Comments on: CAN THE GAP BE BRIDGED?

By: Lidia Theron

Lidia Theron — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Homophobia within the LGBTI community. This is something that is bothering me for years, already. When I was confronted with it he first time – about five or six years ago, I was disgusted and very disappointed. I could actually not belief it. Here was I, a straight person and mother of a lesbian, who fight for the rights of LGBTI people, confronted with this absurdity.

Come to think of it, another thing that is still bothering me, is the use of the word ‘sodomy’ (derived from the name of Sodom). Do we thereby acknowledge that the biggest sin of the people in the city of Sodom was to be gay?To say the least, the word ‘sodomy’ is a humiliation and should be scraped out of the dictionary, this is how strong I feel about it.

By: james

james — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, Luiz, it is good that your were there, and that you offer an account of the event on your website.
I have a few things to add: you rather overplay Ms Funda’s “contribution” at the meeting. Certainly what came through was her hurt and anger, two sides of the same coin. But precisely that emotiveness rendered her largely incoherent. She called for some kind of “resolution” to come from the meeting, an unrealistic and misguided aim. She moved towards offering some terms for that resolution “1) “We must unite.” No doubt useful, but how practical? what content was given to that slogan? none. and point number two and any subsequent points never emerged. What one could deduce was the inadequacy of hurt and anger as catalysts to either thoughtfulness or action./ McKaiser’s autobiographical snippets were no doubt interesting to him, but hardly constituted an attempt at addressing the specific points that the meeting’s speakers had been asked to focus on./ Justice Yacoob was almost alone in being able to see the wood for the trees, and make some very challenging points which most of the speakers were self-defeatingly incapable or unwilling to identify./ Justice Cameron’s point is the one you endorse in the last sentence of your last paragraph. But I wonder how many of your readers will even read your account of that meeting? The complacency of the (especially white) middle class gay men is close to a form or criminal negligence, and neither the Country Club meeting nor any thing you write will begin to address that default.

By: Wayne van Niekerk

Wayne van Niekerk — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

James, you are so right. I am openly gay – out and proud. I must admit that it was a lesson to learn that there are very few gay men willing to take on the system or fight for their rights. There have been a number of issues areound homophobia in my city of PE. I take on the system through the media etc.. but often feel I am alone.I then get calls from gay friends and family who want to know why I am being so contoversial !?? As I say to them – “Guys I have made it – I am a successful businessman, met my only partner 14 years ago and I am proud to be gay – there are out there though, young gay guys who are confused and need guidance and I will be damned if anyone is going to shout hate speech in this city without there being a direct reaction to protect those guys from further hurt. Most gay people just seem so apathetic. The first gay pride in PE was a huge success so possibly we are turing a corner???