CURRENT AFFAIRS

PROTEST RAISING THE DRINKING AGE

We are supposed to be a free society, where we can dress as women if we want, and have a damn drink if we want! Raising the drinking age from 18 to 21 is a ridiculous and condescending move on the part of our government, yet they seem intent on steaming ahead with the Liquor Amendment Bill, the Free Market Foundation reports. All of us should resist this tyrannical law from coming to fruition, as it will be taking away the rights of individuals who are deemed mature enough to vote, marry, choose their own careers, and enter into contracts. If passed, alcohol might only be advertised between 10 PM and 6 AM in addition to raising the legal drinking age. Trade and industry minister Rob Davies has argued that the human brain only fully develops in the mid-twenties. To which Temba Nolutshungu from the FMF said, “Why doesn’t he apply this reasoning to people joining the army or people getting married at the age of 18? He has to be consistent. It just doesn’t make sense.” Besides these issues, this law would only force those aged between 18 to 21 to drink in secret and in uncontrolled environments. The fact of the matter is that it will just be ignored, as it is in other parts of the world, and it will become a needless leech on the taxpaying wallet of South Africa. Twinks should also be allowed to have a good time.

BIANCA DEL RIO IN SA

Who the best of the best is from Rupaul’s Drag Race is a contentious issue amongst the gay community, but if anyone tries denying that Bianca Del Rio is way at the top of the heap, they are sorely mistaken. And she is coming to see her fans right here in South Africa. When it comes to insult comics, Bianca is in a class of her own. Fierce, funny, and fabulous – a would-be love child sired by John Waters and birthed by Joan Rivers – Bianca sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Thanks to her snarky frankness, impeccable comedic timing, and politically incorrect humour, she became the show’s breakout star, winning its sixth season. In Blame It On Bianca Del Rio, Bianca shares her opinions loudly and proudly, offering raucous, hilarious, no-holdsbarred commentary on the everyday annoyances, big and small, that colour her world, and make it a living, albeit amusing, hell for anyone who inhabits it. A collection of biting advice from Bianca’s twisted universe, Blame It On Bianca Del Rio will shock you and keep you laughing. But be warned: it is not for the faint of heart! Performances on 10 August at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town and at The Teatro at Montecasino on 11 August. Better get those tickets because they won’t be hanging around waiting for you!

YOUNG HEROES TACKLING CYBERBULLYING South Africa has the fourth highest rate of cyberbullying in the world, with 24% of teens experiencing it in some form, and what’s more, gay teens experience nearly three times the harassment online. This according to a global study by Mental Health America. Results found that cyberbullying made teens feel depressed and helpless with some even experiencing suicidal thoughts. With gay youth being more than twice as likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol to cope with stress, two and a half times more likely to harm themselves and three times more likely to attempt suicide, the potential impacts on them are so much more severe. Riaan Norval is the project manager for Young Heroes – a campaign run by Anova Health Institute and funded by the Elton John Aids Foundation that aims to empower adolescent youth, especially young gay and bisexual men, by equipping them with information, safe spaces, resources and a supportive community. The project also ensures they have access to healthcare, including mental health support. Find out more at www.youngheroes.co.za

KEEP THE RAINBOWS, GIVE US REPRESENTATION

By WOUTER LOMBARD Internationally, brands like Banana Republic and Tiffany has successfully featured same sex couples and gay audiences in their advertising as part of an attempt to be more inclusive. And yet South Africa, famed for our diversity, continues to represent homosexuals either as clichés or stereotypes. This has to change. Marketing budgets need to work extra hard these days. And the gay audience is very much a niche market. Put these two facts together, and it’s understandable why so few brands have created advertising specifically targeting it. That’s fine. I don’t expect brands to reach out to every single market segment – funds simply don’t allow. What’s not fine, though, is that our ‘normal’, mainstream media is noteworthy for its lack of inclusivity. This means that gay people – especially young gay people – seldom (if ever) see anyone whom they can identify with, either on screen, on radio or in print. Apart from further isolating young people struggling with issues of identity, it also skews heterosexuals’ view of what it means to be gay, because they have very few references – and that only further fuels the stigmas. One of the problems here is that big brands want to play it safe. They’ll avoid anything contentious, in case it alienates their audience. In this instance, it means keeping the gay community out of advertising. And, when they do include us, they often do so in a way that isn’t quite appropriate. Gays and lesbians are either stereotyped (think of the flamboyantly camp Harold of the Netflorist campaign), or used as comic relief – or, the attempt at normalisation gets

A Banana Republic ad campaign including a gay couple

buried under hype (remember how 7de Laan’s onscreen gay kiss in 2017 actually made headlines?) Most often, it’s treated as niche advertising for a niche market, appearing only in niche media – such as gay publications. Or, most egregious of all, the gay and lesbian characters included in advertising have little going for them besides their sexuality – it’s as if they have no purpose besides, well, being gay. So, what needs to change? For a start, it would be great if a big brand with a big budget stepped forward to show the rest how it should be done. As for how it should be done: the answer is, with authenticity. I don’t simply want ‘gay ads’ aimed at me because I am gay. I don’t want everyday products repackaged with a big gay bow just so that they can appeal to my ‘pink rand’. And I don’t want to have to seek out gay publications or go to gay events in order to find messaging that appeals to me or see other people who are like me. Instead, I want advertisers to recognise that being gay is the least interesting thing about me. I want normal ads, which just so happen to feature gay people. Advertisers are losing out on a chance to tap into real, powerful insights about the community. Ideally, we would see greater representation throughout all media, not just in advertising – especially in a country as diverse as South Africa. So, let’s start the conversation. Let’s throw away those stereotypes – and start creating content that displays society in all its real, diverse glory. After all, it’s our diversity that lies behind the magic that is the Rainbow Nation. So let’s not forget the rainblow flag either.

GAUTV’s GAY PROGRAMME TO HELP GAY PEOPLE COME OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES

I Was In The Closet, a gay focussed programme chronicling people’s coming out stories on DSTV channel 265 will be around for another season. The show allows the audience to experience this wholesome approach both as religious and spiritual members of the gay community. I Was In The Closet season two will see Reverend Dr. Tebo Moema more on the ground in communities assisting members of the gay community who wish to come out to their parents, family and loved ones. As such, members from the gay community who would like to come out to their family members – either to their parents or sibling/s – are invited to email their contact details through to ngwako@gautv.co.za.