TANKISO "Buhle" Mofokeng was at a club in Clarens, Free State on Saturday, 18 November when a photo was taken of him.
The photo was widely shared on social media, with many people mocking him for the fashionable pants he was wearing.
Some social media users took it a step further by making fun of him for his sexuality.
Buhle's tired of haters
The 26-year-old from QwaQwa said he was offended by the social media attacks as some people claimed he was trying to be a woman.
He told Daily Sun he wasn't trying to be a woman.
"I'm just merely attracted to the same sex. I'm expressing it by cross-dressing and putting on make-up because it makes me feel comfortable and good about myself," he said.
"I had gone out to a club and I allowed for one of the photographers to take a picture of me, with my consent. I was happy about the picture because it's a beautiful and I looked beautiful as usual. The picture circulated on social media."
He said seeing the response people had to his photo was an eye-opener for him.
A call for awareness campaigns
"People still have to be educated about LGBTI+ practices. My picture going viral stipulated that people need to be equipped with knowledge on factors on the LGBTI+ community because some chose to be ignorant.
"It's written in the Constitution. We are allowed to live freely as those who classify themselves as straight people. We need to have more information from social media platforms, radio stations and TVs, especially the community stations," he said.
Tankiso said he was disappointed that after so many of democracy, people still didn't understand and embrace the LGBTI+ community.
The club sets record straight
After the homophobic attacks on social media, the club released a statement condemning the behaviour of some of its DJs who participated negatively to the post.
The club manager, Kgotso Mofokeng, said they became aware of the inappropriate comments circulating on social media "targeting a beautiful gay person under our club's name".
"We stand firmly against discrimination of any kind. We embrace and celebrate the rich tapestry of our community, recognising that our differences are what makes us unique. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTI members and want to emphasise that our club is a safe place for everyone," he said.
