Mayor hosts gala dinner for gay and lesbian community
Yes our constitution allows for gays and lesbians but it goes without saying that we still face challenges where they are still discriminated against.
Randfontein — The office of the Mayor within the Randfontein Local Municipality hosted a gala dinner with the gay and lesbian community of Randfontein on 6 December.
This was at the Mayor’s Palour which was packed to capacity by the attendants of both the gay and lesbian community.
According to gender officer in the office of the Mayor Jane Khoza, this was to show recognition and appreciation to the gay and lesbian community through promoting their rights and advocating issues of equality in societies.
“We still face challenges where gay and lesbian people are discriminated against,” say Khoza.
“We feel that in all the celebrations on 16 Days of Activism against women and children abuse, gays and lesbians are often left out and we wanted to bridge that gap hence we decided to embark on this event as initiated by Randfontein Executive Mayor Sylvia Thebenare.
“Through this initiative, we wanted to lobby and advocate issues of gender equality.
“We also wanted to address challenges that the gay community faces in a democratic country like ours, but most importantly, we wanted to promote acceptance,” says Khoza.
She adds that the theme of the event was ‘I belong’ which was meant to give impact to the fact that gays and lesbians are human too and they belong in our country.
At the event, a group of 6 people within the gay and lesbian community of Randfontein were chosen and will serve as part of the interim committee that will bring forth reccomdations with regards to their safety and issues of equality and acceptance in their respective communities.
