Tongan transgender activist Joey Joleen Mataele

She's been the face of Tonga's Leiti community for the last 25 years, and now her story is featuring in a documentary showing in Auckland this weekend. Joey Joleen Mataele says it's been an amazing journey, but not without its traumatic moments. Soana K-Aholelei sat down with the courageous transgender activist.

[@isimeliseresere5709]

I endured the same thing when I was little attending boarding school in Fiji, I couldn't tell anyone because I didn't know what to do and didn't have a clue what has happened to me, I live with that shame every day. Thank you for telling ,not just your story I feel that finally you're telling my story too.

[@carolinestevens739]

There is no shame of who you are. It's time to stand up. Stand with Joey and make some noise. Bless you!

[@TravelAlwaysOfficial]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience! Boarding schools should not exist. I went to one in high school. Luckily nothing bad happened to me, but kids need to live at home with their parents. And I heard that bad things did happen to others at my school after I left- probably while I was there too.

[@irishrock3293]

No one deserves such pain and suffering at that age, your strength now is a light for those who cannot speak up. Your a strong woman. Prayers be upon you on this incredible journey.

[@AMOEDEN888]

Smiles and love from Canada 🍁💜💜💜 I was aware at 5 years old, men molested me , beat me , trafficked me , tried to kill me . Somehow I am blessed to still be alive . At age 45 , I couldn't fake it anymore . I also found out , I am intersexed and chose to accept myself and move on as my authentic self and now 2 years on estrogen and I have no regrets 💖💖💖 Much love and blessings to all my sister's around the world .

[@carolinestevens739]

My dear cousin, I had no idea that had happened to you! I have admired you since our teens and more so now. Stand up for those that have/is being stepped on, speak up for those that have lost their tongue. Be the strength for those who seeks it. You are loved Joey! The haters are ignorant. Don't let them or anyone else dictate what you will accomplish. Ofa lahi atu!

[@carolinemaaelopa1123]

Joey you are admired by others on your story for you are always be in our hearts

[@JoeyJoleenMataele]

Thank you so much Caroline. Really appreciate your love and support.

[@patrickfulham4463]

I saw you on TV in France..it was very moving and i salute you,your courage,your faith.You are so brave and courageou shaving to face everything which we ,in Europe, take for granted.You are a lesson for us all and you have my admiration. God has made us ,whatever we are,we are His and only He can judge and as far that i know,you are closer to him than we will ever be..God bless you.

[@toaula685]

Hi uncle. Good to see that your still doing good. Hopefully you will come visit Hawaii soon. Alofaaga from the Alailima family.

[@tavita8699]

Joey what a beautiful human being.You stand for us all not just the transgender community all of us that have knowen the horror of being mollested.I thank you for speaking out to the wider community and sharing your pain but also to show solidarity and strength to awaken people to the fact that transgender people are human and deserve to be treated as such.May God bless you always Joey.You are a true earth angel.

[@ms.martiegallego8834]

I am a 69 year old activist from the USA . I admire You, my Sister !! If I can help please let me know !! I'm sending You Love !!

[@akariwilliams1367]

Heart warming story, love the testimony

[@sela325]

Awesome. This needs to be discussed more openly in Tonga. Thank you for opening the eyes of many through this documentary.

[@bettymorris1080]

he'll no never ever! tonga we stand for God's children's. how are we as humanity pose to increase with gays? man n women makes life! everyone being gay is the end of humanity an the world. God will rise

[@carolinestevens739]

@@bettymorris1080 Whoa, did you just let the world know that you're ignorant? Good for you, now go bury your head back in the sand.

[@tonganqueenb5517]

Betty Please read a book and educate yourself dear.

[@monilaui9238]

@@bettymorris1080 shut your ignorant indoctrinated usi up

[@eitafaletau3742]

@@bettymorris1080 Loving differently it is not the end of humanity. I am a proud lesbian and a proud Tongan. God didn't make a mistake when he created me. I respect your opinion but you have no rule over what is right or wrong in this world, that ma'am is in God's hands.

[@paulinegeorge138]

Love you my precious nephew Joey Joleen MATAELE Ofa kiho kii fofonga maupe pea Malo ngaahi fai fatongia lelei I Tongana and god bless you always ❤️👏💯🇹🇴🙏

[@candybabe78]

Am proud Of u Joey! Stay Strong U Were Given This Life B'coz U Are Strong Enough To Live It! Be Happy ! Be Bright Be U.. 'Ofa Atu God Bless

[@salutuia512]

Oh man Joey I feel you! I know the pain and I hated it! Big ups to you for sharing!

[@horsepuncher95]

I'm fakatangata and lucky to also be hafekasi, being LBGT and Tongan is rough for full blooded, my cuz is a lesbian and everyone treats her like dirt because of it, I escape much of it because I'm half palangi. Thank you for all your work Joey

[@stevenforman3044]

Really liked this.

[@timmtamzz]

thank you for sharing this inspiring story from Joey. I appreciate the activism and work she is putting in to create a better world for fafafines/leitis

[@lamping2144]

Leave her alone let her be she's knows exactly what she's doing

[@bluulima8069]

God’s message is to assist men in whatever circumstances they might face, not for men purpose. Man’s purposes is not the same as god because men change his minds a lot.

[@naphtaliawakening4862]

Where does it say that in Scriptures? Change of mind doesn't mean change your Gender. Tonga is slowly losing their ways and the word of YAH. Being gay is an Abomination according to Scriptures.

[@lamping2144]

corinthians6:9-11) Or( do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit) the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers 👉(nor men who have sex with men)👈 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

[@sioneofiu8821]

@@lamping2144 Mathew 22:35-40 "Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?". Jesus said unto him "Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neigbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

[@jensgoerke3819]

I'm not very religious but I think that God made everybody for a purpose - perhaps the holy purpose of the Leitis is to be a harmonious connection between men and women to show us that there isn't a gap between genders but a gentle and loving gradient full of life and positivity. Perhaps their purpose is to remind of that God is love and to teach us to love each other.

[@jacquelinladolcevida7555]

I'm proud of you :)stay strong 💙

[@mirandatautuaa134]

Hi Joey it’s me heuifanga your Family

[@Brezzie808love]

So strong! I love it 💖

[@j.ckennedy2669]

Blessings, strength, & courage in your journey, but most important be true to yourself.

[@bluulima8069]

You have every right to feels the way that you do and believe in whatever you do. It saddened me to say this us as a Polynesian islander we should hold our parents with love and respect if they are wronged speak up he doesn’t know how you feel maybe he does or maybe not, being the way you are doesn’t help the situation, nothing wrong with that. Your particular situation I do not know all I have say about that is keep on living to the best your abilities and one more thing before I leave don’t bring god into this because is to sensitive subject to talk about...god’s message hasn’t changed just man or woman’s is

[@bijoydasudiya]

Joey you're so gorgeous ❤️ ya! Have you gone for Gender Reassignment Surgery yet? If before adolescence much better. You don't develop bodily hair or a masculine voice. Also hips are curvaceous.

[@ralphhaika341]

I pray u r resting our Heavenly father. I wishi u were here. I will love all faka fefine. moe mai ra Joey... Joelene. Ofa atu.

[@TravelAlwaysOfficial]

Joey Joleen's father blamed them for being raped?! There is no way that I would have forgiven a father like that. And I definitely would not have taken care of them when they were old.

[@AT-vf7ym]

No one has the right to abuse anyone these people need to go to jail for abuse

[@teresaniumata2742]

Joey you said your faith is strong,,why transgender, did God make a mistake? Good luck with your life ,I hope you are happy.

[@michaelk2654]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@browneyez_]

Deuteronomy 22:5

[@nautikient2151]

Embaressing us Tongans smh

[@sioneofiu8821]

only thing embarassing us tongans are those who act as if they're better than others... Who gave you the right to judge those when God commanded us to love one another? To love others as Jesus loved us?

[@stephenl3612]

when you think or feel like you are something else then you need help.

[@likdz55]

Faka leti

[@finauvuli9340]

Magalevu Ga oiko TNGA

[@j.b.zwingwar2813]

Kasele nae fau koe he Otua keke tangata kake fulei koe o fiepoto mai he tv ke fkma ai e Tonga moe usi koe fuu angahala tae fkmolemolei ena ho fkhalaki hono faunga koe moe tufakanga ae Otua naa ne oatu maau.

[@JUNIOR-fo9xp]

Tonga😂😂

[@136lt6]

Your a man not a woman

[@skynikz7554]

First off, I'm a dirty dog/sinner and I'll never look down on anyone just because they sin differently. I love everyone - straight, gay, trans, black, white, green etc. However, if you were born a male, you're a MALE and if you're born a female, you're a FEMALE. You can't change what God designed you to be. You can try your best to change your outward appearance but what's within (DNA) will always stay the same. In the Bible, it says that: - God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. - Genesis 1:31 - We're a masterpiece of God's creation - Ephesians 2:10 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 If God thinks we're very good, a masterpiece and worth dying for (even though we didn't deserve it). Then why would you want to change what he created you to be? Since when does the creation know better than the CREATOR? Anyway, praying that Tonga wakes up and doesn't follow in the footsteps of other nations before it's too late. Because the King of Kings (Jesus Christ) is almost here! Ko e 'Otua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofi'a.

[@NT-vb9vv]

Bro you guys punch people of other races and then claim to be Christian. So hypocritical. Grow up. I saw Tongan attacking a white brother

[@naphtaliawakening4862]

@@NT-vb9vv Hypocritical of you say. i'm assuming your so-called white?

[@heebadeeba7279]

Amen. Praise God

[@sinisiamau5085]

Joleen is not Tongan 😘

[@juicyjuice5368]

Give him a tree

[@ganzalutu6113]

This is so sad, people are normalizing this form of hate. He obviously doesn’t love himself and people are promoting this behavior and supporting it.

[@joshmann1990]

This will never exist in tongan society go somewhere else only warriors come from my island

[@monilaui9238]

Matausi