HOMOPHOBIA STILL RAISING ITS UGLY HEAD People around the world face violence and inequality— and sometimes torture, even execution—because of who they love, how they look, or who they are.
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n this day and age, particularly in the liberated western world where a person’s sexual identity should no longer an issue, more and more often we are hearing reports of homophobia and homophobic attacks on the LGBTQI+ community. Here in South Africa, homophobic attacks are commonplace with transgender violence and violence against lesbians, particularly black lesbians, continues unabated. This year alone there have been a number of murders of transgender members of our community and despite repeated calls and petitions for the government to declare homophobia a hate crime, they continue to drag their heels. Human rights and LGBTI+ organisations are calling for the government to enact the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill B9 of 2019 — that would help protect marginalised groups from hate, bias, prejudice, or intolerance. In his Freedom Day address President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to condemn homophobia, after a spate of homophobic murders rocked the country and sparked nationwide protests. “This is something we should be deeply ashamed of. I want to send a very strong message that hate crime will not be tolerated in our society,” Ramaphosa said. “Those behind these crimes will be found and brought to book,” Mag 32
