Joey Matale

Joey Matale (* 1963) (alternative spelling Joey Mataele ) is an LGBT activist from Tonga .

Matale is a Leiti and Chairman of the Tonga Leiti's Association . He was elected to represent the ANZAPI region ( Australia , New Zealand / Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands) on the Executive Board of the International Lesbian and Gay Association . In addition, together with Belissa Andía Pérez , he heads the transgender secretariat of the ILGA and is a member of the international advisory board of the Hirschfeld Eddy Foundation. For some time now he has also been presenting the annual election of a Leiti for the "Miss Galaxy" that has been taking place since 1993. With a duration of three days and several thousand spectators, this is now the largest show in the country and takes place during the traditional Heilala Festival, which lasts for a week. For the Leiola Duty Free Ltd. he has been on the board of the Tonga Tourist Association since 2007 .

Matale runs a successful hair salon . His family has close ties to the royal family, which supports the Leitis, and so he also cuts the hair of King George Tupou V. He also organizes weddings , performs as a singer and is the right-hand man of Princess Pivolevu, the king's sister, in everyday life . Matale adopted five children from the relatives for various reasons. Two female employees take care of them, three of whom have already grown up and moved out. Matale is a devout Christian . He felt like a girl from an early age and has taken on traditional women's tasks to this day and looks after his mother . She gave birth to 11 boys , the only daughter died a long time ago. When Joey was nine years old, the mother knew that she would not be able to change Joey and supported her. His father, who had 22 children from three marriages and 20 illegitimate children, also supported Joey. His grandfather was a Mormon pioneer in Tonga.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Nuku'alofa: New TTA executive committee ( Memento of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), Matangi Tonga Online, May 5, 2007.

Web links

• Mario Schmidt: Miss Galaxy election in Tonga - The shrillest show in the South Seas ( Memento from February 21, 2009 in the Internet Archive ), tagesschau.de, July 15, 2007.