Today, 29 June 2022, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape celebrated Pride Month by leading a march in Nelson Mandela Bay.
I was joined by DA EC Deputy Provincial Leader, Chantel King, MP, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and local activists in marching to City Hall. (see pictures here, here, here and here)
There has never been a better time or opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the rights of all people, particularly vulnerable and minority groups like the LGBTQIA+ community.
The South African Constitution is one of the most progressive enabling statutory frameworks to allow for the legal realisation of the human rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, but it is still not their reality.
Members of this community face many challenges. Those that are tasked to assist them are the very ones that do not provide adequate and appropriate services.
We have compiled a memorandum that demands of national, provincial and local government to consider the following to promote, fulfil and protect the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community:
- Take steps to prevent homophobic attacks and to make the relevant information available, so that South Africans are aware of the dangers of hate crimes.
- A national education campaign to allow individuals to be more knowledgeable about the LGBTQIA+ community and their specific needs.
- Legislation and policies should use more inclusive language, such as gender-neutral pronouns, to allow for inclusivity.
- Administrative forms should allow for self-identification of biological sex and gender identity.
I will be submitting this memorandum to the offices of the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, and Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Eugene Johnson.
The DA is committed to the fight for and protection of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community of South Africa.