Blog: South Africa's townships still not safe for gay, lesbian and transgender p

[SandraJane]

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL



Blog: South Africa's townships still not safe for gay, lesbian and transgender people


October 5, 2012


http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/blog-south-africa-s-townships-still-not-safe-for-gay-lesbian-and-transgender-people


Bontle Khalo is a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights activist in KwaThema — a South African township once known as a haven for the LGBTI community but recently marred by a spate of hate crimes against them. Khalo is a full-time volunteer for the Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee (EPOC), which she co-founded in 2009.

The murders were not too far apart. Girly Nkosi was in 2009, Eudy Simelane was 2008.  Before that, I wouldn't say I was an activist, I also didn't know very much about LGBTI issues. I just knew I was a lesbian woman.

The first reaction was fear. And shock. We didn't know that things like that could happen here in a very close-knit community, a very small community where LGBTI people felt free to be open and outspoken. We also didn't know the term "hate crime". It was never something that we really experienced.

That fear soon became anger. And we were determined to do something about it. We didn't know exactly what. But we knew the feeling that we had, the fear and the anger, that we don't ever want to feel that way again.

[AbraCadabra]

Without wanting to sound facetious, these place are not even save for the cops, never mind the electricity works... etc.

Having said that, I personally ONLY have the absolute best experience and NEVER had ANY issues with either black OR white folks.
They ALWAYS very courteous... I think it might be my age; also I may pass tolerably well too.

Axélle
PS: I have a notion it is a LOT about the fears of cis-folks, 'corrupting' their youth...
I'm not allowed to see my 7 year old granddaughter for this argument/fear.