LGBTQ+ Human Rights

OUT has a proud history of protecting and furthering the rights of LGBTI+ people. In 2006, OUT led a civil society programme to secure same-sex marriage in South Africa (Civil Union Act 17 of 2006) and played an instrumental role in starting the LGBTI Sector within the SA National AIDS Council (SANAC).

OUT was also a founding member of the Hate Crimes Working Group in 2009 and a founding member of the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (Amsher). In 2015, with funding from the US Department of State, OUT managed the Love not Hate Programme; a three-year initiative that combined the efforts of six South African LGBTI NGOs in addressing hate crimes, including coordinating with Government. OUT has also played a role in efforts to decriminalise drugs for personal use.

Current work

Support for hate crime victims in Gauteng: OUT prioritises supporting reported hate crime cases in Gauteng. This involves close monitoring of progress (SAPS and courts), attending court proceedings, ensuring appropriate press coverage of issues, victim support, and support to affected families and communities. These cases include those of victims targeted through Grindr and online platforms. As of mid-2026, OUT will offer a WhatsApp reporting tool and will continue to compile a monthly hate crime barometer, in coordination with MambaOnline.

Gauteng AIDS Council: OUT actively participates in the LGBT Sector within the Gauteng AIDS Council. This encompasses convening groups and offering appropriate assistance, as well as attending scheduled events. The aim is to advocate to ensure needed HIV programming and services, especially for MSM affected by HIV, including the estimated 11,000 MSM living with HIV in Gauteng.

Masibambisane – A Whole of Community Approach to Addressing Gender-Based Violence: OUT partnered with the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) on this project. The approach is to collaborate with local primary and high schools and community youth groups. OUT will assist in setting up Human Rights Clubs (HRCs) in three Gauteng schools to work with livelihoods, and a range of other forums to further citizens’ rights.

Project activities include:

• Establish Human Rights Clubs in three marginalised schools, which will be learner-led
• Establish Local Stakeholder Committees, comprising of representatives from CBOs, Government departments and entities, community leaders, local businesses, and schools
• Establish Business Partnerships with local businesses, as well as national companies
• Develop a Livelihood Programme
• Address GBV in communities by assisting survivors legally, physically (medical assistance), emotionally, and financially. Part of the response is to report on GBV cases.
• As part of the project, OUT will develop a reporting and education tool on the WhatsApp platform to assist survivors with reporting of GBV and hate crime cases.

Accelerate the effective roll-out of long-acting PrEP to MSM in City of Johannesburg: OUT works towards the successful roll-out of Lenacapavir (LEN) to MSM in COJ. This includes focusing on adequate supply and uptake as well as measuring attitudes and issues among MSM with regard to this ground-breaking new prevention technology.

Vusubuntu Coalition: In late 2024, OUT convened a three-day workshop to compile an operational plan for a programme to decriminalise drugs for personal use. This flows from our chemsex support work and the logic underpinning harm reduction (rather than solely abstinence) when it comes to recreational drug use. OUT is a member of the Vusubuntu Coalition, which aims to decriminalise drugs for personal use and is involved in various coalition-building activities, advocacy, and public education and training.