by Melanie Nathan, Oct 07. 2012.
South African lesbian feminists called for a pause, a minute of silence at the Johannesburg (Joburg) Gay Pride Parade, to remember lesbians and LGBTI victims of homophobic murders, yet were denied their moment by Pride organizers.
A group calling themselves One in Nine chanted “one minute of silence” and then lay down along the route, singing songs noting oppression and the fight for visibility to end homophobia.
It would seem from the video that Johannesburg Pride organizers and marchers preferred to overrun the request, rather than allow the voices of the lesbians to be heard.
Invoking apartheid’s “I am black and I am gay- I am oppressed because I am black and because I am gay and so I must fight for both,” the group noted that despite the demise of apartheid and an all inclusive constitution, in effect the oppression is the same. ” Both forms of oppression, two decades into the ‘new’ South Africa remains, as black lesbians they are targets of hate and LGBTI community seems itself to foster old boundaries.
The call is out that Johannesburg Pride, and others too, have traded political content for capitalism.
While the video clearly shows the rejection of the group Pride organizers have touted Johannesburg Pride this year as follows:-
Over the weekend, an estimated 15,000 people braved the rain and cold to attend Johannesburg Gay Pride. To make the event more inclusive, reports Transracial, parade organizers arranged for free shuttle buses from outlying township to the parade route in the northern suburb of Rosebank. The SABC reports: “This year’s activities are focused on addressing hate crimes against gays and lesbians. Some wore paper bags over their heads so as not to be identified. Others wore bright and daring attires as part of the event.”
I have sent requests for comment by Pride organizers and will update this post when I receive a response.
While my BLOG broke this news – more can be read from a new article describing ‘One in Nine’ side at http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/1450 and from JHB Pride side at their website.
The One In Nine Campaign was established in February 2006 at the start of the rape trial of Jacob Zuma, to ensure the expression of solidarity with the woman in that trial as well as other women who speak out about rape and sexual violence. The Medical Research Council (MRC) study on sexual violence (2005) indicated that only one out of every nine rape survivors report the attack to the police. This statistic prompted the name: “One In Nine”. Furthermore, statistics indicate that of the cases that do reach the courts, less than 5 % of the rapists are convicted. This highlights the serious need for reform of the institutional framework for responding to women who speak out.
VISION
The One In Nine Campaign works for social justice in a society where the sexual rights of women are respected, upheld and advanced.
MISSION
The One In Nine Campaign works with organizations and institutions involved in HIV/AIDS, violence against women, women’s rights, human rights, and lesbian, gay and bisexual activism to ensure that the issue of the sexual rights of all women is addressed through
Building solidarity , Feminist Knowledge Production, Media, Justice and Legal transformation, Direct action
https://www.facebook.com/groups/10123398375/
Anger Mounts as Yet Another Lesbian Murdered in South African Gay Killing Field
by Melanie Nathan on July 5, 2012
By Melanie Nathan, July 05, 2012. While South African authorities continue to bungle investigations and fail to provide protection, panic and anger seems to be increasing amongst South Africa’s LGBTI Township communities, with the recent spate of hate murders. Yet another lesbian is reported raped and murdered. The 29 year old was found brutally raped […]
South African Lesbian Shot Dead in Front of Family
by Melanie Nathan on June 25, 2012
Signals rise of rampant violence against lesbians in South African Townships Melanie Nathan, June 25, 2012. Phumeza Nkolonzi, a young lesbian from Nyanga Township was brutally murdered last night in front of her family and activists are asserting the motive was hate. The murder occurred at her family home in Mau Mau, Nyanga, a township […]
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PoochParkWear customizes hoodies and t-shirts, the good, the naughty, the in between, whether proud or quirky let them be seen. We also offer biker jackets, croc or pleather collars, a variety of collar charms, and our special Zinja beaded collars made by a co-op of HIV-positive South African women, the Sisonke women who weave the beads onto the collars.
Hello Melanie
I do not know if you personally were at the Pride last weekend to witness this debacle. I was, and to be honest they were a talking point after the pride, but not for any good reasons.
They organised something that only caused a mess for them and didn’t forward their cause in the slightest!! I saw these ladies with their t-shirt stating “Stop the misuse of women’s bodies” – that could only be something to do with rape, yes? well that’s what me and my friends thought. At the time, we had to step over these people lying in the road – and can I tell you what we discussed at the time? We asked ourselves who are these people disrupting the pride? what is their purpose? what is their message? and why would a straight bunch do this? are they an anti-gay bunch?
As you can see, we had no clue to their correct purpose, and even the afternoon, the rest of the weekend, I had no clue. Only when I read your blog did I know what was happening. And that was a waste of their time!! all they did was to anger the marchers, both gay & straight, by their actions. I would certainly never support them in the future! if their only way is to disrupt a march of peace by their silly antics, then I will not support their purpose, even though I am sure they have a good purpose but the way they sent it out to us was in bad taste.
We really thought is was an anti-gay thing so we disregarded it completely, and is that how they want to let their legacy continue? I propose they apologise profusely, but being who they are I think they will think they got their message across. They got something across, but not what they thought.
You are welcome to forward my email to them, I certainly have no time for people who do not want me to spend time with them if this is their way of putting across a message.
Btw, I got asked on Monday if I heard of the group of lesbians that were vandalising cars at the pride…. I can only guess that this was them again.
They certainly made a mess of their reputation in the gay community!!
Thanks Steven. Your comment makes complete sense. I will send you a personal e-mail and introduce you to the people. I think the community needs some mediation and I have some suggestions. None of this happened cthe right way and tere are fair arguments on all sides of the debacle. Thank you so much for commenting in this way – it is greatly appreciated.