The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has learnt with shock unfortunate and reckless hate rhetoric statement against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) community attributed to the President of the Truth and Solidary Movement Party, Mr. Mehmet Vefa Dag.
The context of this controversy is that Mr. Dag, a Turkish immigrant takes offence at the rainbow strip painted on Somerset Road, Greenpoint, Cape Town, in celebration of Pride Month. Pride Month is celebrated around the world every year to bring visibility to the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. In a twitter post, Dag said: “You can be gay, but we are not gay, we are straight people of Cape Town. Don't push into our communities your disgraceful agenda,”
The anti-LGBTQ+ attack by Mr. Dag goes against the very foundational principles of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Furthermore, the Bill of Rights in the Constitution also advocates for the human rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom. The Constitution further states that no one should be discriminated against on the basis race, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, sexual orientation, etc.
Mr. Dag’s statement against the LGBTQ+ community and his threats to ban LGBTQ+ community should his party win an election is a serious threat to these democratic principles.
The CGE views the rainbow painting on the pedestrian crossing painting on a road in Cape Town as an affirmation of the rights of LGBTQ + community. In a country where hate crimes against LGBTQ+ community is rife, such statement should be condemned with the contempt it deserves. The CGE is calling upon other provinces to do like Western Cape and paints some of their roads or streets with LGBTQ colours, and to respond to instances of hate violence aimed at the queer and trans community.
This would send a message of political will and commitment to ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community exercise their constitutional right to freedom of association. Moreover, this communicates to Dag and others who perpetuate a harmful narrative against the queer and trans community that South African society is tolerant and respectful of all the people that reside within its borders.
“Mr. Dag is at most instigating violence and this unfortunate statement might put the lives of many LGBTQ+ person in danger. The CGE is calling upon Mr. Dag to retract his hate rhetoric statement and apologise to the LGBTQ+ community”, says Advocate Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality.
Javu Baloyi
Spokesperson
Cell: 083 579 3306
