With June being Pride Month, Southport resident Rico Joubert has welcomed the swearing-in of MEC Martin Meyer, who is open about being a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community.
Meyer of the DA was recently sworn in as the new KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure.
Pride Month is dedicated to supporting people within the LGBTIQ community, uplifting their voices and celebrating their existence.
In June in KZN, there have traditionally been parades, protests, and the LGBTIQ symposium by the KZN Legislature.
Wearing a rainbow tie, Meyer told the media that his appointment was a significant symbolic step for the LGBTIQ community in KZN, saying that more so because the province is perceived as having more conservative, patriarchal and traditional values.
Welcoming Meyer’s appointment, Joubert said it was time the government, the law and police protected people within the LGBTIQ community.
He said people are being beaten and killed for openly expressing their sexuality.
“People are being judged based on who they choose to love, and they are being killed for it. I ask myself when it became okay to dictate to people who they can love and who they shouldn’t love. Where did we go wrong? We should be judged by our characters, talents and strengths and not by who we choose to give our hearts to,” said Joubert.
He explained that he understood why some people hide who they truly are, saying that some people are in the closet (not open about their sexual preferences) out of fear of being disowned by parents and being judged by friends and co-workers.
“I would advise young people not to come out as members of the LGBTIQ community. I would rather have them focus on empowering themselves and being independent. Everything else will fall into place,” he said.
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