Ov issue 1 issuu by Keith Coventry

ONE VOICE THE FREE VOICE OF THE LGBTI COMMUNITY IN THE WESTERN CAPE

SA’s GOLDEN GIRL Caster Semneya South Africa’s openly gay, gold medal winning athlete

SOMIZI MHLONGO “OUT” in Africa

FREE

Issue 1 , 2017

PRIDE

23 February - 3 March

LOVE HAPPENS HERE

...AS WELL

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

www.capetownpride.org email: matthew@capetownpride.org

WELCOME

Welcome message

PATRICIA DE LILLE

“

EXECUTIVE MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN I hope to see ONE VOICE as a platform for many diverse voices that tackles the issues which affect the LGBTI+ community. Cape Town and South Africa belongs to all who live in it and we as citizens must live that promise enshrined in our Constitution.

I am excited to see ONE VOICE hit the streets of Cape Town. As part of building an inclusive city we want to see more initiatives which ensures that everyone feels a sense of belonging and celebrate our diversity - it is what makes us who we are.

So come Cape Town residents, let’s see you take to your pen and paper, phone, computer giving life to ONE VOICE.”

I am encouraged to see the start of a publication that wants to increase knowledge and awareness about the LGBTI+ community. As we build on our inclusive and caring city efforts, it’s wonderful to see that OUTReach Africa is also promoting conversations aimed at understanding and acceptance amongst all our communities.

WELCOME

Welcome message

DR JAMES McINTYRE CEO ANOVA HEALTH INSTITUTE for LGBTQIA+ people to showcase their thoughts, feelings and experiences can provide comfort and support to other people in the community. It can be incredibly soothing to know that you are not the only person who feels the way that you do.

he most powerful way that we can assist marginalised or vulnerable communities is to create platforms that allow them to have a voice. LGBTQIA+ communities are vulnerable to prejudice and stigma, and this is often due to ignorance. Sadly, many fear what they do not understand, but by speaking up and sharing who we are, we can help others to understand us better. When we are given a voice, we have an opportunity to speak our truth and express our humanity. We also provide those exposed to what we share with an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of diversity, differing realities and extend them an invitation to connect from a place of more understanding and compassion.

Anova Health Institute leverages many publications and social media platforms to promote a sense of community and provide resources that we hope will empower members of the LGBTQIA+ community to remain healthy or seek treatment if they need to. There can never be enough platforms giving a voice to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I wish ONE VOICE every success in providing us with another opportunity to speak up.

There is great power in creating a sense of community and solidarity. Publications that provide a safe space

CONTENTS THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

ISSUE 1

Meet Tiara Skye Harwood

NGO

FEATURES 22 SOMIZI MHLONGO “OUT IN AFRICA” 32 CASTER SEMENYA “GOLDEN GIRL”

NPO’s & NGO’s 1 3 4 6 7 8 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 24 25 25 27 28

WELCOME MESSAGE OUTREACH AFRICA GALA - GAY & LESBIAN MEMORY IN ACTION PRIDE SHELTER TRUST PASSOP ANOVA HEALTH4MEN THE INNER CIRCLE THE TRIANGLE PROJECT SCALABRINI CENTRE YOUNG HEROES STOP BULLYING RAINBOW UTC THE DESMOND TUTU FOUNDATION HEALTH4TRANS ANOVA HEALTH4TRANS LESBIGAY STELLENBOSCH SWEAT THE ENHANCING CARE FOUNDATION

REGULARS 34 SPORT - JOZI CATS 36 FOCUS ON FILM “MOONLIGHT” 37 SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC 38 HEALTH ISSUES 40 DIRECTORY

2017

Tiara Skye Harwood is one of Cape Town’s best known drag performers. I met with her to discover more about her and to chat about her decision to transition.

FEATURE

Mag 6

22 34

PUBLISHED BY: OUTREACH AFRICA NPO: 157-896 Printed by: ABC Press, Cape Town Tel: 021 555 12749 outreachafrica@telkomsa.net

REGULAR

36 OUTREACH AFRICA AGM 6PM - FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 HEARTACHE & VINE 130 MAIN ROAD, SEA POINT

OUTREACH AFRICA

CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2017:

UTReach Africa has had a bumper 12 months with multiple events that have supported various LGBTIQA communities and projects all over Cape Town. It has been our great privilege to work hand-in-hand with the community to create these spaces for LGBTIQA to be who they are in safe spaces.

Some of the major projects that have happened over the previous year are: Glitterfest, Cape Town Pride 2017 including Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride and Kasi Pre Pride Chill and the launch of ONE VOICE.

Cape Town Pride 2017 had the most successful year in its history. With a fully inclusive and varied program, the festival pinked up the whole of Cape Town. Some highlights were: the Pink Party, Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride, DIVA’s, and of course the Mardi Gras. The Mardi Gras had the largest turn out with thousands of LGBTIQA community members and allies coming out to support. At the festival at cheque was given to the Pride Shelter trust for R30 000.00 from OUTReach Africa.

GLITTERFEST:

ONE VOICE:

Glitterfest was fabulous concert style event that was held at the Green Point Urban Park where both local and International LGBTIQA and allies performers took to the stage to entertain an eager crowd. Band included; Freshly Ground, Conell Cruise, Latheem Gabriel and Nicci St. Bruce to name a few. There were also a wide array of local DJ’s from all the clubs and bars in Cape Town.

OUTReach Africa produces the new publication ONE VOICE, an educational and informational magazine aimed specifically at the less fortunate, disadvantaged community and communities that are in crisis. The magazine features inspirational stories from local LGBTIQA community members, information on local NPO’s and NGO’s that help in the LGBTIQA community and events and workshops happening in the community.

GALA FEATURE

GAY & LESBIAN MEMORY IN ACTION aka GALA “We were set up to address the erasure of the representation of the stories and experiences of LGBTI people from official archives, histories and other spaces in Africa.”

li he impulse behind our creation in 1997 is Nko n o reflected in our original name ‘The Gay and im ng S i r Lesbian Archives’. We were set up to address u o Hon the erasure of the representation of the stories and experiences of LGBTI people from official archives, histories and other spaces in Africa. In the years since then, the scope of our work has expanded significantly to include a range of activities that aim to create dialogue on same-sex sexuality and gender identity, educate the public, build community among LGBTI people, and to inspire action. In 2007 we changed our name to Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (while retaining the acronym GALA) to better reflect this development. EXTENDED ROLES FOR GALA

Over the years we have succeeded in establishing ourselves as an important destination for people interested in the study, promotion and preservation of the history, culture and contemporary experiences of LGBTI people in Africa. The core of our organisation remains an archives and research facility that is unique on the continent, and which represents an extensive, well-utilized resource for researchers, students, development professionals, journalists, filmmakers, policy and public-opinion makers, and other interested persons from around the world. Our collections encompass organisational and individual records and narratives, community histories and cultural artefacts. GALA also undertakes original research projects that provide a strong evidence-base for advocacy and programmatic activities.

In June 2016 GALA archivist Linda Chernis attended the 2016 LGBTQ Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections (ALMS) conference in London, United Kingdom. She presented a paper based on one of GALA’s collections, titled: Archiving an Icon: The Simon Nkoli Collection. The conference was an important event for networking and connecting with other queer archives from around the world, and learning from their experiences.

A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

GALA Youth Forum The objective of this project is to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+/Queer youth, mostly from the University of the Witwatersrand and surrounding institutions of higher education. The Youth Forum creates a platform for students to engage in conversations facilitated and lead by activists, practitioners, and community members in the LGBTQIA+ sector. It also serves as a platform allowing for meaningful dialogue and robust discussions around youth issues, which are designed to foster meaningful relationships with LGBTQIA+ youth who often lack safe spaces where they are able to talk constructively about issues they face. The topics largely come from the participants in the forum, and GALA plays a role in ensuring that the discussions have a level of continuity which would ensure ongoing engagement from the participants in the space, and in the communities which they are from. GALA also works with the Holy Trinity LGBTQIA+ Group, this space hosts many migrants from all over the continent in a fortnightly gathering to discuss issues relevant to LGBTQIA+ identifying migrants in Johannesburg.

Around this core revolve a range of activities. These have included the mainstreaming of relevant exhibitions into museums; the promotion of seminars, workshops, public dialogues and conferences; the production of relevant publications; the development of platforms to promote the work of queer African writers and artists; documentary films; campaigns and advocacy; and other outreach initiatives.

BUILDING MOVEMENTS

In recent years, GALA has also strengthened our commitment to movement building within South Africa. For example, we work with LGBTI youth to mobilise them to take action in relation to the discrimination that they face. The innovative Deaf Programme that we run also provides a clear demonstration of GALAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human rights agenda, and the ways in which we connect LGBTI issues with broader struggles for justice in South Africa.

A HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK

GALA uses a human rights framework to work towards building a society which is democratic, just and peaceful. As such we strive to be progressive, transformative, democratic, inclusive, respectful of diversity, non-racist, non-sexist, non-xenophobic, empowering, and to provide equal opportunities. We believe in the transformation of oppressive gender relations in order to achieve true gender equality.

GA LA

Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action 7

THE PRIDE SHELTER TRUST

“A crisis shelter service for LGBTI people.”

he Pride Shelter Trust was launched in February 2006. At the time, there were many well funded health and social service organisations, but no crisis shelter type service particularly for LGBTI people. Thus, the Pride Shelter Trust was born to establish and manage a shelter offering short-term accommodation to LGBTI people during crisis periods. The next three years were all about fundraising and in that time over R1 million was raised by the gay and lesbian community. In 2010, after a lengthy application process with the City of Cape Town Property Management Services, the Pride Shelter Trust signed a lease for a City-owned property at 1 Molteno Road in Oranjezicht. We then started the process of renovating the building. On 5th April 2011, the Pride Shelter was opened. The furnishings were donated by the community including 22 beds, a television and furniture for the kitchen and residents’ lounge. Since then, we have supported over 350 LGBTI individuals from the greater Cape Town area and beyond.

Pride Shelter receives R30000 from Pride

The house at no:1 Molteno Road, Oranjezicht housing the Pride Shelter

PASSOP

“PASSOP helps to empower refugees and asylum seekers to engage in gay refugee rights activism and ensure that South Africa lives out its constitutional protection for the rights of gay men and women.”

Recognizing the vulnerability of their particular situation, this program provides support and advocacy for this social group. Specifically, the programs principal objectives are to: • assist LGBTI refugees and asylum-seekers with paralegal advice regarding documentation and labour issues; • raise awareness around the plight of LGBTI refugees and asylum-seekers in South Africa; • monitor the South African government’s performance in the asylum-seeker and refugee determination processes to ensure that it is true to its commitment to sexual refugees; • build up a solidarity network to unite LGBTI refugees, asylum-seekers and immigrants and provide them with outlets for emotional support and counselling; and • in partnership with other LGBTI rights organizations, to promote understanding and tolerance within their communities in order to ensure their safety and integration.

omophobia is a serious issue all across Africa. In many countries, LGBTI people face constant harassment and harsh punishments, ranging from fines and imprisonments to death, solely for expressing their sexual orientation or gender identity. This unjust reality in countries ranging from Uganda to Malawi has led to an influx of sexual refugees fleeing to South Africa, one of the progressive countries that does grant refugee status on the basis of sexual orientation. However, despite South Africa’s official position, the asylum application process is fraught with problems and a lack of transparency, and many LGBTI refugees are being turned away unjustly. Moreover, those who are granted status still often face discrimination and harassment in their new communities in South Africa. When xenophobia is compounded with homophobia, it leaves many gay and transgender immigrants in conditions not unlike those in the countries they fled in the first place.

The hope is that the program will help to empower these refugees and asylum seekers to engage in gay refugee rights activism and ensure that South Africa lives out its constitutional protection for the rights of gay men and women.

ANOVA HEALTH4MEN

“Addressing the heightened HIV risk among Men who have sex with men (MSM through the provision of sexual health care and the promotion of a sex-positive attitude among healthcare workers”.

nova’s Health4Men initiative is dedicated to addressing the heightened HIV risk among MSM through the provision of competent, prejudice-free sexual healthcare for MSM and the promotion of a sex-positive attitude among healthcare workers. Highly regarded for its brazen campaigns, its presence continues to grow through initiatives such as Ukwazana and Zwakalani, which are aimed at addressing homophobia in township communities.

IVAN TOMS Health4Men’s clinic in Woodstock, Cape Town is called the Ivan Toms Centre for Men’s Health, but surprisingly a large number of the gay men who use this wonderful, free health facility have no idea about the man who the centre remembers. Ivan Toms was a doctor, an anti-conscription campaigner and a gay activist, whose life was a testament to non-violence, humanity and the belief that change was possible. Like other activists at the time, such as Simon Nkoli, Toms believed it was impossible to separate the struggle for gay rights from the broader human and civil rights struggle in South Africa. Dr Toms was the Director of Health for the City of Cape Town at the time of his death in March 2008. He was just 54 at the time and died suddenly and unexpectedly from meningitis. His life was one of public service - a true South African gay icon...

Better services for men who have sex with men Part of Health4Men’s programme activities are aimed at finding ways of strengthening the healthcare system. This has included dedicating resources to training and the introduction of MSM-competent sites. Along with rolling out services for MSM, comes the need for a general change in approach among healthcare workers in primary health settings. Recognising that one of the key barriers to addressing HIV among MSM in South Africa is stigmatisation by healthcare workers, Health4Men runs MSM sensitivity training workshops in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. They have also developed innovative training material and courses to better equip nurses, counsellors and medical officers to respond to the specialised needs of MSM in a sensitive and emphatic manner. This training is being provided to healthcare workers in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. Health4Men’s goal of establishing MSM friendly facilities throughout the country has also brought about

the development of a manual for healthcare workers on sexual healthcare for MSM, aptly named From Top2Bottom: A sex-positive approach for men who have sex with men. A manual for healthcare providers. Health4Men’s reputation for training earned them an invitation in 2012 to Uganda to up-skill healthcare workers and to provide competent services for MSM. Given Uganda’s controversial stance towards homosexuality, this was a rare and valuable opportunity for Health4Men to provide psychosexual and medial training during the three-day training in Kampala.

Health4men distributes free condoms throughout Cape Town

IMPROVED ACCESS Working in partnership with local and provincial health departments, Health4Men have added 68 competent sites to its existing list.

THE IVAN TOMS CLINIC The clinic’s primary aim is HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment services but it deal with other related diseases too, including sexually transmitted infections, Hepatitis B and C, and the disease that causes the most deaths in people with HIV in South Africa: tuberculosis.

Men in the inner city of Johannesburg can now access Yeoville clinic for specialised sexual healthcare, thanks to a partnership with the City of Johannesburg. In Soweto men who engage in same sex behaviour can visit either the Zola or the Chiawelo Community Health Centres. These two new sites replace the Simon Nkoli Centre for Men’s Health which was previously based at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Dr Kevin Rebe, an experienced HIV clinician explained that men who have sex with men are at high risk of HIV irrespective of race. There is a particularly high risk of HIV transmission during unprotected anal sex.

The clinic has now provided services to thousands of men in Cape Town. The racial breakdown is an approximate even split between white, black and coloured people ranging from as young as 17. Being stigmatised and discriminated against by health workers is common and many men report negative experiences in state clinics, which is the main reason a clinic exclusively for men was established..

THE INNER CIRCLE

“The Inner Circle was formed with a vision to reconcile homosexuality and transsexualism with Islam”

he Inner Circle started as a social group in 1996 when some Sufi Muslims realised the need to create support for queer Muslims. Imam Muhsin Hendricks, ex-scholar of the University of Karachi, Jamia Dirasaat (1990 – 1994) pioneered the venture with a vision to reconcile homosexuality and transsexualism with Islam. Imam Muhsin created a safe space in a corner of his garage and brought together 25 gay men into dialogue, providing psycho-spiritual support and helping them to reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and gender identity. This was co-incidentally at the same time as the adoption of The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, where The Bill of Rights (Chapter 2: Section 9) clearly states that: “The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.” A year later the group became more inclusive and dynamic by inviting similarly challenged lesbians to join the group and the membership rose to 36 members. During this period the focus was predominantly on the trauma and suffering of members. Members were not equipped with sufficient professional support to contain the emotions and personal challenges that emerged. This coupled with the fact that the group was not sufficiently focused on the personal and social needs of its members, led to a shift in focus and people exiting the organization in 1997. In 1998, the group was re-energized and it was transformed into an organisation to support queer Muslims. The organisation was called Al-Fitrah Foundation with “Fitrah” meaning “your natural state as God created

MISSION STATEMENT RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH SPIRITUALITY, EDUCATION AND MOVEMENT BUILDING; BRINGING HEALING TO MUSLIMS WHO ARE MARGINALISED BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY Imam Muhsin Hendricks

you”. The focus of the organization shifted from mere support to public education and training. Amidst threats from orthodox Muslims, Imam Muhsin Hendricks publicly announced his sexual orientation. The publicity in the Weekend Argus, the Insig Magazine and the first audio-interview on the Voice of the Cape (a prominent Islamic Radio station) provided mixed public reactions. He was subsequently asked to leave his post at the Claremont Main Road Mosque and was also refused visitation rights to see his children. The organisation set up a helpline and received ap-

proximately 150 calls. About 80% of the calls from the Muslim community were positive and supportive. Thereafter there was an exodus of members due to the fear of PAGAD and for many years there was a lull. During the following years the membership grew considerably with insights on Islam and Homosexuality. Progressive Muslim individuals and organizations such as Positive Muslims and Islamic Social Welfare Association approached TIC to conduct similar workshops.

WHAT DOES ORTHODOX ISLAM SAY ABOUT MSM? Quranic guidance was revealed over a 23 year period as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)10 required divine counsel on particular social issues. Although homosexuality was prevalent in Arabian culture at the time the Quran was brought to light, the Quran makes no reference to it. Yet, in Chapter 24 verse 31, it does acknowledge that there are men who have no attraction towards women. Most scholars wrongly conclude that these men were castrated eunuchs, overlooking that the Mukhannathun11 mentioned in this chapter included natural eunuchs (men who naturally lacked sexual interest in women) and effeminate men.

In 2013, The Inner Circle released a fascinating film, Fitrah – Negotiating Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Islam. This documentary explores the dilemma queer Muslims face when negotiating the troubled space between sexual orientation, gender identity and Islam. It also highlights the struggles queer Muslims experience in various Islamic contexts and the often disobliging messages from the orthodox Muslim clergy. Gay Muslims (as well as two transsexuals) from Somalia, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia, were interviewed about how their sexuality often clashed with their own religious beliefs, or those of their families and communities. The documentary makes an interesting comparison between the different levels of negotiations open to queer Muslims and how most of these negotiations lead to self-limitations and religious despondency. This is evidenced by some of the very moving and disturbing storied told. Some of the interviewees were just forlorn, whilst others realised that to find happiness, they must be true to one’s natural state - the meaning of the Arabic word fitrah. Also interviewed were various medical professionals, activists as well as religious leaders who were quite happy to use the story of Sodom and Gomorrah as a blanket condemnation for homosexuality.

According to Rowson (1991) the Mukhannathun were a mixture of effeminate men, castrated men, natural eunuchs, bisexuals and transvestite men who participated in the entertaining arts and music. The Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) treatment of them varied and was based on merit; sometimes banning them from society due to misbehaviour and sometimes leaving them alone as he recognised them as people who pray. There is no evidence that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) condemned a Mukhannath based on sexual orientation or gender identity, or that he had to formally address sex between men and the Mukhannatun. In addition, a plethora of poetry emanating from between 7th and 9th century Arabia praises same-sex love and love for the beardless boy, indicative of social tolerance towards homosexuality.

Fitrah is a thought provoking and ultimately optimistic film. It is codirected by Latheem Nair, who also wrote and performed the song War is Where the Heart Is which is featured in the film. Fitrah is available on www.theinnercircle.org.za/ fitrahmovie

THE TRIANGLE PROJECT

“The Triangle Project then established the first gay and lesbian health project in an African township in Cape Town. Today, Triangle Project is one of the largest LGBTI organizations in South Africa, offering a wide range of services. Inner Circle was formed with a vision to reconcile homosexuality and transsexualism with Islam”

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Meet Tiara Skye Harwood

he Triangle Project has its origins in an organization called GASA 6010, which was established in 1981 by a small group of gay men. In 1982, the organization set up a counselling and medical service site as well as a telephone helpline. In 1984, GASA 6010 began a service on HIV and AIDS related issues. GASA 6010 was one of the first organizations in the country to respond to the HIV and AIDS crisis, and assisted with prevention initiatives in gay bars and clubs. In 1985, the organization produced literature on HIV and AIDS which it distributed to all communities throughout South Africa. In 1989, a fundraising arm called ASET (Aids Support and Education Trust) was established.

In 1994, ASET and the counselling service became independent from GASA 6010. ASET moved premises to a community centre, which was closer to public transport and could thus serve a potentially wider clientele. In that same year a meeting hosted by the Gay, Lesbian and Cross-dresser Forum brought together a diverse group of people from the Western Cape. At this two day meeting it was decided that ASET would be the forum to carry forward work on HIV and AIDS in the gay and lesbian communities of the Western Cape.

The picture above isisof Tiara SkyeTown’s Harwood, a well-drag Tiara Skye Harwood one of Cape best known performers. I metTown with her toperformer, discover more about her and to chat known Cape drag who recently about her decision to transition. Mag 6

From 1995, the organization focused on organizational processes and the objective of empowering gay and lesbian communities through health and development programmes.

transitioned with the help, support and guidance from the Triangle Project. “The Triangle Project”, she said, “isso important for anyone needing advise and help. Through Triangle Project you will be refered to a psychologist who will guide you through the process.”

In 1996, the organization changed its name to Triangle Project to reflect the multi-faceted nature of its services. Triangle Project then established the first gay and lesbian health project in an African township in Cape Town. Today, Triangle Project is one of the largest LGBTI organizations in South Africa, offering a wide range of services. Matthew from Triangle Project attended the Conversations event at Nasdak on top of the Media24 Centre at Cape Town’s Foreshore on 21 February to take receipt of a cheque for R32,000 from Andrew Howard from Conversations.

SCALABRINI

“Championing the right to LGBTI as a fundamental human right”

calabrini’s Human Rights Department will focus on the rights of LGBTI refugees this year, beginning with its ‘Let’s Face it Campaign LGBTI RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS’.

It may seem an obvious statement to some, but unfortunately many people in South Africa, including a number of Scalabrini’s clients, still don’t recognise the right to be LGBTI as a fundamental Human Right. This campaign seeks to champion this right and make it better known and appreciated through a visibility and solidarity drive. We have designed a huge Rainbow Africa, with a large hole in it, where people can literally add their face to the statement ‘LGBTI Rights are Human Rights’. The idea is to get as many faces as possible, to beat the silence that surrounds and perpetuates the widespread victimisation of both LGBTI South Africans and LGBTI refugees here in South Africa. It’s a stand up and be counted kind of campaign. On the back of the Rainbow Africa is a colourful exhibition asking ‘Is being Gay un-African?’, a response to one of the central misconceptions held by people from across Africa that homosexuality came from elsewhere and is alien to African traditions and culture. The display

features a famous quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. People are invited to ‘FACE THE FACTS’ they have just read, and in so doing, endorse the campaign. We want as many people as possible to ‘face up’ to the need to stand alongside the LGBTI community. Keep an eye out for our Rainbow Africa at events in and around Cape Town, perhaps invite us along to something you’ve got planned, and please join us in ‘facing up’ to LGBTI rights. 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the South African Constitution, the first in the world to recognise gay rights, and comes ten years after South Africa became the first (and still only) country in Africa to allow same sex marriage Our campaign also comes at a time when crucial hate crime legislation is being drafted in parliament to outlaw hate crimes against the LGBTI community.

YOUNG HEROES

Anovaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest initiative, Young Heroes, uses several marketing and social media platforms to provide young men who have sex with men (MSM), ages 13 to 23, with information and resources to make better decisions about their sexual health.

ifferent age groups have different interests and make use of different modes of communication. What appeals to a 19-year-old will not have the same appeal for a 35-year-old. Young men who have sex with men (YMSM), which include adolescents and young adults, have unique requirements in this way, when compared to MSM in general and this is why Anova has now expanded its MSM expertise to focus specifically on this demographic through our new Young Heroes campaign. Very little information is available about this vulnerable group in South Africa, and the information that is available is often Eurocentric and often not appropriate, or easy to access for YMSM who are attempting to forge a non-heterosexual identity. Our Young Heroes campaign aims to bridge this gap. YMSM are a vulnerable Key Population due to the challenges they face, such as stigma, bullying and often being ostracised by their families. YMSM are identified as being at high risk of HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse, as well as depression and suicide. Young men find themselves without visible role-models or a support structure after being disowned by their families and this lack of guidance is often due to discrimination and ignorance around same-sex intimacy and desire.

After the success of the We The Brave campaign, Anova and Elton John AIDS Foundation have collaborated again, this time reaching out to YMSM with the resources they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Young Heroes aims to provide information and resources that lend support to all young men who could potentially be grappling with the development of non-heterosexual identity. Online resources and technology will feature strongly as the campaign unfolds. In December 2016, a group process featuring 15 YMSM aged 18 to 21 was facilitated over a one-week period in Johannesburg. The process was specifically designed to explore the challenges they face with regards to their personal development, health issues and other relevant areas of their lives. The process was facilitated by two gay, registered psychologists, and the YMSM participants were exposed to various self-exploration processes, including a body mapping exercise led by an expert in creative expression. Participants shared their unique experiences and insights, to shed more light on the realities that are faced by this often marginalised and under-represented faction of society. Young Heroes is a unique, innovative and multidimensional campaign with a psycho-social focus that will incorporate social media, a series of videos, articles and content created by YMSM themselves.

rant b i v g, n u o ful Y r u o l & co

“YOUNG HEROES EMPOWERS YOUNG MEN” It’s a vibrant and colourful campaign designed to create an inclusive and “safe” online space for these young men and adolescent boys to learn about HIV, STIs and the prevention thereof; as well as facts about sexuality, gender and general health. The strategy behind launching Young Heroes on Youth Day came about due to the significance of the day aligning with the goals of the campaign. Youth Day celebrates the bravery and initiative of young South Africans from the past, and Young Heroes aims to empower and encourage the bravery and initiative of the heroes of today and tomorrow. To promote the launch of Young Heroes, the Anova Marketing Team has created a pullout pamphlet that will appear in national newspapers and magazines like City Press, Sunday Sun, Sunday World, Drum, Bona and Move. Various members of Anova staff will also participate in radio interviews on stations like Ukhozi FM, Heart FM, Umhlobo Wenene and Jozi FM. T-shirts, badges and other collateral will be distributed at various schools to create more awareness and drive more young men to go to the Young Heroes website or Facebook page:

Stop Bullying is a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to raising awareness of bullying

in schools and finding ways to curb this type of abuse. The Durban-based organisation has an anti-bullying grassroots campaign in the Zululand area. Stop Bullying is setup to continuously address the problem which also happens at the work place, socially and sexually. We already have many celebrities like Sureshnie Rider, Uvekha Rangappa, Felix Hlope, Cannon SA, Angel Campey, Andile Mxakaza, Emanuel Pietersen etc... supporting the campaign with many more joining as we expand nationally Since Rural & Disadvantaged areas cannot access our website, we took the decision to distribute newspapers to maximise our efforts in areas that need such a grass roots Campaign.” To this end they have completed the first edition of the StopBullying newspaper supplement (once every 2 months for a year) which was distributed to schools in KZN (Zululand areas). They are looking for businesses to support this campaign and advertise in the supplement. Bullying is rife in schools around South Africa, according to statistics from a survey undertaken in 2013. The survey interviewed 2 064 pupils aged between 13 and 21 and 1 015 family members aged between 18 and 34. These statistics reveal a culture of bullying that permeates South African schools “It is an indictment of our education system that two out of three learners are worried about being bullied at school.” According to the survey, an astonishing high number of students attend school fearful of being bullied. Almost 68% of pupils polled were worried about being physically assaulted or threatened with a weapon at school. With the rise of social media, 16% of learners polled reported instances of online bullying on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. “We welcome the support of local celebrities, businesses and organisations that are willing to assist us in any way whatsoever to help us ensure that this Stop Bullying Campaign is successful.” For more information on how you can help stop bullying, please visit www.stopbullying. co.za we are also on instagram ... www.instagram/stopbullying.co.za

RAINBOW UCT

RAINBOW UCT “Rainbow UCT is the LGBTQIA+ student society of the University of Cape Town.”

ur primary goal is to create a safe space for all queer students to interact, and develop. We also address issues affecting queer students on a structural level by engaging with university management, as well as promoting education and discussion on campus.

Our sexuality is that part of us that is expressed through our sexual activities and relationships. It is represented in our feelings, behaviours and our sexual identity. Your sexual identity is how you choose to describe your sexuality. Some people choose a label like gay, lesbian, bisexual or many others. Many people also choose not to label their sexuality. More and more these days, people will not define their sexuality with a label, but choose to ‘take it as it comes’ or ‘do what feels right at the time’, trusting their feelings and not letting labels determine their choices.

On a student level, we run programs to ensure the well-being of those in the queer community, such as dialogues around issues pertinent to the community – these have included mental health, sexual health, and being queer in a South African context. In order to further our reach, we maintain relationships with affiliates in support of the rights of minority groups. The society is student run and provides an additional avenue of support for students, as well as opportunities to connect and engage with other members of the community. Students are always welcome to contact us for support, be it direct or a referral to the relevant university services.

The important thing is to do whatever feels right for you (so long as no-one will be unsafe or at risk) and identify however feels comfortable for you.

We can be contacted via email at media.raibowuct@ gmail.com or by finding us on social media. Our social media presence includes a Facebook page (@ RainbowSocietyUCT), as well as twitter and Instagram accounts (@RainbowUCT).

Sexual health is also an important part of our sexuality. It’s not just about your physical health, but also involves the emotional impact of coming to terms with your sexuality, and, how others deal with your sexuality. 19

DESMOND TUTU FOUNDATION

Pairing rigorous research with community-driven development, the DTHF is making a substantial contribution to service delivery and public health policy relating to HIV, tuberculosis and related infections in South Africa. existence as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;not for profitâ&#x20AC;? organization since 2004. The DTHC was previously called the HIV Research Unit based at New Somerset Hospital (1995- 2004). When the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) was commissioned in 2004, Profs Wood and Bekker were invited to move across to the IDM.

he Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, housed within the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre (DTHC) at the University of Cape Town, is committed to the pursuit of excellence in research, treatment, training and prevention of HIV and related infections in Southern Africa. The Foundation, supported by the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah has been in

The DTHC is an accredited research grouping within the University of Cape Town and is supported in its work by the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation. The research, clinical and community outreach staff of the Foundation share a common agreed purpose to lessen the impact of the HIV epidemic on individuals, families and communities, through innovation and their passion for humanity. Fully self- funded by grants and other investigator raised funds, our shared vision for the future includes the continuation of current TB/HIV related work of treatment, care, prevention and education particularly in the most vulnerable populations, whilst staying abreast of new developments and continuing to contribute to cutting edge information in HIV and TB public health, social and clinical research.

PEPFAR:

OH WHAT GOOD YOU HAVE DONE! In 1982, the first case of HIV was reported in South Africa. Thereafter the unerring march of AIDS and death ravaged our communities, filled our hospital beds and cemeteries and rendered families bereft of young breadwinners, parents and children.

We are now poised to move into the second chapter of the narrative where we can hope to see the numbers of new infections recede; communities again becoming strong and resilient, and African countries taking ownership and setting new benchmarks of health and wellbeing being set on the continent. We have new, strong HIV prevention tools and we know now more than ever how to engineer effective and exciting interventions, which include a possible cure and a preventative vaccine.

Anti-HIV treatment, known as antiretroviral therapy was the miraculous epidemic game changer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it was only available to the richer nations that could afford the drugs. In 2002, the vision of Africa that came sharply into view was one where millions of our young people were dying and where social, economic and political destabilisation was evident. The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (or PEPFAR), implemented in 2003, was a brilliant, gen-

erous and greatly valued intervention that changed the potential course of history forever. Under PEPFAR, we have seen a miraculous change to the narrative surrounding the AIDS response in Africa. This has included increasing access to HIV treatment, reductions in new infections through biomedical and behavioural prevention interventions, and an overall strengthening of health systems.

But it remains a tenuous fragile timeâ&#x20AC;Ś.we can turn the page and move forward to a good ending or disengage too soon, lose all the gains we have made to date and slide back to a situation far worse that we have ever imagined.

PEPFAR was started by US President George Bush, expanded by US President Barack Obama and currently funds anti-AIDS activities in more than 60 countries. These funds come from the American people, and we are ever grateful for the huge contribution and difference they have made. Unfortunately, the change of administration in 2016 has resulted in a proposed reduction in the PEPFAR funding to a 5th of its current value, and a reduction of the countries it is active in, to a mere 11. This sits alongside a reduction in funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The impact of this on the HIV/AIDS response in developing countries will be enormous.

PEPFAR works closely with the South African Government and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. In 2016 alone, this collaboration provided ARVs for more than 3.4 million people, HIV counselling and testing for 10.4 million people, care and support for 407 056 orphans and adolescents affected by HIV/IADS, and medication for 220 626 pregnant HIV positive women to prevent mother to child transmission. The Global Plan for prevention of mother to child transmission has moved us very close to the complete eradication of transmission of HIV from women to their offspring.

The HIV epidemic is far from over. Sub-Saharan Africa retains the highest HIV burden in the world today. AIDS continues to stalk our young people and rob our communities. The time is now, the challenge remains, and the reward is bigger than before! We continue to need global effort and investment in getting this job done!

WE THE BRAVE

“A sexual health campaign targeting with men who have sex with men”

en who have sex with men (MSM) are South Africa’s most at risk population for HIV acquisition and transmission. For this reason ‘WETHEBRAVE.co.za’, a sexual health campaign,was launched with MSM in mind. This is the first large scale campaign ever in this country to specifically address gay men and other men who have sex with men.

WETHEBRAVE.co.za asks MSM to be brave enough to make healthy sexual choices like wearing a condom, getting tested regularly and knowing their status. MSM can find Anova’s Health4Men clinics, or independent clinicians in the private sector through the WETHEBRAVE.co.za website.

WE’RE BRINGING SEXY BACK!

e The Brave is a sexual health campaign with the MSM community in mind. This is the first large scale campaign ever in our country to specifically address gay men and other men who have sex with men.

Here are some ways you can join our mission:

Spearheaded by the Anova Health Institute, and funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the WeTheBrave. co.za campaign addresses both prevention and treatment issues in an affirming, non-judgemental and sex positive way, which is entertaining and engaging.

•

Are you #BraveEnough to make healthy sexual choices, like wearing a condom, getting tested regularly and knowing your status?

Follow WTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

• • •

• •

Read some of our educational articles and maintain your sexual health Attend our outreach and partnered events Read the brave stories others had to share (and share your own!) Visit our free participating clinics or contact a relevant professional Browse through the FAQ section and feel free to submit your own questions Talk to us, about anything and everything!

Are YOU Brave Enough? 22

teachers is something that still continues to evolve. Let’s face it, it is an aging profession and is not attracting a young, diverse cohort to re-populate its ranks. I’ve had the privilege of working in a number of outstanding schools in my career so far, yet each of them has always, in their own way, treated ‘the gay teacher’ as a little bit of an inconvenient truth. A polite embarrassment. By way of example, I was once introduced to a new teacher by a current member of staff who delicately lead her aside and confided apologetically that, “We have a male teacher… he’s a gay.”

N.P.’S BRAVE STORY Am I brave? Certainly not in the sense of a soldier fighting in a war or, say, a paramedic attending a dangerous incident site. That is a very different kind of bravery and one which few of us will (thankfully) ever have to show or search for within ourselves. Sure, I suffered the usual run-of-the-mill bullying growing up. My classmates teased me for whatever seemed vaguely eccentric behaviour (“you listen to Mozart?”) or whatever they couldn’t quite reconcile as part of their fairly narrow and limited definition of a ‘normal’ teenager. Was I brave? Gosh, no! I probably ran away and hid more often than not, and in my later years at school, I just developed an almost teflon-like coating against the insults and taunts, which would simply slide off me.

Lord, have mercy. From being asked to not disclose information about my partner, to outright being interrogated about why I like working with young children (“What would you say if a parent had concerns about this?” was one such question), the awkwardness is palpable. This last point and it’s insidious insinuation never fail to upset and disgust me; that sexual orientation directly correlates with peadophilia.

Today, I am a teacher and a very happy and successful one at that, with 11 years in the classroom and a passion for my profession that only wavers when the school holidays seem too far away to contemplate. One of the terrific changes I have noticed is that, in general, today’s children are becoming far more tolerant of those who don’t necessarily identify with the homogenous, hetrosexual mindset of old. It is possible to see difference actually being celebrated and supported – no bravery required; only the courage to be one’s self.

So am I brave? No! But I keep doing what I do because I love it and little by little, one leads by example. I’ve always maintained that I am a professional first, and my sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with my capacity to do my job. The bravest thing I can do is ignore the murmur in the background and be the best human that I can be. Brave Enough To Share?

Attitudes amongst the teaching profession to gay Sir Elton John ... singer, song-writer, activist, philanthropist, husband, father ... out and proud gay man who runs the Elton John AIDS Foundation

FEATURE

omizi Mhlongo is one of the biggest names in South African entertainment, and for good reason too. He’s about as talented as he is flamboyant and fabulous and always looks the part no matter where he is

TALENTED, GAY, FLAMBOYANT, AND FABULOUS!!!

In 2015, the famed choreographer who is a judge on SA Idols was in the headlines for a very different reason. Somizi opened up about life in South Africa as a gay man, in what is one of his most emotional interviews ever. Somizi spoke on Vuzu Amp and revealed that when he was younger, his fears nearly got the better of him, but his parents were constantly supportive and encouraging. “When I was personally confused, and scared, not of society, but as I was still finding out how to handle some of the intricate situations I would be in, my family supported me as I prepared myself for what was to come. Trust me, your parents know from day one, they know from your behaviour what your sexual preference is.” Many people may not know that Somizi has a daughter as well. He also spoke about being an openly gay father in modern society “When I fathered a child I already knew I was not a straight guy. I did everything, knowing very well I was gay. I could have been bisexual, but definitely not straight.”

I Z I M O O S G N O L H M

Somizi broke viewers’ hearts when he revealed that he has struggled to get roles as a straight character, ever since he came out as a gay man. “The minute I came out and expressed my sexuality, I was put in a box. I no longer got cast for straight roles and that is the reason I refuse to play gay roles even to this day.” He ended the interview by campaigning for gay men and women around South Africa who are struggling to get jobs because of their sexuality.

OUT IN AFRICA

CourtesyTenashe Venge - All4Women

hampioning gay rights is close to his heart, and was demonstrated earlier this year he stormed out of church when the pastor bashed gays in his sermon. The Idols judge and radio presenter slammed a pastor who referred to homosexuality as a “sin”. Somgaga, as he is popularly known, stormed out of a church service at Grace Bible Church in Soweto, after a guest pastor from Uganda criticised homosexuality, saying to viewers “he could not take it anymore” adding that churches, especially the Grace Bible Church, where he had been a member for 32 years, to “spell it out loud if gays were not welcomed”. “They must say it if being gay was a sin and that gays were not allowed. Because I go to church to speak to my God, whom I believe accepts me for who I am. The God who created the way that I am loves me.” Somizi declared he was gay and proud of it. “I’m a gay man and this is who I am. I will remain gay for the rest of my life.” Adding, “The sermon was about how the soul is important and I

“I’m a gay man and this is who I am. I will remain gay for the rest of my life.” don’t know how he jumped from that to homosexuality. When he started to talk about how even male dogs do not practise it, I just walked out because I was offended.” Grace Bible Church has since said everyone was welcome in their church, including homosexuals. With regard to Gay Pride, Somizi stated that it should be a celebration of gay life and a remembrance of gay people who were mistreated by society. “Pride is about who I am and we must celebrate who we are. When we march on the streets we should think of all the people who have suffered and were raped and murdered for their sexuality. We must think of all gays and lesbians who died of HIV and Aids-related illnesses and could not get help because they were gay. Let’s fight to end the discrimination because some gay people want to donate blood but cannot because of the stigma attached to homosexuality. Some have even lost their jobs because of their sexual preference.” Somizi is flamboyant and out-spoken, admired and loved, he promotes gay issues, intent on educating fellow South African’s about the hardships of living in this country as a gay person.

GOOD HOPE MCC

WHEN YOU’RE ATTRACTED TO THE SAME SEX When you’re attracted to someone of the same sex, it can be harder to find the information and support to ensure your sexual health is at its best, especially when parts of our society may not have a positive and respectful approach to sexuality. This is why it’s even more important to find places and spaces that can help you maintain our sexual health - helping you deal with any physical or emotional issues you’re going through. This issue features a number places where you’ll beable to talk to someone about your specific issue, receive a service from a counsellor or medical practioner and where you can interact with other people who are facing, or have faced, similar issues.

GOOD HOPE MCC “A Christian community church for those not welcome by their birth churches”

A BRIEF HISTORY OF GOOD HOPE MCC In 1983 a few Christians founded the Gay Christian Community (GCC) because they felt that there was a need to care for the spiritual needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) community of Cape Town since they were made unwelcome in their birth churches. GCC was initially intended to be an interdenominational, emotional and spiritual “pit stop” and encouraged worshippers to go back to their birth churches. Things changed - many did not have a birth church and wanted a spiritual home. This gave rise to the establishment of the Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church (GHMCC), which is affiliated to the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) denomination. Today GHMCC has grown from a fellowship of a handful of friends to an established congregation of over 100 member with various support ministries to the community at large.

ANOVA HEALTH FOR TRANS

“Health4Trans Facebook profile provides a platform for Trans expression”

nova has been at the helm of providing support and systems services for key populations groups in Southern Africa since its inception. After establishing resources and platforms for members of the gay, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) community through our Health4Men Initiative, it seemed inevitable that Anova would eventually come to put its weight and experience behind other vulnerable ‘key populations’ groups, like the transgender community.

a physical, sexual and mental health support social media platform for the transgender (Trans) and gender non-conforming community of Southern Africa. Its goal is to do so, by using content, information and other resources supplied by Trans and gender non-conforming individuals, themselves. The content is to help eliminate the stigma associated with the Trans community and aid members of this community empower themselves and one another with resources and sexual health information and available health care services.

Transgender and gender non-conforming people in Southern Africa are incredibly diverse, as are their biomedical and psycho-social needs. Anova’s marketing team was challenged with identifying what content would best serve this community and determined that it would need to curate content harvested from the community itself.

The aim is to provide awareness of the issues and challenges facing this diverse community, with its broad spectrum of needs. Health4Trans was launched in November 2016 on Facebook to coincide and promote awareness of Transgender Awareness Month. Watch this space for exciting content as Health4Trans

The Health4Trans Facebook profile hopes to serve as

LESBIGAY STELLENOSCH

LESBIGAY STELLENBOSCH

“A social and hetworking student society ay the Stellenbosch University”

esbigay Stellenbosch is a social and networking student society that aims to create a friendly, welcoming and non-discriminatory atmosphere for people of any sexual orientation or gender identity. We aim at breaking stereotypes about gay people.

GENDER DYNAMIX

GENDER DYNAMIX (GDX) “Gender DynamiX (GDX) focuses on transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming people’s rights and access to services.”

ender DynamiX (GDX) is a human rights organisation focusing our advocacy on transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming people’s rights and access to services. Gender DynamiX provides information about transgender, transsexual and gender non-confirming identities and seeks to promote awareness and acceptance by means of educating and empowering people from diverse com-

munities, including: government departments, service providers such as medical professionals, teachers, employers, police, journalists and universities. Gender DynamiX also reach out to parents, children, co-workers and people who journey alongside trans* people. With the change in leadership there is a window of opportunity for this vibrant organisation to effect changes that will lead to a new era in trans* activism in South Africa.

Possibly the world’s most famous person to undergo gender re-assignment surgery was the Olympian athlete, Bruce Jenner . Caitlyn Jenner, as she is now known, has become a role model for many people the world over who wish to transition.

SWEAT

“SWEAT is at the cutting edge of sex worker advocacy, human rights defence and mobilisation in Africa.” SWEAT has a 20-year history in organising sex workers, advocating for and delivering services to South African Sex Workers. We have facilitated birth of two movements – a Pan African Alliance of sex workers (African Sex Worker Alliance) and a national movement of sex workers called Sisonke. ASWA is now an independent organisation based in Kenya, and Sisonke is moving towards its own independence in South Africa.

ously works at a community, state and societal level. Information generated by work at these levels provides scaffolding for the achievement of our goals and vision. For example, our national Help Line provides direct support to sex workers, but also notes trends in issues being experienced by sex workers that informed advocacy, which in turn, directs service provision. Both programmes employ sex workers in action and leadership.

Our vision is: A South Africa where people who choose to sell sex are able to enjoy freedom, rights and human dignity. SWEAT uses an evidence informed human rights based approach to address sex workers’ health. We embrace the concept of wellness – which requires the active participation of sex workers in becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness goes beyond merely the absence of disease – it includes physical, mental, and social well-being. SWEAT is currently finalising its new strategic plan, which consolidates its programmes into two areas of focus: 1. Sex Worker Empowerment and Enabling Environment programme (SWEEEP) • The objective of which is to create an enabling environment for service delivery through the mobilization of sex workers to demand services

The Say Her Name Campaign was launched to honour women who have been taken by violence. They include: Anisa Adam, Mamoeti Mosoati, Fikile Chauke, Nelisiwe Thwala, Nomatheku, Nondumisa Sibiya, Sarah, Amanda, Nozipho, Nontobeko Valencia, Anita Mambumba, Pinkie Siphamla ...

2. Advocacy and Law Reform Programme (ALRP) • The objective of which is to reduce violence, improve access to rights and to enable sex workers to actively claim their rights through the decriminalisation of sex work, and policy reform. SWEEEP works directly with sex workers, their families and direct service providers, while ALRP simultane-

THE ENHANCING CARE FOUNDATION

THE ENHANCING CARE FOUNDATION “Promoting health and well-being throughout Africa and beyond! Enhancing Care Foundation (ECF) is a not-for-profit organization based in South Africa that provides key health system strengthening, capacity building, and clinical and non-clinical research services”

he Enhancing Care Foundation (ECF) says more health services are needed for South Africa’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/ or intersex (LGBTI) community amid concern that many remain unaware of their HIV status.

“The South African response to HIV/AIDS has mainly focused on programmes preventing heterosexual and vertical transmission of HIV. However, recent research has shown a disproportionate burden of HIV among Men who have sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender people. HIV prevalence rates of between 25.5 to 52.2% have been documented in this population with a general lack of access to confidential and appropriate LGTBI-friendly sexual health services. The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) published that 27.7% of transgender women tested positive for HIV infection but, alarmingly, up to 73% who tested HIV-positive were unaware of their status. We need specific tailor-made prevention packages that consider the complex and sensitive issues which these individuals face,” says the Foundation’s programme director, Dr Rosie Mngqibisa.

A recent dialogue on the issue by the foundation also raised concern over the stigma many in this group continue to face. “I have to fight a lot of battles as a black and gender non-conformist in South Africa, such as limited access to health-care, the stigma and discrimination. I organised the dialogue as a platform for transgender and gender diverse people to come together, share experiences and possibly come up with innovative solutions for their day to day struggles. My dream is to alleviate all forms of discrimination against queer bodies even though I am aware that we still have a long way to go as South Africa is a culture and religion orientated country,” said ECF health facilitator and LGBTI activist, Nkokheli Mankayi. Through funding from organisations like Right to Care (RTC) – Principal Recipients for a Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria grant, the Enhancing Care Foundation implements activities addressing the HIV epidemic in South Africa and key population programme interventions in Cape Town. “Experiences of LGBTI clients in South Africa’s public health sector have been troubling, and indicate a lack of knowledge and sensitivity in addressing the health issues of MSM and TG. This is mainly a result of the limited amount of research done on HIV in these key populations. The basics on HIV prevention and health promotion such correct usage of condoms and lubricants needs to be reinforced with this community. Our project intends to offer such support in safe spaces for MSM and TG, through door-to-door, street outreach,

Dr Rosie Mngqibisa

community partnerships, campaigns, events and social media/eHealth activations, through compassionate services and accurate information,” said Mngqibisa. Some of the key activities of the foundation include: • Outreach and behaviour change communication • Clinical services for STIs and Primary Health Care • Commodity procurement and distribution • Creating an enabling environment • Community engagement • Linkages to care, treatment and social services The project has also been developed to include key areas of activities as follows: 1. ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS Identify, engage and collaborate with key stakeholders in Cape Town Metropolitan area including: • The South African Department of Health – provincial and district Local NGOs • CBOs/FBOs • Tertiary Institutions • Sectors of Media, Sports and Recreation and Arts • Local businesses • Communities 2. IDENTIFICATION OF HOT SPOTS • To identify MSM and TG ‘Hot Spots’: • Review of mapping and epidemiological data will be conducted to identify these areas • Engagement with stakeholders – Including the Department of Health – to assist identification of hot spots 3. RECRUITMENT AND CONTINUOUS TRAINING OF PEER EDUCATORS • ECF uses community Peer Educators to drive the HIV Testing and Prevention Campaign.

• ECF training on the National HIV Testing Services Guidelines and Policy • ECF coaching on soft skills to ensure that they create an enabling and non-discriminatory environment for the target population • Additional training on Health Awareness and Promotion, Community de-stigmatisation and attitude change 4. HIV TESTING AND PREVENTION MASS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN INCLUDES: • Peer Educator in identified hot spots, venues and events to offer onsite HIV testing and prevention services. Door-to-door outreach will also be dispatched when relevant. • Prevention services include distribution of pamphlets and other items and pre-packaged MSM and TG condom packs • Extended working hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Our office will function as a drop-in centre for HIV testing for people who do not feel comfortable testing at campaign events • Spend a minimum of one week per month conducting rural outreach. • Continuous engagement with those we reach and test, via SMS and social media. • Multi-Media Campaign to publicise services • Explore innovative ways to reach and test MSM and transgender people in Cape Metro and surrounds. 5. LINKAGE TO CARE • Identification of MSM/TG-friendly health care facilities within the Cape Town Metropolitan area • Referral of all HIV infected, and those identified with STIs, TB and other OIs • Conducting follow up activities for clients who are linked to care

PFLAG

he idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her son, Morty, in New York’s Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to today’s Pride parade. After many gay and lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group. The first formal meeting took place on March 26, 1973 at the Metropolitan-Duane Methodist Church in Greenwich Village (now the Church of the Village). Approximately 20 people attended.

In the next years, through word of mouth and community need, similar groups sprang up around the country, offering “safe havens” and mutual support for parents with gay and lesbian children. Following the 1979 National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights, representatives from these groups met for the first time in Washington, DC.

By 1980, PFLAG, then known as Parents FLAG, began to distribute information to educational institutions and communities of faith nationwide, establishing itself as a source of information for the general public. When “Dear Abby” mentioned PFLAG in one of her advice columns, we received more than 7,000 letters requesting information. In 1981, members decided to launch a national organization. The first PFLAG National office was established in Los Angeles under founding president--and PFLAG LA founder--Adele Starr. In 1982, the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc., then representing some 20 groups, was incorporated in California and granted non-profit, tax-exempt status. In 1987, PFLAG relocated to Denver, under President Elinor Lewallen. Also in the 1980s, PFLAG became involved in opposing Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade and worked to end the U.S. military’s efforts to discharge lesbians—more than a

decade before military issues came to the forefront of the LGBTQ movement. And by the late 1980s, PFLAG began to have notable success in organizing chapters in rural communities.

put the Religious Right on the defensive, when Pat Robertson threatened to sue any station that carried the Project Open Mind advertisements. The resulting media coverage drew national attention to PFLAG’s message linking hate speech with hate crimes and LGBTQ teen suicide. In 1998, PFLAG added transgender people to its mission.

In 1990, following a period of significant growth, PFLAG employed an Executive Director, expanded its staff, and moved to Washington, DC. Also in 1990, PFLAG President Paulette Goodman sent a letter to Barbara Bush asking for Mrs. Bush’s support. The first lady’s personal reply stated, “I firmly believe that we cannot tolerate discrimination against any individuals or groups in our country. Such treatment always brings with it pain and perpetuates intolerance.” Inadvertently given to the Associated Press, her comments caused a political maelstrom and were perhaps the first gay-positive comments to come from the White House. In the early 1990s, PFLAG chapters in Massachusetts helped pass the first Safe Schools legislation in the country. In 1993, PFLAG added the word “Families” to the name, and added bisexual people to its mission and work. By the mid-1990s a PFLAG family was responsible for the Department of Education’s ruling that Title 9 also protected gay and lesbian students from harassment based on sexual orientation. PFLAG

At the turn of the century, the national office of PFLAG began to also develop signature programs to support the chapter network and to raise the family and ally voice in the battle for equality. Programs like Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All, Straight for Equality, and the National Scholarship Program.

In 2014, the organization officially changed its name from “Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays” to, simply, PFLAG. This change was made to accurately reflect PFLAG members, those PFLAG serves, and the inclusive work PFLAG has been doing for decades. The mission and vision of the organisation were also updated to further streamline and modernise the language, making it inclusive of everyone in the PFLAG family, while recognisng and celebrating the tremendous diversity of PFLAG’s membership, the communities PFLAG currently serves...and aims to serve in the future.

FEATURE

SOUTH AFRICA’S GOLDEN GIRL

CASTER SEMENYA

aster Semenya once again blasted past her competition at the London 2017 World Championships to take the gold medal in the women’s 800m. The South African athlete, whom some like to refer to as intersex, crossed the line in a personal best time of 1:55.16. Once again the athlete is being put through unwanted scrutiny, forced scandal and controversy because of speculation surrounding her levels of testosterone.

Over the years, many publications have paraded Semenya around as if she were a freak, but as this very private lady, in a rare and candid interview with Dr Ali Bacher on SuperSport, opened up about everything she has had to endure since her rise to fame, proving to us all that she’s definitely not a freak! “I am a female; that is not a question, that is how I have been raised since I was young,” she said. “I am a woman. When I pee, I pee like a woman.” But since her initial success, the talented athlete has been subjected to invasive questioning and unwanted media attention because her femininity as well as being subjected to humiliating gender-testing. She has even been forced, by the Interna-

tional Association of Athletic Federations, to take hormones to lower her natural levels of testosterone. The hormone levels supposedly bring to question whether she has an “unfair” advantage to her competitors for something she was born with, a biological fact that she cannot change.

outside of the hetero-hegemonic norm that sport likes to stay firmly entrenched within, the Olympics have been a tough place. We may have had queer victories with the likes of Team GB hockey stars Helen and Kate RichardsonWalsh, the first gay married couple to win a medal; Tom Daley winning bronze in the men’s synchronised 10m platform with his diving partner Dan Goodfellow; and a speculated record-breaking 53 openly LGBT athletes competing; but we’ve also seen journalists queer-baiting and outing gay athletes through Grindr, homophobic chanting at the football events, and now Semenya’s success questioned because of her hyperandrogynism, a condition that means her testosterone levels are about three times higher than the “average” woman.

In 2009 she was publicly shamed because her femininity wasn’t convincing enough. The hormone treatment was stopped when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the hormones were artificially limiting her performance. In July 2010, the International Association of Athletics Federations gave her the all-clear to compete as a woman. She went on to win the silver medals at the 2011 World Championships, and at the 2012 London Olympic Games. She was the winner of the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and has repeated the performance at this year’s World Championships in London. However, president of the IAAF Sebastian Coe has pledged to overturning the CAS’s ruling. Coe’s decision is a purposeful and clear attack not only on Semenya, but queer, trans and intersex athletes, threatening their visibility and representation.

It’s clear that Semenya is an extremely fast, accomplished and dedicated athlete. It’s hardly true that her condition eliminates the need to train hard and practice in order to build on her natural sporting abilities. There is a multitude of factors that go into that training, which makes it extensively difficult to definitively measure the actual effect of naturally produced testosterone on athletic performance. It is imperative to remember that the Olympics split themselves with a sloppy gender proxy for competing, reliant on a constellation of biological markers, not a testosterone split. We do not attack men who have higher testosterone levels than other male athletes and we especially do not force them to have inhumane and wildly problematic “gender tests”. Semenya is guilty of nothing. She is an Olympic champion and it’s time we treat her like one.

Caster is openly gay. On the once off show Being Caster Semenya when questioned about her sexuality she said, “It’s something I felt from young. I always felt a bit different. When I’m with boys I feel comfortable. When I’m with girls I catch feelings. It’s not anything I can control. Today I’m a powerhouse. They know I’m a lesbian.” In January this year, the Olympic gold medallist married her long time partner Violet Raseboya (see photo - opposite) in an extravagant white wedding, reportedly having paid a large sum of money as dowry to the bride’s parents. She also holds a degree in Sports Science.

Her win stands as a victory for all those who have ever been told that they should be ashamed or change who they are. For the young queer, trans and intersex individuals who sat in their homes watching Rio, Semenya’s win was a signpost to them telling them that they can do anything they want in this world. Thank you, Semenya, for sharing your championship with us.”

One newspaper columnist, Dean Eastmond of the Independent (UK) believes that Caster has been singled out because she doesn’t look the part, heading his article, Caster “Semenya’s problem isn’t that she’s intersex – it’s that her femininity doesn’t look how we want it to” saying that, “For anyone

A true hero is someone who takes on challenges, over-comes adversity and triumphs over all. Caster has managed it all - We salute her talent, her performance, her resolve and her ability to look the world in the eye and say “This is who I am” - we wish her even greater success in the future.

FEATURE

SPORT THE JOZI CATS

he Jozi Cats is the first gay and inclusive competitive rugby team in South Africa. The club caters for adult beginners touch and contact rugby, as well as gay and inclusive competitive touch and mens contact rugby. Jozi Cats is also proud to represent South Africa in International gay inclusive men’s rugby. Founded on 28th August 2015, we began our journey with simple ideals of building a competitive, social and diverse club which welcomes players from all of playing experience and who enjoy a love for rugby. In February 2016 we received a call to aid in the recruitment of new members and to increase the visibility of Jozi Cats as a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBTQI* community. Where anyone who shares our values can join JCR club and as one of the few clubs that cater for adult beginners or previously experienced players looking for some social or competitive touch or contact rugby.

And the “Rugby, Thats so Gay” Campaign was born. Havas PR devised a bold campaign that turned gay stereotypes inside out by challenging you to ask “what does a gay rugby player look” and used the typical gay slurs one would here on the sports field to tackle homophobia in rugby. The campaign went viral and the Jozi Cats have been viewed by over 350 million people in over 146 countries worldwide.

There is no place for Homophobia in sport Our sights are set firmly on growing gay and inclusive rugby within Jozi Cats Rugby Club and the rest of the country, while ensuring we remain a safe and harassment free environment for everyone who shares the values we believe in.

The Last Year At A Glance Since our recruitment drive campaign back in May 2016: • We have grown our club numbers from around 6 to 63 new Jozi Cats, doubling our numbers since December 2016 • Hosted an AGM and sworn in a new JCR Club Management Team • Hosted our first Contact Rugby trials confirmed our first 10 contact players toward building a full team • Organised Jozi Cats Rugby jerseys for the team • Supported the LGBTIQ community with our presence at Pretoria & Johannesburg, where we had the honour of leading the march

• Hosted a 101 Touch Rugby Clinic for Adult Beginners – consist turnout of 25 – 35 players • Produced a heartfelt video to create awareness and start a conversation about blowing the whistle on homophobia in sport • Executed a cross country supporter funded #GayRugbyTour to promote inclusivity and diversity in sport and equality for all. To grow gay and inclusive rugby across the country and to blow the whistle on homophobia in sport.

2017…

• Hosted 101 Touch rugby clinic in Cape Town for the 3 clubs in the Western Province and was inspiration for the formation of the Khayelistha Cats a #SpiritOfCommunity and #SafeSpace initiative. • Supported the LGBTIQ community with our presence at Cape Town Pride in March as well as hosted a 101 touch rugby clinic to grow gay and inclusive rugby in the Western Cape province in partnership with Western Province Touch Association • Formed and entered a second Touch Rugby team into the Into Touch Rugby league at Zoo Lake Sports Club • Made a strategic move to Diggers Rugby Club for the future success of our social mandate goals as well as growing Jozi Cats Rugby Club. • Found a brave brand and values partner as the lead sponsor for Jozi Cats, now know as the ExclusiveBooks Jozicats • Being the first non European and first gay and inclusive competitive rugby club from Africa to represent our continent at the Union Cup in Madrid in April

• Embarking on a local gay rugby tour to the Pink Loeries Mardi Gras & Fine Arts Festival in Knysna to show our support to the community and create awareness of our #SpiritOfCommunity #BtheWhistle and #SafeSpace initiatives.

FEATURE

MOVIES

found solace in the Amazing Grace Conservatory, a program it seeks to empower young people of colour through the performing arts. “It changed my life,” he says. “Yo, that—to be around artists and people who would accept my odd quirks—that made me into who I am.” It’s a stark contrast with Chiron, whose high school experience makes him further question his identity—and his feelings for his childhood best friend, Kevin. As a young man, bullied for his small size and introverted personality, Chiron searches for acceptance, protection, and freedom and, in doing so, transcends the binary codes of conformity. While the movie was lauded, for its portrayal of nascent homosexuality, Ashton doesn’t quite see it as “a gay black film,” as film critics have dubbed it. “Kevin could have been Kevette,” he says. “It’s almost your classic high school love story—it just takes gender [out] of it.”

ASHTON SANDERS IN MOONLIGHT

alking about his starring role in the Oscar winning movie, Moonlight, Ashton Sanders who plays the role of the 16-year-old Chiron, he says his “soul connected with the story line”; the scenes in which Chiron is bullied make his “heart supervulnerable and raw,” because he identified with the character as he was bullied as a kid. The film is breathtaking. Told in three acts, Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, follows Chiron’s coming of age in a poverty-stricken neighborhood of Miami, Florida with an absent father and a crack-addicted mother. Ashton related to the role, having struggled with addiction in his family. At age 12, Ashton

In this respect, Moonlight is unique in its treatment of not only sexuality but also race. Just as the film portrays queer love without relating it to heterosexual romance, it also explores blackness without contrasting it with whiteness. The only white people shown in the film are seen at a distance. For Ashton, who was teased for being “dark-skinned and slim,” the film offered a “super-rare experience” through which to explore black masculinity on its own terms—without relating it to whiteness and, crucially, without labeling it. “Labels are so outdated. I am about to go in right now,” Ashton says emphatically. “People carry around all these social masks” to fit in. “The black, white, Latino [communities] all do it.” Ashton pauses, reflecting. “But Chiron didn’t have the energy to put anything on—he was drained because of his circumstances at home.” Ashton acknowledges not everyone has the freedom to throw off his or her masks, or operate beyond the roles imposed by society. For films like Moonlight and actors like Ashton to tackle these nuances head-on — to paraphrase “your boy”— is brave, truthful and insightful. Source Teen Vogue

Believe in Bloom. FEATURE To celebrate the release, M(x)Blouse shares the first listen and look with 10and5, and talks to us about the new album.

MUSIC

How would you describe your sound? I have no idea, to be quite honest, but I do know what it is I am aiming for. I have a very eclectic taste in music, and I find myself trying to fuse as much of the influences I get from what I listen to as possible. I’ve been getting into a lot of electronic music lately, and I am very keen to incorporate that into my sound, but also having been hugely influenced by 90s hip hop, I want that to come through quite clearly, which I hope it does. Why the title ‘Believe the Bloom’? The journey to getting off my ass and actually making music has been one filled with a lot of personal insecurities, but I’ve also faced a lot of rejection. I think maybe “mockery” is a strong word, but I don’t know how else to put into words the feeling of being “dissed”, so to speak. There are people who’ve laughed in my face when I said I can rap. With some people I’ve tried to work with, we’ve just never been able to make the time, and others said they wouldn’t want to work with someone who is openly gay.

M(x)Blouse Courtesy: Stefanie Jason

“I want to create music that matters, and music that speaks to being an outsider – something I’ve always felt I am in many ways,” says Joburg-based M(x)Blouse. Born in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, and raised partly in eSikhawini township, Richards Bay, M(x)Blouse speaks of suppressing, since adolescence, an innate desire to create music.

So, I kind of got to a place where I felt like no one actually believes I can do this. I’m equating this journey to planting a seed that no one believes would grow, but now I’m here saying, here’s the harvest. Believe it! You’ve been writing rhymes since high school, right? I’ve been writing poetry and rhymes ever since I can recall. Sometimes they come to me while I’m in a bus going home, or in a Uber going to the jol.

“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to be a rapper but I’ve never felt quite comfortable in that space because it’s overtly masculine. And I’m quite obviously not. Never have been. I’m non-binary and I’m a rapper, for one, and that in itself immediately makes me a kind of outsider as far as hip-hop is concerned. “I never felt like there was space there for me as someone who is neither cis or hetero. That’s one of the main reasons why, at almost 30, it’s taken me so long to decide ‘fuck it’.”

Could you please share the story behind your moniker ‘MxBlouse’? My professional background is journalism, and fashion writing specifically. There was a time in my life when I was only buying and wearing women’s blouses. A friend of mine started calling me “Blouse” and it stuck! For my stage persona, I used Mr Blouse for a long time, until recently when I decided it’s important for me to represent my non-binary community, by reinforcing the fact that, hey, I am queer, and non-binary and I’m a rapper. We exist. Acknowledge us.

After holding back on their musical expression for decades, recent years have seen the artist come out of their shell with a series of performances, and last year hitting the booth with various South African producers. The emcee recently dropped their anticipated EP, titled

FEATURE

HEALTH THE ‘TerMENology’ OF SEX

by Riaan Norval

ou have three seconds to captivate your reader. SEX! SEX! SEX! They also say that sex sells so I’m sure you are still reading!

When your viral load is high, your CD4 count is usually low. This means your immune system is low and unable to protect your body.

Fear, denial, apathy and ignorance are some of the biggest contributing factors to the transmission of HIV and other STIs - with lack of knowledge at the core of all of them. Here is a list of a few of the fundamental terms that you should know and understand in order to make informed decisions for yourself and your sexual partners.

ARVs: Taking antiretroviral (ARV) medication lowers your viral load and allows your CD4 count to increase. This treatment is usually started when your CD4 count is 350 or less. Once you start taking ARVs you need to take them correctly as prescribed, so that your CD4 count will stay up and your viral load will stay down.

Imagine I am the flight attendant just before take-off: “We will be showing our safety demonstration and would like the next few minutes of your complete attention. Even if you’re a regular flyer, please take a moment to listen to the safety instructions.”

BAREBACKING: Unprotected anal sex puts you at high risk for contracting HIV and other STIs, such as Hepatitis and Syphilis. Your risk increases with multiple sexual partners. The risk for barebacking bottoms is a bigger, but HIV but other STIs can be passed on either way.

CONDOMS AND WATER-BASED LUBE: These two should always be used together for anal sex. Anything with an oil base like hand cream or baby oil will damage the condom and cause it to tear. Water-based lube makes sex more comfortable and it enhances pleasure. CD4 AND VIRAL LOAD: CD4 cells are the most important cells in your immune system. A CD4 count tells us how many CD4 cells there are in a drop of your blood. The higher your CD4 count, the stronger your immune system is. Viral load is a measurement of how much the HI virus (the virus that causes HIV) has spread in your body. The viral load can go up to millions. Your CD4 count and viral load influence each other. When your CD4 count is high, your viral load is usually lower which is a good situation.

ORAL SEX: Although safer than anal sex without a condom, there are risks. There have not been any confirmed cases of HIV transmission through oral sex published in scientific literature. However, it is possible for transmission to occur if the person performing the blow job has small cuts or sores in his mouth and his partner ejaculates in his mouth. PEP: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency prevention measure for HIV negative people who have been exposed to the virus, where for example, a condom breaks during sex, putting them at risk of infection. PEP needs to be started within 72 hours after exposure to the virus. It helps reduce the chances of HIV infection.

UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD: Having an undetectable viral load is one important way in which people with HIV can reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission. However, achieving an undetectable viral load is not a reliable enough way to reduce the risk on its own. An undetectable viral load in the blood does not necessarily equal an undetectable viral load in the semen; it’s possible to have virus in the semen even when it’s not detectable in the blood. Even though the risk of transmission is significantly lower, technically, this means transmission could still occur. Viral load is best used as one method to reduce the risk alongside others such as consistent condom and lubricant use and sero-positioning.

ated with fear, death and difference. This is intensified when there is a sense of perceived risk and is often based on a lack of information or misinformation. Consequently many diseases, disabilities and sexualities are stigmatised. What does stigma look like? • Referring to gay or HIV positive people as dirty or diseased. • Rejecting an HIV-positive sex partner when they disclose their HIV status but having sex with them when they don’t. Discriminating against someone with HIV doesn’t make you safer. • An attitude that HIV-positive people are guilty or have somehow failed. • Gossiping about the HIV status of a person in the community and avoiding them based on the knowledge that they have HIV.

SERO-POSITIONING: Men who sero-position decide what role (top or bottom) to take when having anal sex based on their own and their partner’s HIV status. For example, you would be sero-positioning if, as an HIV positive man, you decided to bottom during anal sex for a man who was HIV negative. This is because there is less risk of infection for a top as your semen will not enter his anus. Some HIV negative guys never bottom because they know there is more risk of infection being a bottom. It remains important to use a condom and water-based lube every time (regardless of whether you top or bottom). STI: Sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhoea or herpes as well as HIV can be spread from one person to another during sex. Some are spread more easily than HIV and infection can take place even if there is no exposure to a partner’s semen or blood. Most STIs are either completely curable or can be managed with treatment. You can’t always tell if somebody has HIV or an STI by just looking at them. You also can’t go on somebody’s word to know whether they have an STI or HIV. Most guys who say they are negative cannot be totally sure of their status. Maybe they were infected since their last screening, or maybe they’ve never been screened. Some guys lie about their status and say they are negative because they are scared of rejection. Having an STI heightens your risk of contracting HIV.

Riaan Norval is the Media Coordinator for Health4Men. Health4Men is a project of Anova Health Institute NPC and is funded by PEPFAR/USAID. Health4Men provides sexual health services for MSM (men who have sex with men.)

HIV STIGMA: Stigma is the labelling of an individual or group as different or deviant. The roots of stigma are often associ-

For free screening and any information about your sexual health visit your nearest Health4Men Clinic. Visit www.health4men.co.za for clinic locations