Millicent Gaika is a young lesbian who in 2013 got beaten and raped because some men wanted to prove she wasn’t male. Lindo Cele, a very young up-and-coming artist with an angelic voice, got stabbed several times in the early morning in Durban Umlazi township*4 while the community people just watched. If they were straight, would they have died such brutal deaths? Sad, but it’s reality.
In the eyes of the world, South Africa is regarded as a country with a strong constitution that protects and safeguards the rights of human dignity, which include LGBTIQ+ rights. But as I wrote above, this is not necessarily the case. Why do we still have to advocate for our inherent rights? Although there has undoubtedly been progress in recognizing those human rights, including LGBTIQ+ labor rights, we are still fighting a battle that we ought to win—gender equality.
Even where legal protection is in place, reality hasn’t really changed. The LGBTIQ+ community continues to endure so much discrimination in the workplace and society. While the urban areas are mostly tolerant, in the townships, you will often find brutal killings and human rights violations of the gay community, which is truly sad to say. As a gay man born and raised in a township, I was too afraid of discrimination to speak up for my community. Most of us conceal our sexuality or gravitate toward departments that have a tolerant working environment. But what I’m looking for isn’t tolerance; it’s acceptance. For example, I want to be able to walk with my same-sex partner, holding hands, and not worrying about what the next person will say or do to me. I want to realize a world where this mentality spreads to more and more countries, and the rights of LGBTIQ+ are protected at a higher level. A country that respects and celebrates human life irrespective of sexual orientation or gender. An Africa that we all can live in and share her fruits without being subjected to discrimination. That is my dream.
We live in a time of moral relativism, where differences of philosophical ideologies about our inherent values and beliefs tend to contradict constitutional values and objectives. That’s why I want to make a difference through education and awareness about the protection of human dignity at all ends of society.
My dream continues…