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Respect our sexual orientation! Support to our African sisters in South Africa

Greetings from the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).

As a pan-African Network working to promote equality and women’s human rights in Africa, including ending all forms of violence against women and girls, FEMNET is deeply saddened by the recent brutal murders of three lesbians (Sizakele Sigasa, age 34;  Salome Masooa, age 24 and Thokozane Qwabe, age 23). May their souls rest in peace.

Based on the principle that women’s rights are human rights and must be respected and enjoyed by all, we strongly believe that rights related to sexuality are part of the spectrum of these human rights and fundamental in acknowledging and embracing the diversity of human kind. Reproductive rights, sexuality and gender identities/expressions are not separate from other aspects of our identity such as race, gender, age, ethnicity, etc.  Indeed, they are about freedom from discrimination, coercion and violence, as noted in Paragraph 96 of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Today, as South Africans celebrate the National Women’s Day, we call upon the government to take action to make its commitment to equality and tolerance, a reality for the nation’s gays and lesbians as well as to ensure that the ongoing investigations of these murders are thorough and impartial, and that those responsible are prosecuted.

In solidarity,

FEMNET

We must have de right to love and to be loved

APC, from Portugal

The Panthères Roses of Paris (Pink Panthers) want to express all their support and  solidarity to the campaign 07 07 07, led in memory of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Massoa, lesbian activists who were murdered  because of their sexual orientation and involvment in the LGBT  community, in Johannesburg.

This is a really sad news for the struggle against lesbophobia and  sexism, but the fight has to go on. The South African governement  has to radically tackle this issue and to takes serious measures  and lead actions against

such discriminations and violences. The south african police has to investigate this matter efficiently and rigorously.

This situation is unbearable, in South Africa, but also in the  majority of the country in the world, where lesbophobic, homophobic  and transphobic murders are encouraged by the silence and  inactivity of most governments.

We send you all our support and friendship in your fight.

Les Panthères Roses

www.panthereroses.org

pr@pantheresroses.org

This is a message of solidarity with the South African LGBTI community in the wake of the terrible execution-style murders of two Lesbian Activists. I speak both as a South African citizen and as an activist for th UK-based LGBTI Human Rights group, OutRage!.

Both I and the organisation fully support actions around combatting these disturbing events and the call for the South African government to take urgent steps to combat hate crime directed at our community.

Solidarity and best wishes

Brett Lock

Dear Friends at the JWG,

We were saddened by the death of two members of your community, Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa on the 8th of July 2007. Even if we did not know them, we were deeply touched by their loss. Their death awakened the fact that LGBTI people allover Africa are suffering at the hands of homophobes and that we should all join hands as LGBTI people on this continent to fight this kind of cruelty. May their Souls Rest in Peace.

SMUG is joining hands with the JWG in the campaign against hate crimes in South Africa and in Africa at large and therefore, we are writing a letter to the concerned authorities in South Africa condemning the acts and demanding a quick and thorough investigation in the murder of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Massoa and for the killers to be brought to JUSTICE.

We request you to avail us with the contacts of the authorities to whom we should address this concern.

In Solidarity,

Victor Juliet Mukasa

On behalf of SMUG

--

Victor Juliet Mukasa

Chairperson, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)

LGBTI Human Rights Defender

I whole heartedly support the course

I pray for the families of Salome, Sizakele and other victims of violent crimes because of who they are. I say - Let's stand together amd fight, even in our micro-environments. I pledge to stand against these hate crimes!

Lots of Love - my brother and sisters

Motebang Mopeli

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