OUT LGBT Well-being (OUT) has dedicated a portion of the funds it received from the Steve Hofmeyr hate speech settlement to support a non-profit LGBTIQ+ organisation in the Eastern Cape.
OUT recently donated R20,000 to assist Sibanye LGBT in maintaining their operations during challenging times. The funds will contribute to settling outstanding rent and covering other costs.
Sibanye LGBT, based in Uitenhage, is a community-based organisation that provides HIV-related services and advocates for and empowers the local LGBTIQ+ community. The dedicated team comprises 12 staff members and volunteers who work diligently on the front lines.
“We firmly believe that the Steve Hofmeyr settlement should be utilised for the advancement of the LGBTIQ+ community, particularly those facing the greatest need,” emphasised Sibonelo Ncanana, OUT’s Human Rights Coordinator in Gqeberha.
Expressing gratitude for the support from OUT, Thembisa Jonas, Director of Sibanye LGBT, stated, “This financial assistance will greatly contribute to sustaining our organisation and enable us to continue addressing the needs of our community.”
In March 2023, OUT was awarded R100,000 as part of the settlement with Steve Hofmeyr, following a lawsuit filed by the South African Human Rights Commission in the Equality Court. The legal action was prompted by Hofmeyr’s anti-LGBTIQ+ discriminatory statements made on social media in April 2022.
As part of the agreement, Hofmeyr also issued an unconditional apology to the LGBTIQ+ community on his social media platforms for his hurtful and offensive remarks. OUT plans to allocate the remaining funds to crucial initiatives and projects in support of the LGBTIQ+ community.