In a statement issued on 11 March 2025, the ANCYL KZN stated: “It has come to our attention that a member of the LGBTQIA+ community has been arrested following allegations of raping the child since 2022.”

Sexual violence is a crime that must be addressed with the seriousness it deserves, regardless of the identity of the suspect or perpetrator. By framing this heinous act in terms of the individual’s sexual orientation, the ANCYL KZN is not only distracting from the crime itself but also fuelling harmful narratives that contribute to the victimisation of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly lesbian women, who already face disproportionate levels of violent hate crimes in South Africa.

This kind of rhetoric is dangerous. It reinforces stereotypes that falsely portray LGBTQ+ people as predatory—a misconception that has long been used to justify discrimination and violence. In a country where LGBTQ+ individuals, especially black lesbian women, continue to be subjected to brutal attacks, including so-called “corrective rape” and murder, such statements can further incite hatred and violence against an already marginalised community.

Given the ANC’s history in fighting against racial discrimination and oppression, the organisation should know better than to engage in profiling based on sexual orientation. South Africa’s history has shown the devastating consequences of labelling and profiling individuals based on race, gender, or sexuality.

The ANC has long advocated for a non-discriminatory society, and as such, its youth structures must be held to the same standard. Targeting individuals based on their identity, rather than addressing the crime itself, undermines the struggle for equality and justice.

It is also deeply concerning that the same stance was taken by the KZN LGBTIQ+ Sector under SANAC, a structure meant to protect and advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Such an approach not only legitimises harmful stereotypes but also weakens the fight against the ongoing crisis of violence faced by queer people, particularly lesbian women.

LGBTQ+ advocacy bodies should be at the forefront of challenging harmful narratives, not reinforcing them. We expect better from structures tasked with ensuring the dignity, safety, and inclusion of queer individuals in South Africa.

OUT LGBT Well-Being urges all political and social leaders, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy structures, to exercise responsibility in their public messaging and to avoid language that endangers vulnerable groups. We call on the ANC Youth League in KZN and the KZN LGBTIQ+ Sector under SANAC to retract or amend their statements, ensuring that the focus remains on justice for the survivor and accountability for the alleged perpetrator, rather than fuelling prejudice.

We remain committed to advocating for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and call for an end to violence and discrimination in all its forms.

The post Media Statement: KZN ANC Youth League Profiles Suspect by Sexual Orientation appeared first on OUT.

As reported in the media, several cases of monkeypox have been identified among MSM in Europe and elsewhere, in some instances through sexual health clinics. This has led to sensationalistic claims on social media that the disease is being spread by MSM, which has been used to target members of this community.

Monkeypox, however, can affect anyone. “It is important to note that the risk of monkeypox is not limited to men who have sex with men. Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk,” states the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We have seen this before, where gay and bisexual men were shamed, stigmatised and shunned in the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States,” says Dawie Nel, Director of OUT LGBT Well-being. “This cannot be allowed to happen again. The outbreak of a disease should never be accompanied by judgement and condemnation but rather with compassion and the sharing of medical facts.”

The WHO believes that one of the reasons that cases of monkeypox have been reported via sexual health clinics for MSM may be “because of positive health-seeking behaviour in this demographic”.

Caused by the monkeypox virus, monkeypox is a disease most commonly found in Central and West Africa and is often caught from infected animals. The latest outbreak, however, is taking place in several countries that do not usually have cases.

According to the WHO, symptoms of monkeypox typically include fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or sores. It can be spread through rashes, lesions, bodily fluids or items that come into contact with an infected person. Monkeypox rashes can resemble sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and syphilis.

Symptoms typically last between two to four weeks and go away on their own without treatment. In some individuals, they can lead to medical complications and rarely death. People with underlying immune deficiencies may be at risk of more serious symptoms. As of 23 June, there were over 3,000 confirmed cases (Source: Our World in Data) around the world.

“OUT urges members of MSM and LGBTIQ+ communities and broader society to inform themselves about monkeypox and its symptoms and to be vigilant but not to panic. It further calls for rational and informed discourse on media platforms without the blaming or shaming of any community,” says Nel.

OUT will continue to monitor the situation in South Africa and will offer further advice should the need arise.

For more information and updates about monkeypox please visit these reputable sources:

• https://www.nicd.ac.za/monkeypox/
• https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox

Founded in 1994, OUT LGBT Well-being provides stigma-free HIV and other health services to gay, bisexual and MSM communities. It also works to eradicate LGBTIQ+ hate crimes and discrimination while assisting and supporting victims with paralegal advice and referrals. For more information visit www.out.org.za.

*This article was updated on 23 June 2022.

The post OUT warns against LGBTIQ+ stigma linked to monkeypox outbreak appeared first on OUT.

As reported by eNCA’s Checkpoint and MambaOnline.com, numerous men in Johannesburg have been lured, via apps like Grindr, to meeting a date. They are instead held hostage and threatened with death until a large ransom is paid by the victim or their friends or family. It’s believed that many incidents go unreported, and the police have seemingly failed to take decisive action.

“While our laws are progressive, South Africa remains a socially conservative country with same-sex sexuality still frowned upon. Networking apps are often the only way that some queer men feel they can meet other men,” says Lerato Phalakatshela, OUT’s Human Rights Manager.

“Stigma, shame and fear of secondary victimisation are among the reasons why victims do not come forward,” he adds. “They may fear being outed, feel embarrassed or that they won’t be taken seriously, and might even blame themselves for becoming a victim.”

Online networking apps are intended to be a safer way for gay, bi and MSM to meet, especially if they feel that they cannot be open about their sexuality. However, these services are now being used to target this vulnerable group.

“The police need to up their game and take the seemingly rampant kidnapping and extortion of gay, bi and MSM seriously. They cannot simply stand by and do nothing. Dating apps also need to be willing to work with the local authorities and provide better protection to their users,” says Phalakatshela.

OUT urges victims of these attacks to contact the organisation’s LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic for assistance. They are assured that their details will not be divulged without their permission. OUT will link the victims to confidential psychosocial support and offer advice if they wish to lay charges or take the matter further.

“We understand that some victims will not want to be open about what may have happened and we will protect their privacy. They, however, may still need support such as counselling and might want to know what their legal options are,” says Phalakatshela. “And we can assist them with this.”

To contact OUT’s free LGBTQ+ Legal clinic, victims can email report@lovenothate.org.za or call 012 430 3272 and ask for the legal clinic.

OUT has also published a series of online dating safety tips for gay, bi and MSM which can be found here: https://bit.ly/3srQs56

The post OUT urges queer dating app victims to come forward appeared first on OUT.

In two social media videos, Hofmeyr claimed that the LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, plus) community and Disney aim to “groom” children into illegal and reprehensible activities, such as bestiality, by making Disney content more inclusive and representative. He also falsely asserted that the “+” in the LGBTIQ+ acronym encompasses individuals who practice bestiality.

“Through these false and harmful statements, Hofmeyr is perpetuating the narrative that LGBTIQ+ people are ‘deviants’ and are inherently dangerous to children,” says Lerato Phalakatshela, the Human Rights Manager at OUT. “Spreading these blatant lies not only dehumanises and ‘others’ LGBTIQ+ people but also provides fuel to justify stigmatisation, discrimination and even violence against LGBTIQ+ individuals,” he adds.

It’s on this basis that OUT lodged a formal complaint of hate speech with the SAHRC, through its Gqeberha office.

In response, the commission confirmed this week that it had sent a letter of demand to Hofmeyr for an apology, an amount of R500,000 to be donated to an organisation of its choice, and for him to commit to some form of community service.

The SAHRC noted that his words “may seriously demean and humiliate members ascribing to the LGBTIQ+ community, thereby affecting their rights to Equality and Dignity as determined in sections 9 and 10 of the Constitution.”

The SAHRC also believes that Hofmeyr’s comments “may be in contravention of Section 11 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Equality Act), read with section 1.” Should he not respond appropriately to the letter within two weeks, the commission “reserves the right to proceed to the Equality Court to provide it with the appropriate relief.”

“We are pleased that the SAHRC has taken the first steps in dealing with this issue and urge it to pursue the matter until, at the very least, Hofmeyr unreservedly and publicly apologises and retracts his comments in writing,” says Phalakatshela.

OUT has launched an online petition calling for Hofmeyr to do the right thing and for the SAHRC to take the matter seriously and to a satisfactory conclusion. The petition also serves to express the anger and frustration felt by the LGBTIQ+ community and its allies over the continued spreading of harmful speech that has no place in South Africa today.

The petition can be signed here: https://chng.it/4CVmZ9SvLV

-ends-

FOR MEDIA / EDITORS
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Luiz De Barros, OUT’s Marketing & Communications Consultant, on debarrosl@out.org.za.

The post OUT welcomes SAHRC’s action against Steve Hofmeyr appeared first on OUT.

Jody Blackburn, a 13-year-old Grade 7 pupil at Radford House in Fairland, and her mother recently visited OUT LGBT Well-being’s free clinic (funded by USAID through PEPFAR) in Melville to present a donation of more than R4,500 to the non-profit organisation.

Jody held a Pride-themed diversity day at her school where everyone who wanted to participate could each donate R20 to wear colourful clothing and a rainbow heart sticker. She collected the money and chose OUT as the beneficiary of the funds.

“I always wanted to spread awareness and acceptance, especially with my fellow students,” says Jody. “And I’ve always wanted to make the LGBT+ community feel safe, even if their parents aren’t accepting.” She adds that, “My teachers, my parents, the principal, and especially the kids in my class, were very excited for this fundraiser.”

Asked why she chose to donate the funds to OUT, the second-oldest LGBT+ organisation in South Africa, Jody replies: “I looked at their website and I really liked their values and everything they’ve done for the South African LGBT+ community.”

Jody believes that it’s important to promote diversity and inclusion in schools because “there are so many different peoples in South Africa, and if we accept people for who they are, and just show kindness, it will help our society become what we would like it to be.”

In September, the Student Diversity Committee at SAHETI School in Bedfordview also hosted a fundraiser for OUT, raising an impressive R8,000. OUT was invited to address high school learners at a special assembly to talk about the organisation’s work.

“These student-driven initiatives are inspiring and heart-warming. They show that our constitutional values that embrace diversity are taking root in our youth,” says Dawie Nel, Director of OUT LGBT Well-being. “OUT thanks all the students, parents and teachers who contributed to the fundraisers. We applaud them not only for their donations but also for promoting a culture of respect, humanity and equality.”

OUT has decided to allocate the funds raised by the schools towards assisting a young homeless LGBT+ person with their studies. “Young people are often rejected by their families because of their sexuality or gender identity and may even end up on the streets,” says Nel. “We will identify a beneficiary from among those we support at some of the city’s homeless shelters to further help them to better their future.”

Founded in 1994, OUT LGBT Well-being provides stigma-free HIV and other services to gay, bisexual and MSM communities. It also works to eradicate LGBT+ hate crimes and discrimination while assisting and supporting victims with paralegal advice and referrals. For more information visit www.out.org.za.

Picture: Dawie Nel, Director of OUT LGBT Well-being, and Paul Botha, Johannesburg Site Manager, with Jody Blackburn 

The post School pupils show support for LGBT+ community appeared first on OUT.

It was recently confirmed that funding for the clinic was not renewed, and thus all services will be discontinued at the end of September 2021.

Opened in 1997, the OUT clinic has been situated at three Pretoria locations over the years. It was also known as the Prism Lifestyle Center, then the TEN81 Clinic and most recently Engage Men’s Health Pretoria.

Offering vital HIV and related services, the OUT clinic became an institution in the City and across the Metro with its welcoming facilities and mobile outreach teams.

The site has also been a longstanding safe space for the MSM and LGBT communities and housed additional free services such as support groups, psychosocial counselling and an LGBT+ legal clinic.

“Over more than two decades, OUT has grown our expertise, developed meaningful relationships with clients, partners and funders and proudly built a historic legacy in serving the LGBT+ community in Tshwane,” says Dawie Nel, Director of OUT.

The clinic’s closure does not mean that OUT as an organisation is shutting down. We will continue to operate our Engage Men’s Health clinics in Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City as well as our national human rights and paralegal programmes.

From 1 October 2021, the Aurum Institute’s Pop Inn project will commence providing HIV-related services to MSM in Pretoria. To avoid any disruption of services, OUT client files will be transferred to the Aurum Institute. Pretoria clients may also choose to transfer to our Engage Men’s Health clinic in Melville, Johannesburg.

In a letter of support, Juan A Nel, Research Professor at the Department of Psychology, UNISA, cited a long history of collaboration with OUT and said that the closure of the clinic “is too ghastly to contemplate, both for me, personally, but also my institution.”

Prof Frans Viljoen, Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, described OUT as “a stalwart of the LGBT community in South Africa, and specifically, Tshwane” and commented that it was “extremely sad if OUT’s longstanding presence and various efforts to build up a site for sustainable service to serve Tshwane’s LGBT community’s equality and health would come to an end solely due to the unavailability of funding.”

Pierre Brouard, Deputy Director of the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender at the University of Pretoria, also praised “the deep trust OUT has established with the MSM community of Tshwane” and said that it “seems to be counter-intuitive for an existing and successful service to close down.”

OUT aims to resume our free sexual health services in Tshwane in the near future.
“We feel a deep responsibility to sustain this historic legacy. OUT was founded by and has always been run by members of the LGBT+/MSM communities and we believe that should remain the case when it comes to sexual health services for these key groups,” says Nel.

We thus ask the LGBT+ and MSM communities and their allies to assist by donating funds, no matter how small, towards the reopening of the OUT clinic through the BackaBuddy website: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/keep-out-open.

OUT thanks the LGBT+ and MSM communities of Tshwane for their ongoing support throughout the years and regrets any inconvenience to our Pretoria clients due to the clinic’s closure.

Aurum Pop Inn can be contacted on 067 067 1863. OUT Pretoria clients who wish to transfer to our Engage Men’s Health clinic in Johannesburg can call or WhatsApp 082 607 1686.

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FOR MEDIA / EDITORS

About OUT LGBT Well-being: Founded in 1994, OUT LGBT Well-being is the second-oldest LGBT+ organisation in South Africa. It provides stigma-free HIV, sexual health and other services to gay, bisexual and MSM communities. It also works to eradicate LGBT+ hate crimes and discrimination while assisting and supporting victims with paralegal advice and referrals.

For more information or to arrange an interview: Contact Luiz De Barros, OUT’s Marketing & Communications Consultant, on debarrosl@out.org.za.

The post OUT saddened to close its historic Pretoria clinic appeared first on OUT.

Along with a host of other groups, OUT LGBT Well-being recently endorsed an open letter to the Western Cape Education Department which has delayed policy in this regard and thereby opened up LGBTQI+ learners to further discrimination and bullying.

The signatories called on the department “to take urgent active steps to address the bullying, marginalisation, discrimination and systemic violence that these [LGBTQI+] learners experience on a day-to-day basis on the grounds of their perceived or actual sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics.”

You can read the letter here (PDF).

The post OUT calls on education depts to tackle LGBTQI+ discrimination in schools appeared first on OUT.

The rate of substance use amongst LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) and MSM communities around the world is reported to be significantly higher than in other groups. This is believed to be in large part fuelled by the impact of stigma and discrimination faced by these communities.

These factors can lead to internalised homophobia and an unconscious sense of shame and anxiety. Substance use can also affect judgment, lessen inhibitions, and make users more likely to engage in high-risk sex and behaviours associated with HIV and other STIs.

“Living in a hostile world in which same-sex sexuality is seen as immoral or ‘dirty’ has a damaging impact on the mental health and self-esteem of LGBT+ and MSM individuals,” says Dawie Nel, the Director of OUT LGBT Well-being, the NPO behind the EMH project. “Substance use is often a means to feel free, confident and escape from a stressful daily life in which stigma, discrimination and violence are a reality.”

The Highs & Lows campaign follows the principle of “harm reduction” rather than the traditional abstinence-only model, which usually focuses on the criminal and “moral” aspect of substance use. Therefore, people who use substances are stigmatised, vilified and are less likely to seek health and other support when needed.

It is increasingly being recognised that forced quitting or abstinence is not always a realistic goal. In addition, those individuals who are interested in reducing their use, but not stopping completely, have been excluded from programmes that require abstinence.

“We want our communities to see EMH as a safe space where they will receive knowledgeable, confidential and stigma-free services with dignity,” says Nel. “We believe that substance use should be viewed as a primarily social and health issue, not a moral or criminal one. This progressive approach has been shown to be far more beneficial to society in a number of countries.”

EMH’s Highs & Lows campaign seeks to empower substance users to reduce their risk of using and help maintain their physical and mental well-being. With the support of Mainline International, the campaign encompasses the following:

• Providing information to its community about many of the common substances used by gay, bisexual and MSM, including side effects and risks. This is published on the EMH website, on social media, in a booklet (with the support of NACOSA) and through in-clinic posters.
• Offering comprehensive practical advice on harm reduction to minimise risks associated with substance abuse. Examples include using in safe environments; using clean needles if injecting; and getting onto treatment (ART) if HIV positive and PrEP (HIV prevention pill) if negative.
• Offering insights into the shared experiences and motivations of gay, bi and MSM substance users through articles and social media posts.
• Offering resources such as contact details for helplines and services for substance use, depression, suicide and other mental health and LGBT+ support.
• Providing a free and anonymous one-on-one online support session with a trained peer harm reduction counsellor.
• Hosting information sessions with mental health professionals to better equip them to assist gay, bisexual and MSM clients who use substances and to understand the principles of harm reduction.
• Holding regular Community Advisory Group meetings with mainly homeless MSM who inject and use drugs, through which we encourage harm reduction and provide clean needles (in partnership with NACOSA).
• Offering free and professional HIV and STI services in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City to gay, bisexual and MSM. This includes HIV treatment, PrEP and PEP.

To access any of these services, members of the gay, bisexual and MSM communities can call or WhatsApp 082 607 1686 or visit www.engagemenshealth.org.za.

The post OUT’s Engage Men’s Health launches harm reduction campaign appeared first on OUT.

The call comes in the wake of an appalling wave of hate crime murders that have rocked the country.

Roché Kester, OUT’s Hate Crimes Manager, was one of the speakers at a press conference at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg demanding urgent action from all sectors of society.

“Right now it feels like there is a crisis happening. People are scared to leave their houses and people are scared to be themselves. And under our Constitution, we can’t have that. LGBTIQ+ people are part of South Africa and therefore they have the same rights as heterosexual or cisgender people,” said Kester.

“Many people experience discrimination, many people also experience non-lethal crimes, and they often don’t report that because they fear secondary victimisation by the police and also because they just feel like the system is failing them in terms of actually getting justice.”

Below is the joint statement endorsed and supported by OUT LGBT Well-being.

South Africa, it is enough

Over the past two and half months, South Africa’s LGBTIQ+ community has been rocked by a series of brutal hate crimes against its members – from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng, from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape. At least six lives – that we know of – have been snuffed out in cold blood.

• Bonang Gaelae, 29, whose throat was slashed in Sebokeng on 12 February.
• Nonhlanhla Kunene, 37, whose body was found half naked in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg on 5 March.
• Sphamandla Khoza, 34, who was beaten, stabbed and had his throat slit on 29 March in Kwamashu, Durban.
• Nathaniel ‘Spokgoane’ Mbele, who was stabbed in the chest in Tshirela, Vanderbijlpark on 2 April.
• Andile ‘Lulu’ Nthuthela, 41, whose mutilated and burned body was found on 10 April in KwaNobuhle, Kariega.
• Lonwabo Jack, a young LGBTIQ+ individual who had just celebrated his 22nd birthday on 17 April. His lifeless body was found on a pavement the next day in Nyanga, Cape Town.

Also,

• A lesbian couple who was refused service at a health institution after they had been assaulted on the University of Fort Hare Alice Campus on 16 April amid a claim that “ibutch isithathela amacheri” (butch lesbians are taking our women).
• This morning we learned of another suspected hate crime case in the Eastern Cape, the circumstances of which are still coming to light.

We have been here before.

Since the dawn of democracy, LGBTIQ+ South Africans have been brutalised, raped and killed across our nation. The list is long. Names like Sizakele Sigasa, Salome Maoosa, Eudy Simelane, Gift Makau, Sana Supe, Nare Mphela, Kirvan Fortuin and Lindo Cele may stand out but so many others did not make headlines. So many more have gone unrecognised as hate crime victims at all because even today we still have no hate crime legislation in this country.

Today we still fear to simply be ourselves, to dress how we choose or to share an embrace – not only in public but also among those who we may count as friends and neighbours. They too are our murderers; sometimes children as young as 14.

Not only do we fear for our very lives, but we continue to face discrimination all around us. Social media platforms are replete with queerphobic words, threats and slurs with no consequences. Religion continues to be used as an excuse to debase our community in ways that would never be tolerated when it comes to other citizens or groups. Our state dehumanises us in police stations and government offices.

Our community’s plight is a bloody stain spreading across our constitutional democracy and our leadership. We’ve seen a seemingly endless stream of conferences, workshops, task teams and statements but truthfully there has been little action.

South Africa’s Constitution does not just come with rights but also responsibilities, including leading by example. Our great continent is still plagued by LGBTIQ+ hate that has roots in its colonial past; a twisted heritage that we simply refuse to acknowledge or shake off and have misguidedly embraced as African.

Today, we are here to say enough. We are tired of lip service. We are tired of promises. We are tired of excuses. Today we demand the following:

• That by the end of this week (Friday 23 April 2021) the President of the Republic of South Africa unequivocally speaks out, condemns and calls for an end to the violent attacks on the LGBTIQ+ community.

Furthermore, the Government of South Africa must:

• Urgently finalise and enact the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, which was first drafted in 2016 and was approved by Cabinet in 2018.
• Properly fund, resource and restore the functionality of failing entities such as the National and Provincial Task Teams and the Rapid Response Team that were meant to address violence against LGBTIQ+ South Africans.
• Create dedicated LGBTIQ+ Desks in each province to address the needs of LGBTIQ+ citizens.
• Ensure that sensitised and safe shelters are provided or are funded for LGBTIQ+ people who are in crisis in each province.
• Embark on a mass LGBTIQ+ sensitisation programme of government institutions, especially the SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs.
• Speed up proposed changes to South Africa’s identity laws and related government policies to allow LGBTIQ+ individuals to self-identify when it comes to their gender and sex.
• Combat heterosexism on an administrative and government level: This includes providing inclusive forms in all government departments; gender-neutral bathrooms, gender-neutral hospital rooms, and gender-neutral detention centres.

We also demand that Religious, Spiritual and Traditional Leaders and Organisations:

• Speak out and condemn the violence perpetrated against the LGBTIQ+ community as unacceptable and immoral.
• Stop using so-called religious, cultural or traditional values as excuses to exclude or discriminate against members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
• Live the values of our Constitution and actively work to promote the inclusion and acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people in congregations and communities across the country.

We also demand that the South African Media more comprehensively report and speak out on these incidents to raise awareness and provide information to society.

Finally, we demand that all of South Africa’s citizens take responsibility to stamp out the abhorrent queerphobic views and actions of their friends, families and neighbours.

South Africa, enough is enough!

This statement is supported by the following organisations:

• Access Chapter 2 (AC2)
• The Aurum Institute (POP INN)
• Exit
• Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW)
• GALA Queer Archive (GALA)
• Gay and Lesbian Alliance of South Africa (GLASA)
• Gay and Lesbian Network
• Gender and Religion Program at UKZN
• Gender Dynamix
• Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions
• Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM)
• Iranti
• Just Detention International-South Africa (JDI-SA)
• KwaZulu-Natal LGBT Recreation
• Lawyers for Human Rights
• MambaOnline.com
• Matimba
• One in Nine Campaign
• The Other Foundation
• OUT LGBT Well-being
• Pan Africa ILGA
• Parents, Families & Friends of the South African Queers (PFSAQ)
• PASSOP
• PATHSA (Professional Association for Transgender Health South Africa)
• Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA)
• Same Love Toti
• Scope
• Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition
• S.H.E
• The Thami Dish Foundation
• Trans Hope
• Triangle Project
• The Ujamaa Center at UKZN
• Vaal LGBTI
• We’re Queer My Dear (WQMD)

The post Joint Statement: Spate of hate crime murders – LGBTIQ+ people say more needs to be done appeared first on OUT.

OUT LGBT Well-being welcomes the signing of the Civil Union Amendment Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa this week.

First introduced as a private members bill by them MP Deidre Carter in January 2018, the new law repeals Section 6 of the Civil Union Act which allowed state-employed Home Affairs officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples on the grounds of their personal “conscience, religion [or] belief”.

This provision has been identified by LGBTQ activists as an unconstitutional and discriminatory flaw in the Civil Union Act that legalised same-sex marriage and civil unions in South Africa in 2006.

As a result of Section 6, many same-sex couples faced discrimination at Home Affairs offices and some couples were also forced to travel to other provinces because local marriage officers refused to solemnise their unions.

“The signing of this Bill has been a long time coming,” comments OUT’s Hate Crime Manager, Roché Kester, who also manages the Love Not Hate programme.

“The Bill was found desirable by the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee in 2018 but lapsed with the 2019 general elections. When the NCOP passed the bill in July of this year, the LGBTI community waited patiently for six months for President Ramaphosa to since the law and rescind Section 6 of the Civil Union.”

Home Affairs will have a 24-month transitional period wherein those officials who were previously exempt from solemnising same-sex unions will be trained to comply with the new legislation. Each branch must in the meantime ensure that it can offer the service to all.

“This is a definite victory for the LGBTI community and a testament that when the community stands together, great things can be achieved to further the rights of the community and to call out injustice that is discriminatory,” says Kester.

She adds: “We will continue to monitor whether same-sex couples have any difficulties at Home Affairs offices and we will take the necessary action to ensure that the provisions of the Civil Union Amendment Bill are enforced.”

The post OUT applauds signing of the Civil Union Amendment Bill appeared first on OUT.