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A mixed bag for human rights in Southern Africa in 2019

A mixed bag for human rights in Southern Africa in 2019

Abuses continued from Angola to Zimbabwe but there were also victories for people’s rights

Justice Bere purposefully and intentionally affirmed Ricky Nathanson’s gender by using her preferred pronouns of “she” and “her”. (Image via Twitter)

High court decision affirms human rights of transgender people in Zimbabwe

In a progressive judgment with far-reaching implications, the Zimbabwean high court found that transgender people have the same rights as all citizens

MPs must kill the anti-gay Bill in Uganda (Photo Archive)

MPs must kill the anti-gay Bill in Uganda

Proposed legislation imposes the death penalty for gay sex or ‘recruitment’. But love is not a crime

Sexually and gender-diverse people in rural South Africa are excluded from the systems intended to support their mental health. Photo: Reuters/Brendan McDermid

A very African queerness

Love Falls On Us by Robbie Corey-Boulet explores queer spaces across Africa

(John McCann/M&G)

Learning to live my truth as a gay person

I was 22 years old before I was open about my sexuality. I hope others won’t have to wait so long

Judge Edwin Cameron has made a tremendous positive impact on the lives of many in South Africa and this is reflected by people’s own accounts of their experiences of him. (Madelene Cronje/M&G)

Being a mensch first, Edwin-style

Above all, Justice Cameron learned and taught that you can never judge anybody by their cover

(AP)

Shining a light on lesbian experiences in Nigeria

Pamela Adie’s LGBTQIA+ documentary ‘Under the Rainbow’, celebrates resilience and the pursuit of happiness and delivers its message as a love letter

Queer-essential: Carl Collison gave LGBTI people a voice. (Delwyn Verasamy M&G)

Africa needs to hear queer stories

For the past three years, Carl Collison has reported on LGBTI issues and stories for the Mail & Guardian, covering queer peoples’ lives

The underlying message being pushed is a narrow, conservative ideology:  Be, heterosexual, traditional. Reject feminism. Reject LGBTQ rights. Photo: Antonio Bronic/Reuters

Germany plans to ban gay, lesbian ‘conversion therapy’

The German health minister plans to pass a law which prohibits gay and lesbian people from converting to heterosexual people

A mixed bag for human rights in Southern Africa in 2019

Botswana to rule on scrapping anti-gay laws

Homosexual acts are outlawed in Botswana — one of Africa’s most stable, democratic nations — under the country’s penal code of 1965

A 2016 study by the organisation found that 44% of LGBTI people surveyed said they had experienced discrimination in the previous two years, and 88% hadn’t reported these incidents.  (Reuters)

Where Kenya leads on queer rights, the rest of Africa must follow

Friday’s ruling could be a new landmark in the fight for queer rights on the continent

Warm welcome: President Cyril Ramaphosa tweeted his support for the Mr Gay World competition – a popular fixture on the global queer calendar – that was held at the Cape Town city hall. (David Harrison/M&G)

Queer parade: Change agent or dated fluff?

From Instagrammable activists to mincing, manicured Muscle Marys, this year’s Mr Gay World veered between a pageant and a movement

NG Kerk in Stellenbosch. (David Harrison/M&G)

Court to clarify NG Kerk queer ruling

The court overturned the policy that queer clergy have to be celibate and that barred the church’s clergy from officiating at same-sex marriages

Certain sections of the penal code impose a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. (John McCann/M&G)

Ways to be a super queer ally

But in trying to be supportive, allies sometimes get it all wrong

The Turkish leader’s statement came the day after Saudi authorities conceded Khashoggi had been killed inside their diplomatic compound in Istanbul. (Reuters)

Shutting down the blaming of women for rape

On Wednesday, women and gender non-conforming activists marched to mark the start of Women’s Month in South Africa and to say ‘enough is enough’

Muay thai boxer Nong Rose practises roundhouse kicks with her twin Somrak Polchareon.

Trans Thai boxer rings changes

Nong Rose is a transgender fighter who is making a breakthrough in a world reserved for ‘real’ men

Lawyers at the lawyers at the Centre for Health

Germany’s top court requires legal option of ‘third gender’

​Germany’s top court Wednesday required parliament to recognise a "third gender" from birth.

FAKA’s new EP Amaqhawe

Welcome to the self-love club

FAKA is introducing gqom — most at home on Durban’s dance floors — to a new transgressive set

Purposeful pride: People participating in Swedish Pride in Stockholm.

Africa’s queer asylum seekers in search of land of milk and honey

Sweden and South Africa are popular destinations for LGBTQ refugees, but both countries are far from perfect

The campaign also sought to firmly place the violence faced by lesbian womxn within the context of a country with pandemic levels of gender based violence.

070707: 10 years on and the struggle against homophobic hate crimes continues

The ​07-07-07 Campaign​ was borne out of this uproar with the tagline “Act to end hate”.