The shards of South Africa’s fragmented history share a common thread throughout; at the core is a struggle for equality and visibility. Over the course of the country’s fight for democracy, there have been countless women who’s incredible strength and bravery has shaped South Africa as we know it today. Some of these women are easily recognized national icons, such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu or Fatima Meer. However, there are women who’s stories may not be as widely known, but are just as integral to the establishment of a nation no longer defined by prejudice and segregation. These are the incredible LGBTQI+ women who have fought for not only their rights, but the rights of an entire people. Regarded as icons within the LGBTQI+ community, these women have challenged the notions of gender, hegemony and democracy itself in a bid to create a more equal and accepting world.