'Gay rights still just a promise'
http://www.gbmnews.com/articles/1245/1/039Gay-rights-still-just-a-promise039/Page1.html
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Published on 08/19/2007
by Candice Bailey
South Africa may have an advanced constitution but it has a long way to go before the constitutional promises relate into meaningful realities for its gay and lesbian citizens.
Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Cameron said there was a substantial disjunct between constitutional promises of equality for all and the realities on the ground.
"We have come very far. We have much to rejoice about and we did embrace a democratic constitution. But we have failed to relate those into meaningful realities.
South Africa may have an advanced constitution but it has a long way to go before the constitutional promises relate into meaningful realities for its gay and lesbian citizens. Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Cameron said there was a substantial disjunct between constitutional promises of equality for all and the realities on the ground.
"We have come very far. We have much to rejoice about and we did embrace a democratic constitution. But we have failed to relate those into meaningful realities.
'Gay rights still just a promise'
by Candice Bailey
South Africa may have an advanced constitution but it has a long way to go before the constitutional promises relate into meaningful realities for its gay and lesbian citizens.
Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Cameron said there was a substantial disjunct between constitutional promises of equality for all and the realities on the ground.
"We have come very far. We have much to rejoice about and we did embrace a democratic constitution. But we have failed to relate those into meaningful realities.
"There is rampant racism, rampant inequality and prejudice against gays and lesbians. We have a long way to go before the constitutional promises are translated."
Cameron was addressing Rainbow UCT, the university's gay and lesbian rights organisation on gay rights. His lecture comes after several murders of lesbians in July.
A 23-year-old lesbian was murdered in Ezakheni, Ladysmith on July 22. Two weeks earlier, Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa were raped, tortured and murdered in Meadowlands in Soweto.
"We need to reach a point where everyone can feel protected in their lifestyles."
Cameron, who said he was enormously proud to be gay, said the issue of sexual orientation was one that tested the commitment of putting the past in the past.
He said that while people talk openly about sex, sexual orientation still made people uncomfortable.
While sexual orientation was often characterised as a sin, a crime, a pathological deviation or a perverse lifestyle choice it was actually a variant of human existence.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20070814114126788C419851
South Africa may have an advanced constitution but it has a long way to go before the constitutional promises relate into meaningful realities for its gay and lesbian citizens.
Supreme Court of Appeal Judge Edwin Cameron said there was a substantial disjunct between constitutional promises of equality for all and the realities on the ground.
"We have come very far. We have much to rejoice about and we did embrace a democratic constitution. But we have failed to relate those into meaningful realities.
"There is rampant racism, rampant inequality and prejudice against gays and lesbians. We have a long way to go before the constitutional promises are translated."
Cameron was addressing Rainbow UCT, the university's gay and lesbian rights organisation on gay rights. His lecture comes after several murders of lesbians in July.
A 23-year-old lesbian was murdered in Ezakheni, Ladysmith on July 22. Two weeks earlier, Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa were raped, tortured and murdered in Meadowlands in Soweto.
"We need to reach a point where everyone can feel protected in their lifestyles."
Cameron, who said he was enormously proud to be gay, said the issue of sexual orientation was one that tested the commitment of putting the past in the past.
He said that while people talk openly about sex, sexual orientation still made people uncomfortable.
While sexual orientation was often characterised as a sin, a crime, a pathological deviation or a perverse lifestyle choice it was actually a variant of human existence.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20070814114126788C419851