Hundreds of members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) community took part in the Langa Pride Parade last Saturday.

The march started in Langalibalele Road and turned towards the Langa police station where they delivered a memorandum before heading to Guga’sthebe Art Centre for formalities and speeches.

Before handing over the memorandum to the station’s Visible Policing Commander and acting station commander Lieutenant Colonel Masiza Ponco, the community made a call for all people to be treated equally.

LGBTQIA+ activist Bridgette Nkomana said they have faced discrimination and violence as a community.

The activist said after 30 years of democracy it is disappointing that they are still talking about hate crimes.

She said the scourge is regarded as a human rights violation, a major barrier to achieving gender equality and an obstacle to a country’s development.

“After so many years of democracy we are still talking about people killing us just because (of who we are). However, we have celebrated a few milestones where the Constitution of this country has been saying we need to be protected and be able to get married in South Africa. But we are very happy that we can celebrate in this very historic venue, the Gugas’thebe,” she said.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis took part in the march and said he joined because he wanted to raise awareness in all the communities about the existence and the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Mayor said it was very important that the communities protect their LGBTQIA+ rights and give them an opportunity to be themselves without fear of being judged, killed, raped or discriminated against.

“I have so much respect and admiration for the LGBT community in townships and Cape Town. It is actually very tough to be a gay person. People who are gay and LGBTQIA+ in the townships are still facing tremendous discrimination and prejudice, even violence; the terrible incidence of ‘corrective rape’ and other hate crimes. It is important to send a message that in Cape Town we accept and welcome who you are. You are a full member of our beautiful diverse community. You should never ever feel afraid in Cape Town because of who you love or the way that you love. That is not the kind of society we want to build. So we wanted to be here to send that message and to give encouragement to people who are LGBTQIA+ in townships, that we love you.”

He added that the city is trying to build a sense of inclusivity by supporting the event.

Simphiwe Mahlanyana from Langa said he was excited that attitudes towards gays and lesbians in Langa have changed. He called on the parents to support children who are gay and lesbian.

Among the grievances were the need for a prompt and sensitive investigation of hate crimes targeting individuals on their sexual orientation, the importance of taking crimes seriously and ensuring justice for victims of hate crimes, the documentation of cases involving LGBTQIA+ individuals, the implementation of comprehensive training programmes for police officers to enhance their understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community and designate and publicise safe spaces within police stations where LGBTQIA+ can report crimes or seek assistance without fear of discrimination or judgement, and implement mandatory education and training issues for all the police officers to foster understanding, respect, and improved communication with the LGBTQIA+ community other demands regarding the community.

Alfred Magwaca and the Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis assisting Bridgette Nkomana to read out the memorandum of grievances while Visible Policing Commander and acting station commander Lieutenant Colonel Masiza Ponco looks on.

Marimba bands were also part of the entertainment at the event last Saturday.

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