The Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD) recently hosted a Provincial Rainbow Dialogue for the LGBTIQA+ community.
The dialogue was in celebration of Pride Month, which is observed annually during October to celebrate the diversity and equality of the LGBTIQA+ community.
The event brought together families, friends, partners and NPOs such as Thato One Big Family, to discuss issues affecting the queer community and to raise awareness on available programmes offered by the department.
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Social work policy developer under social crime prevention and victim empowerment programme, Estelle Otto stated that the LGBTIQA+ community continue to face hate in society, prejudice and even deadly violence every year.
“Some of the challenges people from the LGBTIQA+ sector face include discrimination; others feel unaccepted by families because of their sexual orientation and some suffer from mental health issues at a young age into adulthood,” said Otto.
“As the GBV unit, we always try to prevent hate crimes. We work together with various stakeholders including the Gauteng Department of Community Safety to render awareness programmes in communities to encourage tolerance.”
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DSD director for social crime prevention and victim empowerment programme, Pearl Moabelo, echoed: “In terms of the legislative framework, we are getting there but there are still grey areas.
“However, we appreciate your honesty as the queer community. We are here to engage and we hope the engagements will continue at a bigger platform.”
One of the resolutions that came from the group discussions was that society needs to learn and accept the LGBTIQA+ community and that parents must stop being in denial and rather offer them the necessary support.
DSD during the 2023/24 financial year, has supported 1 125 LGBTIQA+ beneficiaries with psychosocial support services.
