INTERGRATING LGEP CADRES INTO THE BROADER SOCIAL JUSTICE STRUGGLE

The LGEP’s vision is to see the LGBTI issues moved from being isolated from the existing social justice struggle. Through its Cadreship Development Programme the LGBTI activists mainly from the East Rand have become part of this programme and beginning to understand the significance of understanding issues beyond that of LGBTI sector.

16 cadres took part in the Global Day of Action against Climate Change. This was an experience as they travelled with other activists from other social movements on the train to Durban. During this event the cadres got exposed to a number of activities such as seminars on climate change and the environment, climate change and human rights, climate change and women, etc. The cadres further learnt slogans and songs associated with the climate change struggle. The global day of action against climate change also provided cadres with an opportunity of networking with other activists from different parts of the world. One of the favorite songs that the cadres came back from Durban was:

“Nom’ungahlal’e ICC yithies’phethe which simply means that politicians at the ICC do not have power but people do.

Some of the experiences that the cadres went through indicated to LGEP that there is still a lot of work to be done not only in integration LGBTI sector in the broader struggle, but also to educate activists from the social movements and community organizations that human rights cannot be divisible.

Forward with the struggle forward….Amandla…. Awethu!!!!!

PRESS STATEMENT: LGEP WELCOMES ROLE PLAYED BY SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY

The Lesbian and gay Equality Project (LGEP) congratulates the South African government for sponsoring a historic resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. South Africa will present this resolution for voting to Member States of the United Nations (UN) at the UN Human Rights Council session today in Geneva.

This historic resolution affirms the universality of human rights, and notes concern about acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a study on violence and discrimination on these grounds, and calls for a panel discussion to be held at the Human Rights Council to discuss the findings of the study in a constructive and transparent manner, and to consider appropriate follow-up.

Gay activists join Zimbabwe democracy protest‏

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE LESBIAN AND GAY EQUALITY PROJECT

FOR DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND QUEER EQUALITY IN ZIMBABWE

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP) joins the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition in calling on this weekend’s Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community focusing on Zimbabwe can lead to a peaceful, free, fair and legitimate democratic transition in that country. We fully endorse and support the Coalition’s call on the summit to put on public record minimum pre-conditions that Zimbabwe must meet in order to create an environment conducive to holding free and fair elections where violence and intimidation play no part and to inspire confidence in the people of Zimbabwe, in SADC and the wider international community.