NOT RACE OR GENDER BUT SEX ISSUE – CAL ON SEMENYA

By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – 31 August 2009: Amidst speculation about Caster Semenya’s gender test results questions have been raised if the gender testing controversy is not discrimination disguised as procedure.   

The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) has refuted claims that the Semenya saga is a race issue.  

“Whilst I agree with the notion that it is another thing to publicly humiliate an honest professional, I detest the fact that this matter was just about race, it is a gender and sex issue as well”, said Fikile Vilakazi, Director of the Coalition of African Lesbian.

Semenya’s gender test results were scheduled to be revealed in two weeks since the announcement of the gender test, but of late the International Association Athletic Federation has changed its tune, saying that Semenya’s result will be revealed in a month’s time.

CAL is calling for immediate action against the International Association Athletic Federation (IAAF) saying that Semenya’s case embodies all forms of discrimination.

“In challenging the IAAF we must recognize that this case presents discrimination on the basis of race, gender, class and sex and we must pronounce on it based on these intersections. None of these of these grounds is less important than the other”, a press statement from CAL stated.

Semenya returned home on Tuesday, 25 Augusts to a crowd of ecstatic supporters, upon her arrival ANC Youth League President, Julius Malema raised the fact that not a single white person was present, therefore making it a race issue.

“Where are the white South Africans to welcome Caster, if it was rugby they would be here”, Malema said.

According to CAL the gender controversy does not only boil down to race.

“The reality of the situation in Caster Semenya’s gender testing experience is not about racism, it has to do with her gender and sex as well. It is not her gender that they are even after, they have already allegedly determined that she is not a woman, it is her sex they are worried about”, further read the statement.

The statement further probes “why gender test when you actually want to know whether she has a vagina or penis”, because seemingly that’s what they want to determine.

Semenya stands to lose her gold medal and her career should the results prove that she is not a woman, meanwhile Semenya and supporters await the results which are due in a month's time.