Press Release

JWG Outraged by Hate Speech Against Lesbians and Gays

The Joint Working Group (JWG) a network representing 24 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) organizations throughout South Africa was outraged by a column that appeared in the Sunday Sun on 20 July 2008 (Call me names, but gay is not ok) that is filled with hate speech against lesbian and gay people.

The column is filled with vitriolic rhetoric aimed against lesbians and gays. It also promotes the denial of the basic human rights of lesbian and gay people. We are deeply offended that Jon Qwelane wrote such a piece and that the Sunday Sun published it alongside an equally offensive cartoon.

The Joint Working Group is of the view that the article exceeds the bounds of free speech in terms of the Constitution as it advocates hatred on the grounds of a person’s preference for having relationships with members of the same sex.

The Joint Working Group was specifically angered by the following:

· The “cartoon” accompanying the article falls in the worst tradition of the discriminatory caricature, with the insidious suggestion that same-sex relationships are akin to bestiality;

· The article continuously makes derogatory reference to gay and lesbian people solely based on their sexual orientation;

· The article is offensive to women;

· Qwelane’s approval of the abhorrent human rights abuses being perpetuated against LGBTI people in Zimbabwe as a result of Robert Mugabe’s “approach” is disgraceful.

· The writer shows a total disregard for the South African Human Rights Commission which is the structure legally mandated to protect human rights of all South Africans.

We cannot ignore the context in which such a column is occurring. The decision to publish this article was particularly irresponsible in light of the growing trend of well-publicised hate crimes (including rape and murder) perpetrated against LGBTI people in South Africa today. Views such as those of Qwelane stoke the flames of homophobia and, inevitably, lead to violence against all those who are marginalised and stigmatised in our communities’.

In light of the scandalous slander of an entire community, the JWG has decided, along with like minded organisations, immediately to lay an official complaint before the South African Human Rights Commission and the Press Ombudsman. It will also consider all other legal options for taking this matter forward so as to ensure that the poisonous pen of a writer such as Qwelane does not imperil the rights of all LGBTI people in South Africa.

For more information contact the JWG or a member organisation in your area.

Emily Craven
Coordinator
Joint Working Group
011 403 5566
011 403 5567
[email][email protected]

Activate WITS

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Coalition of African Lesbians

Durban Gay and Lesbian Community

D Gayle

Forum for the Empowerment of Women

Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action

Gay and Lesbian Network (PMB)

Gender Dynamix

Glorious Light MCC

Good Hope MCC

Hope and Unity MCC

IAM

Jewish Outlook

Out in Africa

OUT LGBT Well-being

OUT Rhodes

Rainbow UCT

SAYLO

The Inner Circle

Lesbian and Gay Equality Project

Triangle Project

Unisa Centre for Applied Psychology

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Organizations are planning a picket outside the newspaper’s offices next Tuesday but are awaiting permission from the Metro Police. We will forward to details as soon as they are confirmed. In addition, complaints have been laid with the Human Rights Commission, the Commission on Gender Equality and the Press Ombudsman.

We hope you will join us in condemning this hateful and homophobic display. Write about it, flood the fax of the paper, send your support to our complaint to the HRC and CGE and join us in the protest action.