Standing in solidarity on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Youth joins governments and civil society organisations around the world in marking International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May. As a political youth organisation firmly committed to upholding the Constitution and its Bill of Rights, and human rights in general,  we add our voice to the chorus of condemnation against all forms of prejudice, discrimination and violence targeting LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people and LGBT youth in particular.

We express our sympathy with victims of hate crimes and their families, especially recent young victims like 24 year old lesbian activist Noxolo Nogwaza of Kwa-Thema  township who was raped and brutally murdered on 24 April, a 14 year old transgender victim of victim who was raped in Pretoria on 5 May and Nqobile Khumalo who was raped and brutally murdered in Kwa-Mashu also in early May. The DA Youth unequivocally condemns these hateful crimes and the prejudiced motives behind them in the strongest terms. They are an affront to the constitutional values of freedom, equality and human dignity which we all hold dear, and an outrage to progressive South Africans  who recognise that LGBT rights are human rights.

We also echo the sentiments of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on this matter: “As men and women of conscience, we reject discrimination in general, and in particular discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. When individuals are attacked, abused or imprisoned because of their sexual orientation, we must speak out. We cannot stand by. We cannot be silent. This is all the more true in cases of violence. These are not merely assaults on individuals. They are attacks on all of us.”

The DA Youth stands in solidarity with organisations and citizens working to combat hate crimes, homophobia, transphobia and patriarchy in general and calls on all relevant state bodies and service providers urgently to address these issues. A homophobic and hateful South Africa is not the society we wish to build as youth and we commit to ensuring the realisation of a society for all which values diversity, promotes tolerance and upholds freedom and equality for all citizens, including LGBT people.