About the Gay and Lesbian Legal Advice Centre

The Gay and Lesbian Legal Advice Centre (GLLAC) is the only legal advice centre on the African continent specifically serving the needs of lesbian and gay people.

The mandate of the legal advice centre is to provide free and/or affordable legal advice to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and intersex people on all matters relating to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Legal Advice is provided on the following matters:

• Discrimination in the Workplace - Rights and Benefits;
• Lesbian and Gay Families and Relationships - this includes Custody and Access to minor children; Adoption, Drafting of Partnership Documents for the Legal Recognition of our Relationships and Domestic Violence;
• The Rights of LGBTI learners as well as issues facing youth at home and in the communities;
• Socio-economic rights and benefits - medical aid, housing and death benefits;
• Immigration Rights;
• Asylum Applications and
• Any other matters where LGBTI people are unfairly discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The service runs a full-time consulting office in Johannesburg and serves as a resource and reference centre to the rest of the legal community. Expansion plans include opening satellite office in other centres.

To facilitate greater access to Gay and Lesbian Legal Advice Centre services, this section of our website carries regular articles on prominent legal issues and answers to legal questions submitted by members of the public.

Articles

• Protecting the parties to a same-sex union
  Discusses issues related to providing protection similar to marriage to same-sex couples through private legal instruments and provides a model domestic partnership affidavit.
• The Right to Free, Fair and Regular Elections
• Commentary on the Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act No: 49 of 2003
• Equal in Word of Law: The Rights of Lesbian and Gay People in South Africa
• Commentary on the Equality Act
• Commentary on constructive dismissals
• Commentary on Human Rights and Policing in South Africa
• A State of Emergency: Hate crimes against black lesbians
• Domestic violence in same sex relationships
• Lesbian and Gay People and the Right to Medical Care
• Rights at home: Domestic violence & the Domestic Violence Act
• Gender and Sexual Identity: A Lesbian Legal Perspective

Legal questions answered

• Are same sex marriages legal in South Africa?
• What is the age of consent for persons of the same sex in South Africa?
• What is the legal position of transgender and/or transsexual persons in South Africa?

Submit your legal question