South African LGBTI Coalition Organizes Nationwide Marches to Protect the Constitution

This is about protecting the Constitution for ALL South Africans and so whether LGBTI or not, all South Africans should participate.
By Melanie Nathan, May 16, 2012.

A powerful and unified coalition of South African LGBTI groups have formed to promote nationwide marches to protest the House of Traditional Leaders to Parliament’s Constitutional Review Committee ‘s proposal to remove   the constitutional provision protecting individuals from being discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The fervor has been exacerbated by the homophobic comments made in connection with the review by a traditional Chief Patekile Holomisa, who serves as Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

“The point of the protest is not in fear of the proposal succeeding. The protest is rather out of anger that the CRC has even accepted such a proposal,” one of the organizers, Eugene Brockman from Gay Flag of SA, told Mambaonline.

A list of the venues and march details can be seen below.

Discussing the taking away of rights from any one group in South Africa is UN-SOUTH AFRICAN!

It is my hope that the South African marches organized for this week will include signage that says:

• Traditionalists leave our Rights alone
• We respect your tradition you respect  our rights
• ANC Fire Holomisa NOW
• Holomisa does not share my ANC values
• Holomisa Go Home
• We are All South Africans – The Constitution is for everyone
• If you steal my rights, You pave the way for someone to steal yours

“The Constitution is there to protect all rights duly entrenched; hence one cannot take away a right already entrenched for any single group – by doing that one sets a very dangerous precedent and endanger each and every protected group – accordingly rights cannot be subtracted they can only be added.”  Melanie Nathan, [email protected] ; @melanienathan1

PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION MARCHES:

Cape Town
Date: Sat 19 May
Time: 12 p.m. till 2 p.m.
Location: SABC offices Sea Point. Shuttle taxis to Parliament.
Other: Followed by drinks at Cafe Manhattan.
Contact: Eugene Brockman –
• Facebook event page

Johannesburg
Date: Sat 19 May
Time: 9/10 a.m. till 12 p.m.
Location: Wits parking (near Jorissen street) to Constitution Hill (Kotze Street).
Other: Drinks afterwards at Ratz bar & Melon restaurant in Melville.
Contact: Genevieve Lé Coq –
• Facebook event page

Durban
Date: Sat 19 May
Time: 10 a.m. till 1 p.m.
Location: SABC Offices (protest will take place here – no march)
Contact: Ezra Steenkamp –
• Facebook event page

Port Elizabeth
Date: Sun 20 May
Time: 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m.
Location: City Hall in Market Square
Contact: David Hessey –
• Facebook event page

http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/south-africas-shocking-consitutional-review-of-its-sexual-orientation-rights/

http://oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/south-african-traditional-leaders-insult-gay-community-with-consitutional-review/

Join the South African Constitution Protection Coalition  Face Book Page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/244760192298346/

PLEASE SIGN the Petition at
http://www.change.org/petitions/south-african-constitutional-review-comittee-protect-the-constitution-of-south-africa-as-it-is