“Gay rights are human rights.”
Tafelsig was lit up in colours on Saturday 25 June for an awareness walk to promote equality and acceptance of all, despite their race, gender or sexual orientation.
Organised by local activist Joanie Fredericks, in partnership with Provincial Minister for Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, the Pride Month awareness activity in Tafelsig was born out of continued attacks on persons of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and many others (LGBTQIA+) community on the Cape Flats.
“When it comes to gender-based violence, people have a negative attitude toward those (affected). I want to say to you that God loves us all,” says pastor Franklin Williams of the faith organisations in Mitchell’s Plain.
He also opened the event with a prayer.
The initiative started with an awareness walk from Olifantshoek to Pyrenees Street in the Tafelsig area.
Fredericks, who describes herself as an openly lesbian activist, says she was happy to see the support for this initiative. “I am absolutely honoured, deeply touched, moved and inspired. For many years, I have been flying my own flag as an openly gay woman, someone who is a community leader but also a lesbian woman raising the flag,” she says.
“It is an extremely lonely road. For many years, I have been looking out for who would join me, but unfortunately, this is a very sensitive issue. I see it in my organisations daily.”
Fredericks says prejudice is still rife.
“This is a historic event. Tafelsig is more than just gangsterism and crime. We received reports that the gangsters were going to come and disrupt, that the churches would come in their numbers to disrupt,” she says.
Fredericks says they operate without fear.
“I was born gay, but I chose freedom by being open. How can I be telling young lesbian, gay and queer youth to speak out and ask for help if I am not open and proud.”
Queer activist Emogen Moore who walked the route in full drag complete with a pair of platform heels says it’s time they take a stand.
“I started an advocacy for hate crime, creating awareness for those souls we have lost to hate crimes. In our communities, hate crime is rife. We need to start teaching our young kids, because older kids have a mentality of their own,” says Moore.
“We must start at a grassroots level, educating these young kids to respect each other, to love each other and make sure they respect the LGBTQIA+ community. What can happen in the next five years is there will be no hate crime, because at a grassroots level, they were taught to love.”
Moore says advocacy at schools and teaching respect for all humans is the way to go about this.
Mbombo says Pride Month must be commemorated. “It must not become just something that we do like everything else,” she says.
Pride Month (June) was first commemorated in the United States in the late 60s.
“South Africa has adopted it, but while we have a beautiful constitution that recognises everyone as equal, you find that people – especially the LGBTQIA+ community – are discriminated against,” she says.
Mbombo referred to the instance of persons, identifying as anything other than traditional male or female roles, being forced to use bathrooms based on how they look, rather than how they identify.
This is something they aim to change at the health facilities, she says.
This was also an awareness for the “nothing for us, without us” campaign which calls for inclusivity. When asked why not take the initiative to the CBD, Mbombo says the outlying areas, such as the townships and Cape Flats, are where much of the prejudice still exists. This includes hate crimes such as corrective rape. She adds that while there is a huge movement towards gay rights for Pride festivals held in town, not all feel included.
Member of provincial parliament, Ricardo Mackenzie, also supported the event.
“We must show love and tolerance to everyone in our community. We are all of one God. There are more that unites us than separates us,” says Mackenzie.
Ismail De Jongh, an openly gay resident, shared his testimony of struggling through bullying for being himself. “I am me and it has not been an easy road to get here. My story is not different from anyone else. Yes, I was bullied and verbally abused for being different, but I survived,” he says.
His main goal was to reiterate that it takes nothing to give people their freedom and respect and that gay rights is human rights.
“I am proud to be gay,” he says.
Faith leader Elizabeth Petersen from the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI) says she cannot understand the need to even have occasions such as this.
“We have to make a point of raising awareness and challenging people who abuse and violate other people because of their sexual orientation. All of us know what oppression is. There is not a single person who can say they have not been oppressed or violated because you are different, apparently. We know what it is to feel that, treated as if you don’t belong.”
Pumeza Runeyi who represented the Western Cape LGBTQIA+ forum says they work closely with churches to inform inclusivity. She says they have worked in various communities and are happy to now also establish a working relationship with Tafelsig organisations.
The initiative was also supported by various ward councillors.
Norman Adonis, Ward 92 councillor, says it is good to see Tafelsig as part of the LGBTQIA+ activism.
“I am a gay councillor, but it is not about me being gay, it is about me as a person. Once upon a time I was also deprived when I came out to my family. I was denied at church, I was denied at family gatherings but I needed to stand up for myself. It was not about them, it was about me and today I am happy,” he says.
“For the community of Tafelsig and Mitchell’s Plain, for too long we have looked at each other as if we do not exist. Before you show a finger, think about who you are.”
Ward 82 councillor Washiela Harris says: “I am so privileged to be here to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Being a muslim and standing up for the next human, we also get crucified (for our position). This is an inclusive event showing that all residents, we see them as one.”
