The culture of the chiefs is a set-back for gender and sexual rights 1

The Traditional Courts Bill that is presently being debated in provincial public hearings spells danger for our democracy, and particularly for the exercise of gender and sexual rights in rural areas. The Bill, which establishes a separate legal system for people living in the former Bantustans, will undermine the advances made by women and gays and lesbians in post-apartheid South Africa.

In their claim on the monopoly to determine what constitutes ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’, traditional leaders have historically resisted equality rights on the basis of sexuality and gender.

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Posted on: 04-18-2012

Attention to violence must challenge masculinity, not entrench it 6

David Benatar’s recent opinions on violence against women and men published in the Cape Times reveal a politics that undermines gender equality and entrenches masculinist thinking (download articles here and here). Benatar questions why particular attention is afforded violence against women when more men are the victims of violent crimes. He argues that the emphasis on violence against women represents an assertion of “special rights” for women and accuses those that defend this emphasis of a “special pleading”.

Benatar poses the question, “When we are asked repeatedly ‘Why women and children [are victims of violence]?’, we should equally be asked ‘Why men?’ However, he offers no response to his own question. Instead he uses this question as a ploy to launch an attack on initiatives combating violence against women and on the gender equality principles that inform them.

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Posted on: 02-14-2012

HIV moralism and ‘tata ma chance’ testing won’t help women 2

Helen Zille’s recent call for the criminalisation of HIV transmission and her launch of a ‘tata ma chance’-style HIV testing campaign in the Western Cape undermines HIV prevention and care strategies, particularly for women.

The net effect of criminalising HIV transmission would be to undo gains made in destigmatising HIV. It would promote the moralising of sexuality, specifically of those living with HIV, the majority of whom are women. This is significant precisely because the eradication of HIV stigma is key to the success of present voluntary testing and treatment programmes. Moralising discourses on sex are a breeding ground for blame on the basis of notions of ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent victims’ of HIV, which drives disclosure underground.  Already marginalised groups (such as foreign immigrants, gay men, sex workers and people living with HIV/AIDS) will bear the brunt of this blame.

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Posted on: 12-1-2011

When prejudice is peddled as ‘tradition’ 0

There is a long tradition of institutionalised prejudice and inequality in South Africa related to class, race, gender and sexuality. The power structures required to keep prejudice in place are still a prominent feature of the post-apartheid landscape. Certain institutions of ‘tradition’ and ‘culture’, like that of some religions, continue to perpetuate discriminatory social systems and practices. One such institution is the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL).

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Posted on: 10-7-2011

Mogoeng vs Sluts and Others 10

Joining the dots between Judge Mogoeng, Slutwalkers and gay and lesbian people feels oddly uncomfortable. This discomfort has to do with what waits in the wings at the Constitutional Court should Mogoeng be appointed as Chief Justice. Some of Mogoeng’s past judgments and present associations are alarming to anyone committed to the ongoing struggles towards dignity, equality, and freedom for women and LGBT people. As active citizens we have a responsibility to ensure proper legal and social scrutiny of Mogoeng’s suitability to hold an office which is a key custodian of the Constitution.

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Posted on: 08-29-2011

What little girls/boys are made of 2

According to the nursery rhyme…

Frogs and snails,
And puppy-dogs’ tails;
That’s what little boys are made of.

Sugar and spice,
And all that’s nice;
That’s what little girls are made of.

And you can guess who gets to wear pink, and who blue.

There have been a number of reports lately of parents who are attempting to raise their children in ways that disrupt the normative classifications of sex and gender. One such case involves a Canadian couple who has elected not to publicly make known their child’s sex. They are dressing the child, known as Storm, in a gender-neutral fashion in the hope that s/he will one day make their own decision about their gender identity.

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Posted on: 07-26-2011

Asmal, a cadre for queer rights (and a rude citizenry!) 3

Last week South Africans bade farewell to a person of passion and inspiring impertinence. Kader Asmal inspired me for many reasons, amongst which was his unfaltering commitment to advancing and defending the rights of people whose sexualities don’t conform to the norm.

His stance became all the more important in recent years when many of our political leaders had been resolutely mum about violations committed against LGBT people despite laws and court judgements that affirm the right to non-discrimination.

In contrast, Kader let himself be counted as an outspoken ally and cadre in the cause of human rights for all. His ability to give meaning and substance to our Constitutional project through language inspired my own activism.

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Posted on: 06-29-2011

South Africa’s change of tongue at UN? 1

On the 17th June an unprecedented resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity was passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. Remarkably, South Africa led the charge as key sponsor of the resolution.

The new resolution is an overdue change of tongue* after extremely concerning anti-LGBT positions and statements by South Africa’s public representatives at the domestic and international level. I hope President Zuma’s homophobic ambassador to Uganda, Jon Qwelane, took notes from Ambassador JM Matjila in Geneva — and I trust that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s letter recalling one Qwelane is in the diplomatic overnight bag.

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Posted on: 06-20-2011

Sunday Times sexism and homophobia should not go unchallenged 6

I was outraged to read Sunday Times columnist, Ndumiso Ngcobo’s, article titled “No, we can’t be friends”. It is both homophobic and sexist. I put pen to paper outlining the reasons for my objection to the column and its publication, and submitted this in letter form to the Sunday Times (see below). The paper chose not to publish the letter thereby closing down the space for the matter to be publicly debated and neatly avoiding public criticism of the editorial decision to run with the offending article. Perhaps the Sunday Times thinks Ngcobo deserves the last word on the matter? Or that it is perfectly acceptable for the paper to turn a blind eye to its own role in propping up dangerous discourses that perpetuate gender roles and myths of the worst kind?

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Posted on: 06-6-2011

Voting is not enough – we need queer voice 6

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) but I am not holding my breath waiting for outpourings of concern and commitment about homophobic violence by the political parties of the day. Still, they are of course, despite our queerness, eager for our votes.

At a recent election public debate at Idasa I posed the following questions to representatives of all the major political parties in Cape Town: What is your position on the on-going violence meted out to LGBTI people? What do you have to say to those voters with non-conforming sexualities and genders as to whether they are a part of the city of Cape Town, as much as the next person?

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Posted on: 05-17-2011
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