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Verbal and physical expressions of homophobia against black lesbians are on the increase: In February this year, Zoliswa Nkonyana was beaten and stabbed in front of her house by a gang of men in Cape Town for being a lesbian. In September 2005, a young lesbian nearly bled to death during the Johannesburg Pride after being attacked while on the Forum for Empowerment of Women float. In December 2004 a 22 year-old lesbian was raped in Meadowlands, and in the same month, another teenage lesbian was raped in Mohlakeng. Earlier that year, in May, a 16 year old lesbian was raped in Ratanda, and in March of the same year a 17-year old lesbian was raped in Kagiso. These cases have received much media coverage but not much seems to have been done to counter such violence. As part of the Sixteen Days of Activism, the Gender and Development Unit at the HSRC and the Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre will jointly host a day-long round-table discussion on Gender-based violence, black lesbians, hate speech and homophobia on Wednesday, 6 December at the Irene Country Lodge, near Pretoria.
The round-table discussion, which is funded by the Foundation for Human Rights, will focus on this manifestation of intolerance and violence in South Africa. Prominent speakers will highlight case study experiences of violence against black lesbians, and offer human rights and gendered intervention strategies to collectively address the problem. Besides verbal inputs, there will also be short documentary screenings focused on violence against black lesbians. ‘Despite the significant advances in our constitution that guarantees the right to dignity, respect and equality, many of our sisters are still brutally assaulted simply for being lesbian’, says Professor Vasu Reddy, a chief research specialist at the HSRC and coordinator of the roundtable. ‘The moment has come for us to challenge and confront such violence.’ Note to Editors:
Requests for interviews with women subjected to violence can be arranged with any of the following:
Professor Cheryl Potgieter, head of the Gender and Development Unit, HSRC: 082 808 2253
Professor Vasu Reddy, Gender and Development Unit, HSRC, cell phone: 082 337 2057
Ms Nonhlanhla Mkhize, director, Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre, cell phone: 083 748 9565 or landline: (031) 3012145
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