Comments on: DA MP CRITICISED FOR GAY PROTEST COMMENTS

By: Dylan

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

I’m beyond disillusioned with the DA. And one dare not criticise them. Oh no. They don’t take well to what they dish out all day. May we have another opposition party please?

By: BA

BA — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The DA is just a lot of hot air trying to chase ANC opinion. Please give us a better party!

By: User?

User? — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

What this man is saying is insensitive given all the violence that the gay community in South Africa faces. However, he does have a point when it comes to ‘educating’ the ‘bigots’. Unfortunately it’s in most peoples nature to fear the ‘unknown’. Awareness is the best cure for homophobia. More effort has to be made by the gay community in this front.

By: R

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

I don’t think Manny de Freitas realises how contradictory his letter was. Sure we need to educate people more about being gay, but look at how those cheif leaders went about LBGTI issues in front of him. If he truely believes talking about during tea time will solve anything he’s than he’s a bigger duch than he portrays. He even had the nerve to downplay HIV/AIDS as if he was talking about diabetes or somthin… r u fuckin kidding me?! What a very dangerous statement from a leader!! So long as there is no cure or a treatment to get rid of it, it will always be an issue. Ask someone who has to live with HIV/AIDS if it’s as trivial as Manny de Freitas is making it out to be. Yes a serious apology is in order here. This is a good example why we need more LBGTI to get into politics. Percpective is paramount in leadership as a whole and these narrow minded veiws from the above mentioned leaders is a deterant on progress.

By: steven

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

Mr de freitas should rather not comment he is gay himself and in the closet!!!!!DISSAPOINTED

By: Lance Weyer

Lance Weyer — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I certainly don't believe De Freitas "mocked" anyone or had any intention to. In fact his own partner was at the one of the protests. As one of only two openly gay MP's willing to support gay issues publicly think De Freitas deserves to be applauded and not hauled over the coals by people looking for a story where there is not one.

The worst thing we can do as the gay community is alienate our own kind when for the first time in years the community has worked together on something.

Organisers of the protests and myself said before the protests that we were not worried that the constitution would be changed, but against traditional leaders who do not respect out constitution. (See also debate on the Traditional Courts Bill)

We no longer need to flight for rights, as they do exist on paper, but we need to see that those rights are recognised. LGBTI people are still being discriminated against and persecuted, and for many the rights protected in the constitution seem a million mile's away.

Furthermore, the heading of this article smacks of sensationalism. The DA is the only party that has proved that it is fully behind the LGBTI community, and was the only party that when the Civil Union Bill was debated in parliament said that having the word "union" instead of "marriage" for same-sex couples was a form of discrimination. Africa's first openly-gay politician and parliamentarian (also DA), Ian Ollis, is a representative of the Gay Flag of South Africa and played a role in the adoption of the historic resolution condemning violence and discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation at the United Nations. The party's leader, Helen Zille has stated that she fully endorses the Constitutions Bill of Rights and its commitment to the right of all to determine their sexual orientation, going on to say that everyone has the right to be themselves and live a life they value. This does not sound like a party that would mock LGBTI people.

By: All for1

All for1 — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

In reply to BA. A better party? Let me guess...you vote ANC?
Case closed!

By: Bob

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

Everytime a lesbian is raped for corrective purposes – the fight isn’t over. Every time a child is called queer, fag, fruit and made to feel worthless because of his/her sexuality – the fight isn’t over. The reality is that even liberals, even gay people, even white people, even black people get it wrong and people have the right to express themselves and say no it’s not okay. He doesn’t need to be flagellated (unless he wants to) but it is being a bit out of touch with reality to think the LBGT community have nothing to fight for.

By: Brett

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

So everyone takes one line from the letter and jumps on it? FFS! Read it in context people. You're as bad as Bible punchers. All he's saying is do something to educate the bigots.

It's this Twitter landscape you all live in these days: anything longer than 140 characters and your brain goes mushy.

By: Daniel

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

The comment which so casually discusses AIDS is reprehensible. The tone is paternalistic and the DA’s whole narrative of “you’re too stupid to understand constitutional democracy” is not only getting rancid but also displays their disdain for their constituency. Way to go. You lost a lot of support.