ZUMA: “A SEXIST HOMOPHOBE”
Gay and lesbian organisations have issued an angry statement – through the Joint Working Group (JWG) – asserting that they “are appalled” by the recent homophobic comments by the ANC Deputy President, Jacob Zuma.
Zuma made the comments at a Heritage Day event in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. He was quoted as saying that, “Same-sex marriage is a disgrace to the nation and to God…”, adding that, “When I was growing up unqingili [homosexuals] could not stand in front of me”. Zuma said that he was speaking in his personal capacity on the matter and “as a man”.
The JWG statement says that:
“While he is entitled to his opinion, we would like to argue that his speech on Heritage Day was a form of hate speech, and an attitude that seem to suggest that gays and lesbians are not part of the proudly South African heritage. A stance a number of politicians and religious leaders have been using for political favour.
Has Zuma forgotten South Africa’s recent past; the state institutionalized discrimination, stigmatization and segregation? We had it prescribed in law where to live, how to live, who can work, where to work, who to love and who not to marry. Since 1994, we have been doing our bit to make everyday a better life for all – to make human rights – equal rights for all. So too is the freedom to marry a spouse of your choice.
Zuma’s comments display the manipulation rather than the understanding of Zulu culture and identity. Such homophobic comments display his ignorance of lesbian and gay identities and our nation’s diversity. How can a narrow-minded person like this be expected to lead our nation?
It would seem Jacob Zuma still has a lot to learn about leadership. A true leader leads with intellect and wisdom – not popularity or favour. [He shows] blatant ignorance of fundamental rights of people as enshrined in our South Africa Constitution and a total disrespect of it.”
The JWG is an alliance of registered non-profit organisations, providing services to Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa.
ZUMA SPELLS DOOMA!. Could this be true? I can’t believe what I’ve just read!!! Are we about to walk the same path as Zim? Where whites, coloureds and Indians are looked down on, not to mention homosexuals?
I’m proudly South African, and I’m the first to defend my country when friends and collgues talk it down or make negative comments about our country. But looking at the news and hearing statements like Zama made over the weekend, is starting to get to me…
Zuma. So ends our wonderful democratic society……
I agree with MPB,so what is next,all non-africans get kicked out of the country…..
Let us just hope that he is not the next president,cause the abovementioned might just happen.
Food for thought……
Those that are normally so anti-gay…have skeletons in the closet!!!
No no NO NO!!!. We cabnnot allow Zuma to be president…This country would be in ruins nad would never recover. He is the nuumber one problem that this country has and if we are not careful all the uneducated who follo him will put him in presedency…He has absolutely no respect for human life. I think all that he has been charged with recently is proof enough that he is doom for this country and all that we have all worked for would crash into nothingness. NO no No to Zuma being president!!!!!!
Look who’s commenting. I’m a bit disappointed in hearing someone like Zuma commmenting on us “Gay People” since in front of my eyes he is the most evil sinner in this world due to the act he did in sleeping with a lady who saw him as an uncle, And later he claims that after having an unprotected sex with an HIV person just get in the shower and you’ll be reducing the risk of contracting the virus. I so wish his 5yrs old grandchild must ask him was that wise.
Believe me Zuma is a rapist “umalume o dlwengulayo” please can he look at himself before including God in his stupid comment.
Well said, Thabiso!. Well said, Thabiso! I can’t believe that Zuma is the best person that we as South Africans has got to offer as a possible president! There must be someone that actually whats the best for all of us, not seeing colour, nor sex or sexual preferance! I do believe that we, as citizens of RSA are very blessed by God to have such an amazing country! It’s beautiful, diverse, colourful, and really warms my heart to be part of it! I read an artical today in the Pta News (cover story) where D Tutu was qouted in a speach. What an amazing man! I do hope God spares his live for many years to come… He doens’t see anything in colour, but rather: wrong or right! E.g.: he speaks about people urinating in public places! It’s wrong! We don’t live in the veld anymore… Show some respect to other citizens! And besides being wrong, it’s also dangerous in the sense of contaminating water, ect. The goverment IS loosing it battle against crime, with cash-in-transit robberies increasing by 75% over the LAST YEAR!!! Shocking!!! And we want to host the Soccer World Cup in 3 years? It’s time for a goverment that looks after me, and you, regardless of our skin colour or sex! I don’t want to leave my country… DO YOU? But if Zuma is our next president I might just have to leave the country. And I’m not saying me, as a white male, but me, as a homosexual male! And that my friends, would count for all of us… Black, brown, yellow, cream, pink and white!
Zuuuuuuuma. Why all the fuzz? He is an empty vessel making big noise. There is nothing he says that should be taken seriously – the trash he talks is proof of what he is made of.
Jay Ztupit. This is rich coming from him. Not so long ago he admitted to having unproted sex with an HIV positive woman. If I were you darlings I would not even worry about that moron. By the way, I’m straight!