Smart, young and full of spunk – Siya Khumalo

Here’s why you should get to know Siya Khumalo: He’s actively challenging notions of how queerness and Africanness intersect with religion and culture – and doing it with style. Siya has come out as a proudly LGBT black African man – not only to friends and family but to the world. This past year alone he’s participated […]

Hypocrisy of anti-gay clerk’s religious “values” laid bare

The woman who’s mounted a “moral” crusade against gay marriage in the US state of Kentucky on the basis of her Christian beliefs has been shown to be a hypocrite. It was already known that Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has been married not once, twice, or three, but four times. That effectively means she’s […]

Queer Christians: SA churches must stop firing LGBTI people

As an openly lesbian former minister takes the Methodist Church to the Constitutional Court this week, a group of queer Christians has urged churches to address LGBTI exclusion in the same way they were called to challenge Apartheid. On Friday, the court will hear the potentially ground-breaking discrimination case of Ecclesia de Lange, who was dismissed by the […]

SA committed to regional LGBTI summit

The South African government said this week that it remains committed to hosting the long-delayed regional summit on LGBTI equality. On Monday, international and local dignitaries gathered at the offices of OUT LGBT Well-being for the announcement of the US-led Global Equality Fund’s new grant to the Love, Not Hate campaign. The programme, first launched […]

Alarm as SA’s oldest LGBTI organisation faces closure

Cape Town’s Triangle Project, the longest-running LGBTI organisation in South Africa, is facing a dire financial crisis and needs your help to survive. First established in 1981 under the name of GASA 6010, Triangle today offers health and other support services to LGBTI people throughout the Western Cape, with a dedicated seven-member team. Alarmingly, the […]

Sowetan doesn’t know difference between gay men and trans women

In an astonishing display of ignorance, the Sowetan newspaper has revealed that it believes that gay men are transgender women. On the weekend, the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) announced at its 12th National Conference that it will welcome transgender women in its ranks. The Sowetan on Tuesday, however, reported the news under the bizarre front page […]

Judge Cameron: Coming out key to African LGBT equality

Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron says that increased visibility of LGBT people is the key to ensuring equality in Africa. Justice Cameron made the statement at a rousing talk and discussion last week at Wits University in which he spoke about his own coming out as well as his thoughts on the state of LGBT […]

Anti-gay fervour spikes ahead of Obama’s Kenya visit

As homophobic incidents spread ahead of President Obama’s visit to Kenya later this month, the White House says that the American leader may well address LGBT rights during the trip. Obama’s pending visit has ignited a firestorm of anti-gay sentiment in Kenya, as politicians and traditional and religious leaders have warned him not to bring […]

Homophobic UCT student leader becomes darling of religious bigots

LGBTI students at UCT are ramping up pressure against homophobic SRC Vice-President Zizipho Pae, who has become a poster child for the anti-gay religious lobby. The newly formed UCT Queer Revolution (UCTQR) held a press conference at the university on Tuesday to address Pae’s now infamous Facebook comment describing the legalisation of same-sex marriage in […]

NG Kerk head calls for full acceptance of gay ministers & same-sex marriage

The general moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church (or NG Kerk) has urged the church to fully welcome gay ministers and same-sex marriages. Netwerk24 quoted Prof. Nelus Niemandt as saying: “My hope is that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (orientation) will be normalised (in the church).” Speaking in his personal capacity, Niemandt stated that […]