Lesotho, Sept. 16 -- My name is Rethabile Mahase, but most people call me Rita.
I am 24 years old and live as a girl, even though I was born and raised in Hatokotlo, a rural village in Leribe.Life in Hatokotlo is deeply shaped by culture and tradition. From a young age, everyone is expected to follow a path based on the gender they were assigned at birth. As a boy, I was expected to attend initiation school, herd cattle and play rough games with other boys. But my life took a different path- one that was not always easy for the people around me to understand.
Growing up, I often felt out of place.
I did not enjoy herding cattle or running around with other boys playing soccer. Instead, I loved cooking, washing clothes, helping with house...