the female washrooms.

This is some of the generating conversations that is most probably happening around the globe which is sometimes sickening and can be suicidal.Funding is another issue that is prevalent to organizations like myself which can be diaheartening to continue activism work.One of the work that is in progress at present is ensuring the government implements gender change in the birth certificate which has bee passed by CEDAW.Representation to me is very important because it speaks of me and who I am to the world.

What do I do to recharge my battery.

To recharge my battery, I go into my personal time of prayer and reconnection with THE MOST HIGH GOD.I attend church to meet up with those I have a lot in common. This I call my spiritual family.Church is where we all come together to dance,worship and Praise GOD for who HE is and WHO HE is going to be for the rest of our lives.This is where I find my acceptance and personally I find this my safe space as since I was a young women.It gives me great joy that we have women in the church that receives us then none other.I belong to the Womens ministry with my contributions and participations in all their meets and seminars.Now Im planning to getting my drivers licence so I could drive women and family inclusive of my LBGTIQ+ family to church.I have discovered that stigma and discrimination is what you make it to be.As I spend my whole Sunday day in church, this is where I could strategise to how I could see community and also my safety around it.

What is my vulnerability and how do I overcome it.

Ive been a Coccaineand Heroine addict, a Alcoholic and could not live without a relationship with men.As a survivor of Drugs and Alcohol,in 2007 everything changed when I made up my mind in terms of how I want to see my future.Now I have a more clear pathway in terms of making decisions then for only me.Today I look back and Im greatrful for the decisions I have made that has impacted not only myself but my representation as a whole having a more clearer vision and mission.Juat recently I decided to have a partner but I ended up with a alcoholic and drug addict. This was another turn around for me since I started to have a clear head, it was no time in the world for me to do another wrong thig for me.As hazardious as it was, I set with him and had a very constructive conversation with him.Part of the conversation was ,He was going to disrupt every vision that GOD gave me and I was in no capacity to do a thing but the only thing I could decide on now is to go our separate ways to which he was happy with.That gave me back my peace which now there is no time for inconsistencies.It was overriding my safe space and will drive me mental if im not careful.Today I sit in my apartment with security locks and CCTV funded by UAF which Im blessed to be partner with as such a time as this.

You Have been nominated for the Transgender HERO category.
What was your reaction and why.

This is my nomination Asia Pacific region and just hearing this came as a shock mainly because ive only have been nominated Pacific LBGTIQ+ leader and not in my wildest dreams I would reach this Far.As greatful as I am ,Im thankful to APTN and the organizing board for the effort in reaching the small Island of Fiji in the Pacific to recognize me.Said in humility With Blessings ,Peace and Solidarity.

With changes that are currently experiencing politically affecting our movement and sustainability,What is a warm hopefull message that I would like to share with the communities in the Asia Pacific.

Remain calm ,and continue to pray GODS divine interventionin terms of our Security,Safety and wellbeing.
Lets pray for unity and more meetings of finding strategic action way forward to reach the government of the day.
Also finding mental health strategies and ways to find safe space.

Anything else I would like to share.

From the Pacific to the Asia Region ,We are a unified picture of PEACE, LOVE and HARMONY. Humanity is us.

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