WHILE national government has declared its desire to stamp out homophobia with the launch of its LGBTI Programme, eThekwini City Council this week refused to throw its support behind Durban Gay Pride event which is currently being celebrated. What's more, council speaker, Logie Naidoo refused to allow councillor Martin Mayor to deliver a speech wishing the city's gay community well during the Gay Pride celebrations and failed to take a councillor to task after he exhibited homophobic behaviour.
Meyer said at the meeting of council in the City Hall on 25 June, he had tried to deliver an announcement to the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and transsexual community wishing them well for the Gay Pride event which is being held at Kings Park and to declare the city's support for the gay community and the fight against homophobia.
According to Meyer, at previous council meetings the Speaker has always allowed councillors to make such announcements from the floor, and in previous years has allowed him to raise this very point.
However, the moment he stood up in council and began speaking, ANC councillors started making cat calls trying to silence him. When he asked for protection from the Speaker, Naidoo unilaterally decided that he would not allow Meyer to speak any further.
“After this decision, an ANC councillor started making homophobic gestures at me, saying ‘sorry sissi’. This particular councillor has been reported to the Speaker previously for the same gestures and shouting homophobic abuse at me. The Speaker refused to act on it. While we are celebrating Youth Month, and going into the Gay Pride event where people unite in the name of equal rights, this action by the ANC is shocking but very telling. We live in a city where young gay men are regularly attacked, and where corrective rape of young lesbian women are still a challenge. For the ANC to allow blatant homophobia like this from their councillors goes against the spirit and the letter of our constitution,” said Meyer.
Meyer said he would, once again, lay an official complaint with the Speaker and call on him to act against the councillor in question. He also called on Mayor James Nxumalo to publicly commit council to fighting for the eradication of homophobia in the city.
The text that Coucillor Meyer was not allowed to deliver is as follows:
Gay Pride
Mr Speaker. It is that time of the year again, when I rise to ask this house to join me in wishing a part of our community well. This coming weekend, the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and transsexual community of eThekwini meets again, and ward 27 is proud to host them once more, at the annual Gay pride event at Kings Park.
This event is of great importance, Mr Speaker, as homophobia is still rife in our country, and no one seems immune to it, not even I, Mr Speaker. So I am sure that this council will rise up to wish this community well with their events this week, and with the pride parade on Saturday, but more importantly, I am sure everyone in this house, from yourself, to all the members of Exco and of course our Mayor will commit to do everything in their power to fight homophobia and discrimination against homosexuals where ever it may occur, whether in our schools, our streets or even if it occurs in this council.
So let us wish them well, and let us wish them well when this community, of which I am proud to be a member, celebrate 20 years of freedom!
