Soweto Pride bans HIV testing for not being a “feminist principle”
Soweto Pride 2015 participants
In a controversial move, organisers of Soweto Pride have decided to not allow voluntary HIV testing at the event later this month.
Pride gatherings have become an important “safe space” in which to target LGBT people when it comes to HIV awareness and testing.
South Africa is faced with one of the world’s most devastating HIV epidemics, which particularly affects men who have sex with men (MSM) and the transgender community
Despite this, the organisers of Soweto Pride, the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), announced in a statement to Mambaonline that they had “taken a stance that no HIV testing will be conducted during the event,” which it described as “a political social space”.
FEW said: “After much reflection, including many discussions about previous incidences and experiences, the organisation has decided that it is not a feminist principle to influence people to test at a social space.”
The organisation also argued that it “does not have the capacity to deal with cases of trauma that could emerge at the event should anyone test positive.”
“Testing positive is a life changing event. Different people react differently, and for most people a 30 minute post-test counselling session will not be sufficient for them to cope mentally and emotionally with such news,” insisted FEW.
The organisation will, however, allow organisations at the event to share information about the work they do and how people can access testing.
The news has come as a shock to The Anova Health Institute, which is behind campaigns focusing on MSM, such as Health4Men and WeTheBrave.co.za. It urged Soweto Pride to reconsider its “no HIV testing” policy.
Anova said in a statement: “As an organisation, we pride ourselves on the strides we have made to afford key population groups the services and information that they need to lead long and healthy lives, whether they are HIV-positive, or not.
“Access to healthcare is a human rights issue, and it is still a challenge to get gay/bi men in Soweto to go to MSM competent clinics due to stigma and the fear of discrimination. In the past, hundreds of people from all walks of life have used this resource at Soweto Pride to discover their HIV status and seek treatment.”
Anova called on Soweto Pride organisers to give it “permission to continue providing these much-needed services to eradicate the spread of HIV”.
Fiona, Miss Gay Soweto
Miss Gay Soweto, Fiona (Nhlanhla Thabatha), told Mambaonline that Soweto Pride should sit down with HIV testing providers to find a compromise to the impasse.
“By not allowing testing you are making it something taboo to do, instead of showing people that there is nothing wrong in going for a test,” she said.
“At the clinic the nurses are so serious and you are scared even before the process has started. We are also stigmatised in clinics; you are labelled and are called names. At least at the Pride it is bubbly and people may feel more comfortable to get tested.
“Why don’t we use that opportunity? We are the ones who are most infected with the virus, so use where we are in numbers so that something good comes out of Pride,” added Fiona.
The 12th edition of Soweto Pride takes place on Saturday 24 September at the Meadowland Phase 2 Park, from 9am to 5pm. The theme is “Our Lives Matter: Safety, Justice & Freedom are our Rights”.
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Why is a feminist organisation deciding whether gay/bi men are allowed to be tested at Pride? Is public health (and the HIV epidemic) not a political and social issue? Furthermore, whether people test positive at Pride or anywhere else, their emotionally-charged reaction will be the same, the counseling time will be more or less the same. Why is FEW taking away men’s choice to get tested when the counseling issue is a non-issue when it comes to Health4men? They do have competent counselors!
I am in agreement with FEM. Social spaces should not be used to continuously remind us that we are a group at risk. Yes we are, and we should all know where to seek treatment – but we should not let HIV be used as the driving agenda to reaffirm to us and others that it is a struggle or a vice. It is a chronic illness and health providers are not present at straight events doing testing. We should move on from this concept of trying to force HIV testing down gay and bi men as if we are all reckless. Also with PrEP, things have changed. This age old concept should come to an end and better direction must be given to places where it can take place.
Around the world the issue of HIV testing in social spaces has been under debate for some years now. In many places it just doesn’t happen anymore for many of the reasons given here. You can agree or disagree with the stance taken by FEW but it’s not a very outrageous or unusual decision to make. They have suggested other more appropriate options, a wellness day for example. I think it’s a brave move and the right one.
I think it’s very shortsighted to ban the testing. People deserve the right to choose. You may not want to be tested for HIV at a Pride event but every year hundreds of people do. These individuals are then given access to information and treatment that can dramatically improve their lives. If even one person’s life has been changed for the better a “feminist standpoint” cannot be justified. Around the world effort is being made to remove the stigma surrounding testing and HIV and efforts are constantly being made to make testing easier and more accessible. I can find no evidence that anyone is moving away from making testing facilities available at LGBTI events around the world. Where can I access that kind of information? It all boils down to convenience and accessibility. The reality is that HIV is still a massive concern in South Africa, and in Soweto particularly. Whatever your opinion on the “appropriateness” of testing at this event may be, making the decision for hundreds of people who would feel differently is not democratic nor fair. It would cost Soweto Pride nothing to allow HCT and it would gain PR and further reason for individuals to want to attend the event. The move to ban testing seems petty and unnecessary and takes away more options for people to decide for themselves when and where they want to know their status.