Zara Nicholson
Metro Writer
LESBIAN activist group Free Gender said it was disappointed when the city initially declined a donation of books about lesbians in townships for libraries in Khayelitsha, but AgangSA intervened and it accepted the offer.
Rivers of Life addresses lesbianism and aims to raise awareness in townships where homophobia is rife.
Founder of Free Gender, Funeka Soldaat, who was raped because she is a lesbian, wrote the book with seven other lesbians in which they tell their experiences of homophobia in townships. The book was launched in November.
Soldaat said they approached the city last year to donate books to five libraries in Khayelitsha. Officials told them policy did not allow donations from the public.
“We expected that they might want to check it first and if they declined then we would’ve understood if they gave a reason, but they did not even read it. It was really sad and bad of them. I just couldn’t understand that they declined without reading it.”
Soldaat said a member of AgangSA wrote to the city and later told Free Gender that the city would accept the donation.
“It’s frustrating that it had to happen with a political organisation getting involved.”
Mayoral committee member for community services and special projects Belinda Walker said: “We would like to state upfront that the city does not discriminate against individuals based on their sexuality.”
She said the city encouraged book donations and this was guided by the Collection Development Plan, available on the city’s website.
Walker said copies of Rivers of Life would be givento Nazeema Isaacs library in Makhaza, Khayelitsha tomorrow.