Compiler of They Called Me Queer and Touch: Sex, Sexuality and Sensuality, Kim Windvogel holds a degree in Western classical music. They spoke to MatieMedia’s Micaleb Lawrence about their work as a human rights defender and co-founder of FemmeProjects, an organisation that focuses on sexual and reproductive health.
As a writer, Kim Windvogel could not steer away from the typical writer’s bookshelf in their lounge area. This space is their safe haven; a place of comfort and practice. In contrast to the shelf, there is a stripper pole which describes Windvogel as “experimental and educated,” in their willingness to learn and try new and unexpected things.
Windvogel was born and raised on the Cape Flats, and currently resides in Johannesburg. They identify as “a gender queer, coloured individual whose story was not allowed to be told”.
Kim Windvogel, is a non-binary human rights activist and the co-founder of FemmeProjects. Windvogel is also the creator of The Touch Experience and of Sunday Sex Service, an Instagram TV talkshow which unpacks the importance of sexual wellness for queer couples. They are also the compiler of They Called Me Queer. PHOTO: Supplied/Kim Windvogel
In 2014, Windvogel co-founded FemmeProjects, a non-profit organisation (NPO). This NPO put together workshops to educate scholars in underprivileged communities on menstrual health and abortions, says Windvogel. The aim was also to redefine conversations that they often had to steer away from while growing up.
Towards 2018, FemmeProjects’ focus shifted. It started advocating towards a variety of projects with a special focus on queer writers, giving queer people a platform to create content for screen and streaming platforms like Showmax and Netflix. For Windvogel, this was a necessary shift as it provides space for important conversations between corporate companies and queer individuals.
The observer
Windvogel has an older sibling.
“As the youngest, I became an observer in my house and looked at all three personalities,” Windvogel says, referring to their childhood home. “I saw what worked and did not work for me.”
Windvogel’s parents, Benita and Raybin Windvogel are both language enthusiasts. So, it only makes sense for them to creatively express themself through, for example, writing poetry and compiling books.
“As the youngest, I became an observer in my house and looked at all three personalities. I saw what worked and didn’t work for me,” says Kim Windvogel about their childhood. Kim (left) is pictured with their mother, Benita, father, Raybin, and older sister, Laura Windvogel-Molifi. PHOTO: Supplied/Kim Winvogel
“Language has always been a thing in our house. My mom was an Afrikaans teacher and my dad was a lawyer,” says Windvogel. Their parents always encouraged Windvogel and their sister, Laura, to be as expressive as possible. But their father, especially, was taken aback by Windvogel’s writing and even their pronouns when they first came out as non-binary. He remained supportive, though, and Windvogel says that they were able to educate him on the use of pronouns.
The collaborative spirit
“I see myself as a voice for others,” says Windvogel. They describe their journey of collaborating with other creatives as something that guides them through life. Windvogel and Kelly-Eve Koopman compiled a collection of unique queer stories by Africans.
“They Called Me Queer was both a learning curve and an exciting project for us,” Koopman told MatieMedia. Koopman is the director of FemmeProjects. As friends and colleagues, the two of them share a passion for storytelling and highlighting the importance of queer empowerment for intersectionalised queer individuals.
Windvogel speaks on why they chose not to write their own story as a gender queer identifying body. “I believe in timing. Everything will happen in its season. And the time for writing my story hasn’t come yet,” says Windvogel. With They Called Me Queer, it was the time for the stories of the queer individuals included in the compilation to have their stories told, expresses Windvogel.
They Called Me Queer, compiled by Kim Windvogel, was published in 2019 by Kwela Books. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
From The Touch Experience, Kim Windvogel and Kelly-Eve Koopman compiled Touch Me, Properly, a manual on queer intimacies and sexual relations, which was released in 2021. PHOTO: Micaleb Lawrence
More than a go-getter
“The word ‘go-getter’ does not even come close to describing Kim,” says Laura Windvogel-Molifi, Windvogel’s older sister. “They are really good at what they do. They started pole dancing and did not get distracted throughout the learning process…which is scary. But that’s what makes me so proud of Kim. They choose to know a lot about everything by assessing the ins and outs of it all.”
The Touch Experience, another of Windvogel’s projects, is a compilation of stories on sexual experiences. But it also serves as an instructive book, where they collaborated with Tiffany Kagure Mugo, to educate readers on how to provide pleasure to their partners. Queer readers, especially, is the focus in the compilation Touch: Sex, Sexuality & Sensuality which was published in June 2021. Included in this project came the Touch Me, Properly manual to “break those cages on queer love and relationships”, adds Windvogel.
“Sex education has a psychology beyond just sex, and it is important to tackle the internalised shame many people still carry on the topic,” says Windvogel.
The inside of Kim Windvogel’s Johannesburg home, which they refer to as “my experimental and safe space”. This is where Windvogel often unwinds and dives into their creativity. PHOTO: Supplied/Kim Windvogel