Organisational profile

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project("the Equality Project") is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that works towards achieving full legal and social equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in South Africa. We do this through advocacy, public education, policy and legal reform, strategic/impact litigation and the provision of access to justice.

The Equality Project addresses these issues within a broader understanding which includes combating social and economic inequalities affecting all South Africans. It is our understanding that human rights are indivisible and that it is most appropriate to address the needs of lesbian and gay people in South Africa within a framework that acknowledges broader socio-economic inequality.

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and marital status is specifically outlawed in the Bill of Rights chapter of the South African Constitution (1996).

We have scored major successes in the Constitutional Court over the last few years, notably against the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Safety and Security over discriminatory practices specifically on the basis of sexual orientation.

See Lesbian and Gay Equality in South Africa: What has been achieved? in our Archive. Also see our presentation to Amnesty International Global Conference on Lesbian and Gay Rights Sydney 2002 for background on our organisation and struggle, and an overview of the challenges to equality in Africa.

Constitution of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project

History

At the 1999 Conference of the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE), a decision was reached to dissolve the Coalition and establish in its place a new non-governmental organisation (NGO), which would focus on creating and affirming a legislative and legal framework supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in South Africa.

Like the Coalition previously, the Equality Project is affiliated with organisations sharing our vision of a just and equitable society for all, notably the Commission on Gender Equality. Some of these are local non-government organisations (NGOs), others are international organisations such as Amnesty International and The International Lesbian and Gay Organisation (ILGA).

Mission, vision and objectives

Our our mission is to be:

• A leading and effective human rights and constitutional watchdog and advocate on issues relating to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) persons;
• An international leader in the development and delivery of LGBTI rights, with a primary focus in South and Southern Africa and
• A contributor to building a just and equitable society for all South Africans.

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project’s objectives have been defined as follows:

• Promote commitment in the Human Rights and Legal Rights and broader democratic movement to LGBTI Equality and Equity,
• Promote equality before the law for all persons irrespective of their Sexual Orientation,
• Reform & repeal laws that discriminate,
• Influence the legislative processes to secure full recognition of the right to equality and
• Challenge discrimination through litigation, lobbying, advocacy, public education and political mobilisation.

Funding

Our funders include The Ford Foundation, The Global Fund for Women, The Astraea Foundation and Global Christian Ministries. We also receive donations and bequests from individuals.

The Lesbian and Gay Equality is a non-profit organisation, registered with the Department of Social Development, our registration number is 013-838 NPO.

Services

The Gay and Lesbian Legal Advice Centre is a project of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project. Its primary function is to provide access to justice for all LGBTI people in South Africa through the provision of legal advice.

Volunteer counseling personnel provide a much needed and free service to LGBTI members of society who approach the Equality Project with needs beyond legal counseling.

Contact Information

Physical address: 36 Grafton road, Yeoville 2198, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Postal address: The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, P.O. Box 2781, Yeoville, 2143, South Africa.
Tel: +27 11 487 3810/1/2
Fax: +27 11 648 4204
General enquiries e-mail: info@equality.org.za
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00.