AS HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

AS HERITAGE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN
Lets ask ourselves what nation are we building if we encourage bigotry, violence and inhumanity against our fellows?

By Phumi Mtetwa
Lesbian and Gay Equality Project

For over half a century lesbians and gays internationally have been publicly taking into the streets. In 1990 in South Africa black and white people gathered in Johannesburg to protest against racism and homophobia, highlighting the double oppression suffered by black people under the apartheid regime. Since then pride events served as one platform to visibly make social and political demands of yet another group of people suffering exclusion: lesbians, gays, transgender, intersexed and bisexuals (LGBTIs).

 The gains that are in our laws today did not happen by accident. Just like apartheid was defeated, LGBTIs people struggled openly as non-heterosexuals for the ideals found in the Freedom Charter “South Africa belongs to all who live in it…[O]ur country will never be prosperous or free until all our people… enjoying equal rights and opportunities… Peace and friendship amongst all our people shall be secured by upholding the equal rights, opportunities and status of all.” Mostly are included in the country’s Constitution.

 We defeated apartheid and legislated against racial oppression, and racism continues. We legislated against inequality yet so many live the realities of not having basic needs. We celebrated the right to freedom and human dignity yet people like LGBTIs continue to be humiliated, ridiculed and murdered for who they are. To make the laws real we must all struggle side by side for full equality, freedom and human dignity.

 As we begin heritage celebrations of LGBTI in Ekurhuleni this Saturday, let us ask ourselves what lessons struggling against racial oppression has taught us as Peoples. What are the fruits of “an injury to one is an injury to all”? What nation are we building if we encourage bigotry, violence and inhumanity against our fellows?

 Let’s ALL march against hate speech and crimes targeting all people, including LGBTIs.

Ekurhuleni: 19 Sep at 9am at the Eudy Memorial Park, Tornado; Kwa-Thema

Soweto: 26 Sep at 10am at Vincent and Saunders Strs. in Meadowlands at 10am

Jo’burg: 3 October at 10h00 at Zoo Lake in Rosebank

                          
For details: call the Joint Working Group(JWG) on: 011 403 5566