June is marked as pride month, wherein the rights of the LGBTQIA+ are highlighted. There have been pride parades in South Africa since 1990. These pride parades were historically used for political advocacy protesting against legal discrimination of the LGBTQIA+ community, and for the celebration of equality before the law after the apartheid era.
Busi Kheswa, from Gauteng Department of Social Development says in recent years, pride parades have increasingly been used for political advocacy against LGBTQIA+ hate crimes, such as the so-called corrective rape of lesbians in townships, and to remember victims thereof.
“In the first few months of 2021 there were reports of several hate crimes, that included brutal murders of LGBTQIA+ individuals,”
“This is a clear indication of the levels of intolerance in our communities. These heinous incidents took place across the country, in a democratic country, wherein everyone has the right to exercise their sexuality without being fear of being victimization, intimidation and getting killed,” says Kheswa.
She says the Gauteng Department of Social Development is currently formulating strategies to mainstream LGBTQIA+ needs across all programmes.
“Government has been working with this community, however, acknowledges that a lot more still needs to be done as the LGBTQIA+ community continues to be marginalized, vulnerable and violated in unpreceded levels,” she says.
Kheswa says as responsible citizens, we should put an end to such and learn to co- exist.
“We must uphold the ethos that informed the ideals of a South African society that is non-sexist, non-racial, and equal society as our liberation movement leaders embraced. No one should be targeted because of their sexual orientation.”
