Untold truths about the experiences and challenges faced by transgender women in the Pacific- Joey Joleen Mataele

The are so many untold truths about the experiences and challenges faced by transgender women in the Pacific.

This has been highlighted by Tonga Leiti’s Association Co-founder, Joey Joleen Mataele while speaking at a media briefing on the film called “Leitis in Waiting”.

Mataele adds that the film tells the story of what it means to be different in a deeply religious and conservative society, and what it takes to be accepted without giving up who you are.

The Tonga leitis is a fearless and adventurous group of native transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in their South Pacific Kingdom.

Leitis in Waiting tells the story of Tonga's evolving approach to gender fluidity through a character‑driven portrait of the most prominent leiti in the Kingdom, Joey Joleen Mataele, a devout Catholic of royal descent. 

The film is about an eventful year where Mataele organizes a beauty pageant, mentors a young leiti who is rejected by her family, and battles with fundamentalist Christians over Tonga's antiquated anti‑sodomy and cross‑dressing laws.

The film will be showing at Village 6 Cinemas at 6pm this Thursday.