|
|
We are outraged!
It has been 25 years since the Constitution of South Africa was adopted in 1996, and sadly the implementation of our Constitution has failed us, the LGBTIQ+ communities, our parents, families and friends. While South Africa was celebrating Freedom Day on 27 April, LGBTIQ+ communities here have been overwhelmed and plagued by several horrendous murders of young queer individuals. These young lives have been brutally snuffed out, leaving parents, families, friends, and communities in mourning. Their loss is our loss.
They were someone’s daughter/son, brother/sister, friend, neighbour, and a member of the community. These gruesome hate crimes have left our celebrations ringing hollow – whose freedom are we celebrating? The silence of the religious communities on this matter, as I reflect on it, is an indictment of complicity. As an LGBTIQ+ collective, we’ve responded by inviting ALL who believe that all life is sacred, equal, worthy of dignity and living freely to join our cause by stating Enough is Enough – stop the violence! We have also invited religious leaders, government representatives and individuals to speak out against these crimes – thanks to everyone that has contributed a video to this effort to raise our collective voices. As we join together to observe the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) on 17 May, we encourage you to raise YOUR voice by creating your own #EnoughIsEnough video and sharing it with us, as well as speaking up in our daily lives to condemn any form of violence against the LGBTIQ+ people, women and children.
Internally at IAM, we are in a transition period on our Board. We bid a fond farewell and thank you to Alan Storey, our outgoing Chairperson, for volunteering his time and energy to help chart IAM’s past, present and future growth. We congratulate and welcome Tashwill Esterhuizen as the newly elected chair, and Lauren Matthews as a new board member. We are grateful and excited to have them part of the board, each brings their unique talents, expertise and perspectives to help further IAM’s mission.
Also this past month, the IAM team had an extremely enlightening information session on sex work and vulnerabilities, facilitated by a representative from SWEAT & Sonke Gender Justice. Conversations like this one offer a glimpse into the complexity and vulnerabilities that sex workers endure daily. It reminds me of the story of Rahab, the sex worker in the Bible (Joshua 2) who rescued the spies. She is mentioned as one of the ancestors of Jesus in Matthew 1:5. Sex workers' lives are worthy of dignity and lawful protection– they are sacred.
We are reminded that we are still in the pandemic, let us not lower our guard. Keep a close eye on our Facebook page regarding our current activities and how you can join us in our cause. May our positive thoughts, actions and prayers propel us into an equitable and safe future for all.
Be safe,
| |
| |
Ecclesia de Lange
Director, IAM
| |
|
#EnoughisEnough: Faith leaders denounce LGBTIQ+ Hate Crimes
Over the past several months, a fresh series of brutal hate crimes have torn through the South African LGBTIQ+ community. Together IAM and faith leadership call for the end to the violence against the LGBTIQ+ community.
| |
‘You are Muted, Unmute Yourself:’ An Open Letter to South African Church Leaders on the Plight of the LGBTIQ+ People
It is a silent genocide! People whose sexuality is diverse and whose gender identities do not conform to heteronormativity - namely, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-diverse, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) people - are on the receiving end of barbarism in South Africa. We are stirred by this horrifying development to pen down this open letter to you, gravely disturbed that you are invisible, inactive, and muted as this evil unfolds.
| |
Enough is enough: Rev. Stephen Nicholson
Rev. Stephen Nicholson from Kuils River Community Church appeals to South Africans to stop the killings and violence against the LGBTIQ+ community.
| |
Enough is enough: Imam Muhsin Hendricks
Imam Muhsin Hendricks calls on South Africans to stop the killings and put an end to gender-based violence.
| |
Enough is enough: Rev. Beulah Durheim
Rev. Beulah Durheim from the Good Hope MBC says: "And so we want to state that all these rejections, exclusions, tortures, rapes and murders must stop!"
| |
Enough is enough: Rev. Ecclesia de Lange
Rev. Ecclesia de Lange, Director of Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM), appeals to all religious leaders, the South African government and all citizens, to speak out against the hideous crimes that have been plaguing the LGBTIQ+ community in South Africa over the past couple of months.
| |
|
|
|
|
