DO THE LITTLE YOU CAN NEXT YEAR TO CREATE A PEACEFULL SOCIETY

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Managing Editor)

As the year ends, we look back at the road we have travelled this year and as an organisation within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) sector, we have seen more bad than good happenings against fellow gay Africans, but nonetheless we are counting our blessings.

We couldn’t have achieved everything in one year, probably not even in a lifetime, but the little things that have contributed in advancing the struggle for recognition and rights of LGBTI people are vital and should be celebrated.

We crossed our fingers this year as the new South African government took office, worried that President Jacob Zuma, who has in the past demonstrated intolerance towards homosexuals, might want to repeal our Civil Unions Act.

Even though there is still uneasiness about the president’s close association with the National Interfaith Leadership Council, which earlier this year stated that it wants to revisit laws legalising abortion and same-sex marriages, there has not been any solid indication that Zuma will scrap the civil Unions Act.

Among other things, it is important to note the murder case of Eudy Simelane which was wrapped up at Delmas Margistrates Court in September, seeing two men, one serving a life sentence and the other 31 years.

The finalization of one case might seem like a drop in the ocean, but it is a great achievement considering the number of pending cases of hate crimes and those that go unreported.

This year we have seen more visibility of transgender people, hearing more of their voices in the media and public platforms, something that has facilitated a bit more understanding of this group and its issues.

Also there was more to celebrate when France, in a historic decision, removed transgenderism from its list of mental illnesses.

A landmark ruling by India’s New Delhi Highest court that section 377 of that country’s constitution be scrapped as it criminalized homosexuality also set the tongues wagging in 2009.

These are but a few developments that I think the LGBTI community should be grateful for, despite all the challenges that the sector is still facing at present, such as Uganda’s antigay bill, Rwanda’s antigay bill, the struggle by Botswana’s LEGAGBIBO to get their organisation registered and many more.

As we close for holidays, let us think of what we can do next year to make a difference in the lives of those lesbians in townships that are raped, have no access to counseling services and have to see their perpetrators every day.

See what you can do for a neighbour’s child who has been disowned by his or her parents because of their sexual identity and they have ended up illiterate, unemployed and abusing drugs.

If you happen to be a sibling or friend of a taxi driver, it wouldn’t hurt educate your uncle that making fun of someone’s sexuality at taxi ranks is a reflection on him not the victim and does not make him more of a man.

Employers, give people a chance to grow, their sexual identity does not really cripple their talent.

Parents, it’s never too late to sit down with you children, explore their difference and acknowledge it.

The police, when you tell a rape victim that she deserved it because she is a lesbian, imagine if that was said to your daughter, sister or friend.

Doctors, there is really nothing professional about taking photographs of a transgender person and circulating them in the internet for all to see.

Media, we know you want to sell but sensationalising is bad journalism, and it hurts. Think of something that you can do in the next year to fulfill your social responsibilities.

Let us make resolutions to do the little that we can to create a peaceful society in the coming year, free of hatred, stigma, discrimination and crime. My resolution is to make as much noise as I possibly can on issues that I feel strongly about.