THE BUZZ “I CANNOT KEEP QUIET” - DESMOND TUTU SPEAKS OUT
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rchbishop Desmond Tutu and equated the anti-LGBT+ laws and violence against members of our community to apartheid.
members literally put their lives on the line, and where anti-LGBT+ rights are currently being enacted by their parliament. Gay sex is already illegal in that country and a new bill in parThe archbishop who is now 90 years old liament targets LGBT+ identity. The and has spent his lifetime fighting for new bill will specifically criminalise citizens rights has been a vocal supported “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, of the LGBTI+ community for many years. transsexual, queer, pansexual, an ally, Not only has he fought for LGBTI+ equal- non-binary, or any other sexual or ity but was a prominent anti-apartheid gender identity that is contrary to the activist, campaigned for rights for women, binary categories of male and female”. especially within the Anglican church and has worked tirelessly for universal Therefore criminalising being LGBT+. suffrage. It will also impact on every aspect of In a recent video for the United Nations queer life, from affirming medical care Free and Equal campaign, the Nobel lau- to even public displays of affection like reate said, in its global campaign against holding hands. homophobia and transphobia, he said, “I have to tell you, I cannot keep quiet when The anti-LGBTI+ lobby is very strong people are penalised for something about and despite objections from western which they can do nothing.” governments and high profile leaders and activists it looks certain to pass. He went on to add, “But more perniciously, more ghastly, is the fact that people In light of this it is important that are penalised, killed, all sorts of ghastly our community motivate our governthings happen to them, simply, solely on ment to object to this discrimination the basis of their sexual orientation. I op- through diplomatic channels and the pose such injustice with the same passion African Union as these draconian laws that I opposed apartheid.” fly in the face of the constitution and what the South African government LGBT+ Rights Ghana shared the video stands for - Equal rights under the law as part of their campaign advocating for for all people regardless of their sexual human rights for queer Ghanaians, whose orientation, religion, race etc. Mag 48
WORLD PRIDE 2025
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nterpride, of which Cape Town Pride is a member, announced on Twitter that “#interpride would like to congratulate #Kaohsiung #Pride, who has won the bid to host WorldPride 2025 in @KaohsiungCity, Taiwan.” Adding that, “InterPride stands for the #humanrights of all our members, including the right to #selfdetermination.” A clear reference to China’s refusal to accept Taiwan as a sovereign nation. It is also not recognised as such at the United Nations. InterPride, however, pointed out that, “Over the past two years, InterPride has been going through an application process to gain consultative status with the #UnitedNations to better serve the global #LGBTQIA+ community.” Adding, “During this time, InterPride worked on aligning with United Nations’ requirements. Not doing so would prevent InterPride from gaining United Nations consultative status. At the same time, we have considered very carefully the overwhelming feedback we recently received.” Their Facebook page does not list Taiwan as a country. InterPride responded to critics, saying “ We are addressing this and need a few more days to design a new artwork and add Taiwan.” In contrast, LGBT Rights Advocacy China announced it was ceasing all activities and shutting down its social media accounts. On hearing the news, Mayor Chen ChiMai of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, tweeted, “As the mayor of Kaohsiung, I am proud and honored that WorldPride will be held here for the very first time in East Asia.”
