honouring lgbti people who died of hiv and aids

Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – 1 December 2008: As the world commemorates World Aids Day whose theme is Leadership and Unity to stop HIV, Aids and TB, gay rights groups in the country have said that the gay community is still marginalized in terms of HIV and AIDS programming in the country.

Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, OUT LGBT Sexual Health Fieldworker, said that government does not recognise LGBTI people as high risk in their programming.

“The gay community is very much infected and affected by this epidemic and it is really disturbing to see that we are still discriminated and marginalized with regard to programmes that deal with HIV and Aids in our country”, Letsike said.

She however said that OUT LGBT-Well being commemorated World Aids Day on 29 November at Legends Club in Pretoria where there was a testing site encouraging people to test and know the HIV and Aids status.

“This is an international event and we at OUT are joining forces with all other organisations to commemorate this day and to remember LGBTI people who have passed away because of HIV and AIDS”, Letsike said.

Meanwhile South Africa’s government, led by Deputy President and head of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) Baleka Mbete asked all citizens to hold 15 minutes of silence from 12:00 afternoon to observe World Aids Day and consider ways of curbing the epidemic.

SANAC has said that it is “adopting a bold and a brave new approach to World Aids Day.”

“We aim to launch a social mobilization that will reach every person in South Africa and help them to stop new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS and TB.” SANAC said in a statement.

It added that “World Aids Day is not a day for celebration. There are still too many deaths and HIV is still beating us. Despite the heroic efforts of many dedicated doctors, nurses, community workers and activists we are still not doing enough and uniting as a society.”

SANAC also encouraged South Africans to organise discussions about HIV, voluntary testing and to speak out about how HIV has affected their lives.

Numerous events are taking place in the country to commemorate World Aids Day and the Gay and Lesbian Network in Pietermaritzburg is also holding a workshop about living positively with HIV.