Amanzimtoti support march planned in wake of homophobic assault

A HOMOPHOBIC-fuelled assault on an Amanzimtoti man at Toti main beach has led to LGBTQI-activist organisation, Same Love Toti kickstarting a local campaign that decries hate crimes against people of different sexual orientation.

Same Love Toti’s Kim Lithgow calls on the community to speak out against hate and violence at a public support march to be held this Saturday, 23 February at 10am at Toti main beach, where the assault took place.

Read also: Amanzimtoti LGBTI group offers support and guidance 

This march is planned as a peaceful show of solidarity with Michael Anderson (21), who was assaulted and kicked in the head on Saturday, 2 February while waiting for friends at Toti main beach. Anderson’s ‘Durban Pride’ T-shirt was shredded by three men who assaulted and threw him to the ground, while they shouted homophobic slurs and taunts at him.

“We will gather there to show that all people, straight or gay, transgender or cisgender, are welcome in Amanzimtoti and especially at Toti beach,” said Lithgow.

“Show your support for Michael, and all those of diverse gender and orientation, and show everyone that hate and violence are not part of the Amanzimtoti community.

Lithgow said Amanzimtoti is a wonderfully caring community, and hatred and violence has no place in this town, hence the positive-themed hashtag campaign which she hopes will affirm the town’s stance.

Incase you missed this: Amanzimtoti LGBTI group to break barriers with Same Love campaign 

“Michael was attacked for being perceived to be gay, his attackers did not know him and they judged him by their own ideas of what ‘gay’ looked like,” she said. “Instead of simply respecting that we live in a diverse society, they resorted to violence. Same Love Toti calls on everyone to speak out against hate and against violence.”

#InMyTown is SLT’s campaign, which aims to reaffirm Amanzimtoti’s commitment to all its positive, open-minded and tolerant characteristics. Lithgow asked that the people of Toti focus on the positive attributes of fellow community members. Take a selfie, use the hashtag #InMyTown and use one or more of the following phrases that resonates with you:

• We are loving
• We are caring
• We are supportive
• We are inclusive
• We are accepting
• We are affirming
• We are diverse
• We respect others
• We are all human
• We are all valid

Michael’s emphatic Facebook post about the assault was directed to his attackers:

“I am more than just a gay man. I am a son, a brother, grandson, cousin, godfather, friend, future teacher, poet and an artist. I am more than my lifestyle choices. A person is defined by so much more than just their sexuality, it shouldn’t affect anyone anymore and people need to get out of their reserved little minds and start living in reality.”

Lithgow described Michael as a caring and lovely person.

“I have known him for a few years now. This is homophobia at it’s ugliest,” she said. “If you support gay rights and believe in equality for all humans, do so openly. Schools need to actively engage in sensitisation programmes to end this hatred and ignorance. Businesses need to have workshops to educate their staff. Same Love Toti can provide those presentations to educate youth and adults.

Our aim is to work for inclusion and dignity for everyone, to end ignorance and misconceptions around LGBTI, to prevent depression and suicide and to give hope and self-worth to the broken.”

Call Kim Lithgow on 084-700-2536 or follow Same Love Toti on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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