Project Title:Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) Mobilization against Hate Crimes in South Africa

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, (LGEP) supported by the Civil Society Development Fund (CSDF) for the period between 2012 and 2013 on the project with the broader objective of combating homophobia through civic participation

The project aims at building the self -organizing and political participation by LGBTI and non- LGBTI citizens in order for them to effectively fight hate crimes and to mobilize for a conducive legal, policy and social environment that can root out hate crimes from South African society.

The above will be achieved through the facilitation and support of a sustained mass participatory organizing or social mobilization with the emphasis on local and community-based LGBTI campaigns, issues and struggles against hate crimes in identified local places. The activities to be carried out are to:

PRESS STATEMENT: SUBMISSION BY THE LESBIAN AND GAY EQUALITY PROJECT ON THE TRADITIONAL COURTS BILL THAT HAS MADE MANY RURAL LESBIANS EXTREMELY WORRIED

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP), formerly the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE) established in 1994, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works towards achieving full legal and social equality for lesbian, transgender, gay, bisexual and intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa. This is a preliminary submission to your committee on the Traditional Courts Bill. We ask you to provide space for our organization and other LGBTI organizations to make a further detailed submission and space for an oral presentation at provincial and national hearings on the Bill.

PRESS STATEMENT: LGBTI ORGANISATIONS WELCOME THE ACTION BY THE SAHRC

The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, the Durban Gay and Lesbian Community Centre and the Sonke Gender Justice Network welcome the steps taken by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate statements allegedly made by King Goodwill Zwelithini at the 133rd annual celebrations of the historic Battle of Isandlwana, where the heroic Zulu army defeated British colonial forces. We warmly applaud the SAHRC for pro-actively executing its constitutional mandate without fear, favour or prejudice.

According to media reports, King Zwelithini told the august gathering that “traditionally" people did not engage in same-sex relationships. He is further quoted as saying: “There was nothing like that and, if you do it, you must know that you are rotten. I don't care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same-sex is not acceptable," (The Times newspaper)