Lesbian pride on full display in S.Africa's Soweto
Pastor Dale Morgan
Sunday September 24, 12:33 AM Reuters
*Lesbian pride on full display in S.Africa's Soweto*
By Sarah McGregor
SOWETO, South Africa (Reuters) - Scores of lesbians staged a colourful
march through the streets of South Africa's sprawling Soweto township on
Saturday to declare their rights in a country where they are often
victims of sexual violence.
South Africa's constitution is the first in the world to recognise gay
rights and it is poised to become the first African country to recognise
homosexual marriage.
But rights groups say attacks on gays and lesbians have increased this
year, which show that while the government recognises their rights the
message has not filtered down to all South Africans.
Human Rights Watch reported a rising number of hate crimes against
lesbians following the death of a young woman earlier this year who was
beaten with golf clubs and bricks, then stabbed by boys in Cape Town's
Khayelitsha township.
"The march is a way to say we're here to stay. We're not going to wake
up tomorrow and not be gay anymore," said Ayanda Magudulela, 20, of
Forum for the Empowerment of Women, a black pro-lesbian group based in
the Soweto.
"Even five years ago this wouldn't have happened and now here we stand
today."
There was a festive vibe as 40 women took to the paved roads of Soweto,
a sprawling black township southwest of Johannesburg, where the parade
drew a few curious looks and some heckles.
One participant donned cow skins, dress traditionally reserved for Zulu
men, while others chanted and hoisted placards reading: "A lesbian with
HIV/AIDS is still my sister" and "Raping me won't make me straight."
A perception among many on the African continent is that homosexuality
is an "un-African" lifestyle that was brought over by white colonial men.
"For me, I don't mind them. But I do think it's strange, very strange,"
said Rosemary Dlamini, 18, as she watched the colourful parade from the
front lawn of her home.
"Old people think they are a bad influence and will encourage us to be
with someone of the same gender," said onlooker Hope Sithole, 15, who
added men dressed in skimpy skirts and wigs are a common site in the
community.
"I'm not all for gay people but I accept it and what they do doesn't
bother me. It's their right to be themselves."
The rally marked the second year Soweto played host to "Mini Pride," in
the lead-up to the much bigger Gay Pride parade in Johannesburg that
takes place later this month.
It comes as South Africa is set to become the first country in Africa to
allow homosexual marriage under proposed legislation being studied by
parliament that gives same sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones.
The constitutional court gave parliament one year to change the law
after ruling it was unconstitutional to forbid gay people the right to
marry.
Organizers of the march were disappointed with the low turnout but said
they hope attendance to rise in what is expected to become an annual event.
"The constitution has been adopted and it's the law of the land to for
people to have their own sexual orientation," said Wilson Matsangu, as
he sipped a beer outside the park where demonstrators gathered for
refreshments and speeches.
"They are human beings before they are labelled gays and lesbians."