It is, to say the least, rather ironic that President Jacob Zuma has called for a national debate on the “issue of a national moral code” around the same time that it emerged that he himself was flouting the law, that his Minister of Arts and Culture holds hateful views about gay men and lesbians, and [...]
Posts under ‘Sexual orientation’
Open letter to President Jacob Zuma
Dear President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
The media is reporting that you may appoint Jon Qwelane as South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda. I trust these reports are wrong and that the rumours about the imminent appointment of Qwelane were started by your enemies. Surely such damaging rumours have been spread by those who wish to re-enforce racist and Afro-pessimistic [...]
Just a jump to the right?
What kind of democracy do we want in South Africa? Do we want a Westminster style winner-takes-all democracy with Parliamentary supremacy in which the majority of the moment can do as it pleases – regardless of the consequences to vulnerable and marginalised sections of society? Or do we want a constitutional democracy in which the majority of the [...]
On sex, gender, sexual orientation and a world champion
Caster Semenya (pictured) won a gold medal for South Africa in the 800 meters at the world athletic championships amid a storm about her “gender” or “sexual orientation”. Newspapers report that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ordered a “gender verification test” for Semenya a few weeks ago.
The ANC called on South Africans to [...]
No justice for black lesbians?
Zoliswa Nkonyana was raped and murdered by a group of young men on 4 February 2006 in Khayelitsha because she was a lesbian. Although another young woman witnessed the attack, it is alleged that the witness had only been contacted by the Police after a journalist alerted police to her existence more than two weeks [...]
A tale of two interviews at the JSC
When a candidate is interviewed by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) – either for a promotion or for first time appointment on the bench – he or she must expect to field difficult questions from commissioners. But when do the questioners overstep the line by asking unfair questions not in keeping with the spirit [...]
On freedom of religion and the gay music teacher
Where does freedom of religion end and respect for the constitutional values of equality and dignity begin? I ask because I see some religious groups have expressed disquiet at the recent ruling of the Pretoria High Court that the NG Kerk in Moreleta Park unfairly discriminated against a gay music teacher when it fired [...]
Constitutional Court considers age of consent
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been taking a lot of flack recently. The President suspended its boss and it has been vilified by pro-Zuma supporters for its handling of the Jacob Zuma case. So I am hesitant to add to its misery. Yet, after reading its submission to the Constitutional Court in the case [...]
John Qwelane, homophobe, at it again
John Qwelane is a well known homophobe and he has published several hateful articles about gay men and lesbians. I suppose it should come as no surprise that he was at it again this weekend in his column in that august publication, The Sunday Sun.
In the piece Qwelane writes about the Anglican Church’s internal rift [...]
On the Daily Voice and the “M” word
I am not in the habit of reading the Daily Voice tabloid published in Cape Town. It is not the screaming headlines, the picture of a bare-breasted woman on page three, the bad lay-out or the even worse writing that makes me avoid this publication. Nor is it, I would hope, any elitist or superior [...]
