lgbti movement celebrates human rights day

By Lesego Masike (BTM Intern)

March 26, 2007: Last week 21 March marked the South African Human Rights Day where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations commemorated the day by hosting various celebrations.

The Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Care Centre hosted a workshop with Human Rights Day Fete facilitated by Amnesty International South Africa at Mkhonze – a rural settlement in the South Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Themed ‘Making the Constitution Work for You’, the workshop was aimed at teaching the community and support group members to understand and make the constitution work for them.

On the day, HIV support groups spent time discussing the rights of people living with the HI virus and visited their members in hospital.

Explaining about violation of LGBTI rights – which quite often happens, Director of the centre Nonhlahla Mkhize said that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is ubiquitous.

She, however, applauded the constitution as a great start to recognizing LGBTI rights in the country. “The Bill of Rights as part of the Constitution should be applauded – and the Civil Union Act is a great start to a lot that still needs to come”, she acknowledged. 

The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) also hosted a workshop focused on lesbian mothers to discuss issues that negatively and positively impact on their lives.

Forming a support group for lesbian mothers was an integral part of the celebrations during the day.

The passing of the Civil Unions Bill was also at the tip of the tongue among many gay communities.