The Joint Working Group (JWG) includes Behind the Mask, Durban Lesbian and Gay Community Centre, Forum for the Empowerment of Women,

 Gay and Lesbian Archives, OUT, Triangle Project

and Unisia Centre for Applied Psychology.

Gay and Lesbian Organisations Call for an End to Violence

Statement from the Joint Working Group of South Africa

February 23, 2006 - The Joint Working Group (JWG), a collaboration of 7 non-profit organisations and partners working towards equal rights and access for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa, would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Zoliswa Nkonyana, the young lesbian reportedly killed by a group of young people in Khayelitsha two weeks ago.

The fact that she was killed close to her own home, in her own community, only because she was a lesbian, points to a very strong need for all of us as South Africans, our communities and our leaders to start dialogue and action that puts an end to intolerance, discrimination, and violence - whether it is based on sexual orientation, religious, racial or any form of prejudice. 

19-year-old Zoliswa was the most recent victim of a long history of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since 1994, most discriminatory laws in South Africa have been repealed, including those that unfairly discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. But according to a research report published by the Pretoria-based organisation Out, under the auspices of the JWG, the human rights of LGBTI people are still under threat in South Africa.  A survey of 410 LGBTI individuals in KZN found that in 2004/ 2005 45% had experienced verbal harassment and 18% experienced physical abuse/assault because of their sexual orientation. In their schooling, 55% had experienced verbal harassment and 34% had experienced physical assault. Few are willing to report incidents to the police or school authorities for fear of further harassment. These high numbers clearly indicate a need for stronger policies in schools and in the justice system to combat violence.

“Changes to South Arican laws and somewhat greater openness in mostly urban areas have increased the visibility of lesbian and gay youth,” said Ruth Morgan, Director of the Gay and Lesbian Archives, “Ironically, this has also placed young lesbians at an even increased risk of rape and violent attacks, often intended to be punitive or corrective because of their sexual orientation.”

The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) runs a campaign titled "The Rose Has Thorns" against hate crimes directed at black lesbians, particularly those living in townships. The campaign includes community interventions involving public education workshops and self-defense training for the women at risk in the Gauteng province. The Triangle Project runs an Educator’s Awareness programme to help build the capacity of teachers to deal with sexual diversity, and the Gay and Lesbian Archives has published a book for use in schools that helps young people to understand sexual orientation and is currently working with OUT and the Department of Education to address these issues in schools.

However, if we are going to change attitudes and ensure that rights that are enshrined in our Constitution have real meaning on the ground,  there must be commitment at all levels of society, in our health services, justice system, community groups, and as individuals to reject intolerance and violence in every form. The Joint Working group calls on all people, particularly those in leadership positions, to denounce discrimination and violence on the grounds of sexual orientation and to call for greater tolerance of diversity. In particular, we call on:

·          The South African Police Force to aggressively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the murder of Zoliswa Nkonyana

·          The Ministry of Education/  schools to incorporate diversity and tolerance into school curriculums.

·          Community and religious leaders to denounce violence and discrimination to their memberships.

For more information, research, fact sheets and interviews, please contact:

Dawie Nel - Director, Out and Interim Co-ordinator JWG

director@out.org.za