Out and proud | Here are ten South African openly LGBTQ MPs
Out and proud LGBTQ MPs
Ten South African lawmakers have stood up for equality by posing for a group photo as openly LGBTQ MPs.
The image, which was taken in Cape Town outside the National Assembly building in Parliament on the 1st of June, includes the following MPs:
Top Row (left to right): Marius Redelinghuys, Beyers Smit, Patrick Atkinson, Gordon Mackay, Dean Macpherson and Michael Cardo. Bottom row (left to right): Manny de Freitas, Zakhele Mbhele, Ian Ollis and Michael Waters.
The MPs are pictured holding a poster that displays the names and photos of serving LGBTQ parliamentarians around the world, as at the start of 2017.
The image was taken at the request of the LGBTQ Rights and Representation Initiative (also known as Out In Office) at the University of North Carolina. The initiative is an academic programme that tracks LGBTQ parliamentarians.
All of the MPs in the photo are members of the DA. While other parties have some LGBTQ MPs and politicians, (including the ANC’s Lynne Brown, the Minister of Public Enterprises), they have tended to remain in the background when it comes to their sexuality and in addressing LGBTQ issues.
Asked why he believes that the DA is the only party with such visible and outspoken LGBTQ MPs, Mbhele, who is recognised as the first openly gay black MP in Africa, replied: “The DA’s liberal philosophy and principles make the party a more conducive space for LGBT people to feel freer to be out”.
He explained that this is, “because we uphold individual freedom and believe that individuals should define their own identity and not have one forced on them by a group”.
Mbhele continued: “LGBTQ visibility is important in all sectors for at least two reasons: firstly, it is a necessary tool to counter and challenge homophobia because homophobia, in the first instance, always seeks to make LGBTQ people invisible by shaming and stigmatising us.
“Secondly, open and visible LGBTQ figures can be role models for younger LGBTQ people that they can identify with and look up to, which they often lack in our heteronormative world.”
Mbhele added: “No LGBTQ child should have to grow up feeling that their sexuality and being open about it will be an obstacle or hindrance to them achieving career success in any field.”
Mambaonline is not aware of any openly LGBTQ lawmakers elsewhere in Africa.
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That why God punishes South Africa with natural disaster because their law makers are a bunch of perverts
Casting the first stone are we Oscar?
If you are wrong NOWHERE else it is in your science pastor. I take it that you are allowed to speak for God???? Well, SIMPLE SCIENCE – the fynbos evolved with fire and burn it will another hundred thousand years from now – even if everybody in Knysna and Cape Town convert to Christianity. Natural disasters because of homosexuality??? Interesting point in argument is that heterosexual couples with kids lost their houses – because there are gays in Knysna and Cape Town?? Furthermore does God not take UHM to divorcees, cheaters, people that sleep around, steal, multiple sex partners, alcohol abuse, drug abuse???? No of course not – he takes UHM with gays and then punishes innocent people. Well that is about as fucked up as you can get. You might make an interesting spectacle on your pulpit, but in the science arena and as God’s mouthpiece, you are PATHETIC. Personally I drag all radical homophobes over the same comb – YOU ARE GAY -Deal with it.
Remember the fine you received from the Constitutional Court Oscar Bougardt. You also had to publicly apologise. Be careful.
I salute you and your team Mr Mbhele
.we need people like you.