Francesca Villette
IT IS possible that one day, gay and lesbian people may walk freely in their communities without fearing for their lives.
What needs to change, in order to make this happen, are people’s mindsets and tolerance, Free Gender spokesperson Funeka Soldaat said yesterday after a successful Khumbulani Pride march at the weekend.
Soldaat said that marches and events in communities were important as these raised awareness, and was a way to open dialogue about gender and sexuality.
On Saturday, about 500 people took to the streets of Langa, participating in the fourth annual Khumbulani Pride march.
“Khumbulani” means remembrance in isiXhosa.
The march aimed to raise awareness about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA) community.
It also remembered LGBTIQA members who fell victim to hate crime.
This included the brutal murders of Zoliswa Nkonyane, Nontsikelelo Tyatyeka and Waldo Bester.
“The message got out there: LGBTIQA people are still people, they are still Africans. People must stop attacking them because they might disapprove of their sexuality.
“Lots of people were surprised to see us marching – surprised in a good way. That shows that it is possible for us all to love another, regardless of sexuality.
“The march unified people for a day, but in future, it hopes to unify communities as a whole,” said Soldaat.
She added that the march took place in close conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, observed last Tuesday to acknowledge violations against LGBTIQA people worldwide.
In 2013, the march was held in Gugulethu, in 2014, in Samora Machel, and last year, in Khayelitsha.
Soldaat said the organisers wanted this year’s march to be held in Manenberg, but due to continuing gang violence in the area, they were advised against it.
@FrancescaJaneV