The Buzz: Snippets of news

THE BUZZ

“I CANNOT KEEP QUIET” - DESMOND TUTU SPEAKS OUT WORLD PRIDE 2025

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and equated the anti-LGBT+ laws and violence against members of our community to apartheid.

The archbishop who is now 90 years old and has spent his lifetime fighting for citizens rights has been a vocal supported of the LGBTI+ community for many years. Not only has he fought for LGBTI+ equality but was a prominent anti-apartheid activist, campaigned for rights for women, especially within the Anglican church and has worked tirelessly for universal suffrage.

In a recent video for the United Nations Free and Equal campaign, the Nobel laureate said, in its global campaign against homophobia and transphobia, he said, “I have to tell you, I cannot keep quiet when people are penalised for something about which they can do nothing.”

He went on to add, “But more perniciously, more ghastly, is the fact that people are penalised, killed, all sorts of ghastly things happen to them, simply, solely on the basis of their sexual orientation. I oppose such injustice with the same passion that I opposed apartheid.”

LGBT+ Rights Ghana shared the video as part of their campaign advocating for human rights for queer Ghanaians, whose 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 parliament targets LGBT+ identity. The new bill will specifically criminalise “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, pansexual, an ally, non-binary, or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female”.

Therefore criminalising being LGBT+.

It will also impact on every aspect of queer life, from affirming medical care to even public displays of affection like holding hands.

The anti-LGBTI+ lobby is very strong and despite objections from western governments and high profile leaders and activists it looks certain to pass.

In light of this it is important that our community motivate our government to object to this discrimination through diplomatic channels and the African Union as these draconian laws fly in the face of the constitution and what the South African government stands for - Equal rights under the law for all people regardless of their sexual orientation, religion, race etc. Interpride, 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.”

LGBTI+ GROUP REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Agroup of queer mountaineers recently took photos of themselves waving a rainbow flag at the top of Mont Blanc. The mountain is the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. The display of LGBTQ pride, which took place on 21 September, is part of a visibility campaign called Pink Summits.

The campaign’s aim is for mountaineers to carry a rainbow flag to the highest mountains of each continent, including Everest (the so-called Seven Summits).

They have already scaled Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Besides carrying the flag, the mountaineers document their journey, share their experiences, fund raise for local LGBTQ+ organizations and queer victims of violence, and offer youth mentorship across the globe.

Conquering Everest, the world’s highest peak is the next challenge.

ANTI-GAY MEANS EMPTY STADIUMS

Mexico’s national soccer team will play its next two World Cup qualifying home matches in an empty stadium because of fans who notoriously chant antigay slurs at opposing players.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) revealed the punishment in its most recent disciplinary review, which was released on Monday. It found the Mexican team guilty of “discriminatory behavior by supporters” during games against Canada and Honduras in October. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) was also fined 100,000 Swiss francs (around R1,696,960) for the continued behaviour of its fans.

This is not the first time homophobic chants from Mexico’s fans have caused conflict in the international sporting community. In June, the FMF was fined and ordered to play its next two home matches before empty stadiums, although that punishment was halved to just a single game. (Mexico played in front of an empty stadium at a home game against Jamaica in September.) Azteca Stadium in Mexico City has a listed seating capacity of over 87,000, making it similar to the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Loss of fans in attendance has been estimated to cost the FMF millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The slur hurled by Mexican fans at opposing players refers to “gay men in a derogatory way,” FMF president Yon De Luisa told Yahoo Sports in May. Despite promises by De Luisa and the FMF to bring homophobic fans under control, the problem persists.

SOCIAL MEDIA - A VEHICLE FOR HATE

In an episode of The Simpsons that aired mid-November, Waylan Smithers – Mr. Burns’ assistant – found love, and just in time for for the festive season.

Rob LaZebnik wrote Smithers’ coming out story back in 2016, and with the help of his gay son Johnny, who was the co-writer behind this episode.

In the episode, Smithers falls for a famous fashion designer – voiced by out actor Victor Garber – and as part of a whirlwind romance, the pair travel the world together.

“To be able to work with Johnny on this was, like, such a dream and to be able to see how truly funny and talented he is was just, you know, super fun and rewarding,” LaZebnik said. He also added that his son was the inspiration for the coming out episode.

“I know my dad is a comedy writer. I grew up with him — obviously, I know he’s a funny guy,” Johnny added. “But actually getting to sit down and write jokes with him was so much fun. And there were some moments where I was like, ‘Dad, that’s disgusting — we can’t put that on television,’ which I didn’t expect to be saying because I’m usually the disgusting one.”\

We now have this piece of content that we put into the world together that is a combined brainpower of the two of us.”