Comments for GALZ

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by Natasha

Natasha — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:40:11 +0000

@ Markus, good comment. I am also writing an article and kindly ask to quote you. I think you and I have the same opinion. Some journalist had no diary item for the week and went for the usual easy cheap shot – a jab at the ‘gays’ that always succeeds in generating a lot of interest and renewed attention to them. You have a point – whether Zimbabwe is ready or not to accept homosexuality is of no substance and inconsequential to the minority rights argument. Zimbabweans will just not one day wake up and say, yes to homosexuality. It is such a pity you know, what lengths people go to to remain cocooned in denialism, to the point of effectuating impractical morals legislation.

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by 45,000 Verizon Workers on Strike; The 10 Worst Things About Rick Perry; Is Rick Perry Dumber Than George W. Bush?; and more… » DailyQueerNews.com

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:42:46 +0000

[...] GALZ Exclusive Interview with The Sunday Mail. Read more [...]

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by admin

admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 20:55:47 +0000

thanks Markus it would be great if you also shared the article on this website for others to learn.

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by Markus

Markus — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:49:50 +0000

When dealing with issues concerning minority rights(homosexuals) its not about what the majority thinks, because its usually rare for the majority to think of any good out of a minority group hence the issue whether Zimbabwe is ready or not to accept homosexuality is of no substance to this argument. We must note that homosexuals are a permanent minority group and can never secure legislation in their favor hence their rights are better protected by the courts in its jurisprudence.If we really claim to have democracy then these rights should be enshrined in the new constitution as democracy entails accepting differences amongst ourselves so that we can be equal on law application. I believe with the present constitution homosexuals have rights. It only needs a clever lawyer to argue this one out. The precedent set in the Banana case (2000) can be challenged.I’m writing an article on this and can be contacted. To sum up i shouldn’t be governed by your beliefs neither am i a traditionalist,heterosexual, or christian. I’m just me and i have the right to left alone

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by admin

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 07:06:13 +0000

For sure society is not defined by this. Its unfortunate people have a tendency to categorise each other which is one thing that divides us. And who says heterosexuals, Christians and traditionalists are the only people to decide what is acceptable and what is not.We have LGBTI people who are Christians, Moslems and traditionalists.

Comment on GALZ exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail by Richard Flynn

Richard Flynn — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:55:37 +0000

[quote]SM: So the question was is the Zimbabwean society ready to accept homosexuality, as traditionalists, heterosexuals and Christians.[/quote]

But “society” is NOT defined as this, is it. That’s just part of the whole, possibly the largest part, but still only part.

Comment on Unwarranted Arrests of LGBT people on the increase by cece

cece — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:33:49 +0000

i think wat is happening in this country is jus a violation of human rights people should have the freedom to express their sexuality. Someone gets arrested because they are gay, that is jus nonsense.Instead of address the important issues in our country they are busy intimidating innocent individuals. Have you even looked at how this country is going downhill???,schools , hospitals, roads, industry n commerce. Unemployment rate is so high, HIV prevalence has not dropped to a single digit. All those important issues are not being addressed adequately. So please channel ur energies towards those and stop abusing people.

Comment on Is Homosexuality Un-African debate on BBC News by admin

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:33:14 +0000

Thank you so much for your comment Nguru Karugu.

Watching the debate for me it became apparent how much as LGBTI activists we still have a long way to go before we can win attention and tolerance from our fellow African brothers, fathers and mothers.Looking at how rowdy some LGBTI people appeared i can understand that we are coming from a context where we have been exposed to so much hate and hurt such that we are more on the offensive and quick to attack. This is what society has turned us into yet at the same time you cannot fight intolerance with intolerance. I also noticed how ,throughout the debate Bahati was calm and collected and never interrupted anyone when they spoke.

I know now more than before that before we can engage in platforms such as debate we need to deal with the self first. If at all our LGBTI activists are to be in such a space they need to do their homework let alone respect each other’s opinions.Save for the Rwandan delegate who was focused and took the right approach to put across her strong points , the rest were all over the place.

After watching that debate and hearing Bahati utter ‘i leave with my heart bleeding’ i can only imagine what he is going to do next to the LGBT people in Uganda and how that impact on each and every one of us.

I feel we need dialogue and not debate at this point in time.

Comment on Is Homosexuality Un-African debate on BBC News by nguru

nguru — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 21:22:18 +0000

Hi GALZ
Am very interested to get feedback from those who managed to watch the show. While it was quite an event , I was personally rather disappointed by the whole interaction. This was not a debate, or an educational engagement but rather a shouting match of who agrees with so called ‘gay rights’ and those who are opposed (by the way what are gay rights … I thought it was about the inclusion or the understanding that human rights are for all including LGBT individuals!). LGBTI activists and the moderator clearly had an agenda and it became apparent that this was an attack on so called mainstream African thought. As a strategy to get information on homosexuality around Africa this was a disaster. NOT because of openly African LGBT people being seen for the first time – kissing or otherwise, but for the seemingly intolerance of the same to hear the other side. I was astonished to see the apparent suppressing of the views of the “other side”. The former president from Botswana closing statement really captured my feelings of the whole deliberation. This discussion should not have been about the choir preaching to the choir! This was about AFRICA engaging probably for the first time on a conversation around homosexuality!

Well that did not happen and there was suppression, condescension and intolerance to the lived reality of the majority of Africans thought around homosexuality across the continent including South Africa itself. Yes their thoughts and beliefs are not in line with majority of us who are LGBT human rights activists or defenders however the aloof and condescending engagement did not teach anyone anything. I am so disappointed because I actually believe that David Bahati actually came off as being more tolerant than folks in the audience. HOW DREADFULL IS THAT!!! Again think of the MAJORITY of African people watching this!!! He, the Christian folk and the traditionalist make sense to them! The LGBTI panelist and some supporters spoke from a very removed space (languaging, intolerance for dissention and superiority). This is not how minds and souls are won over. We must as human rights activists figure out how to win the minds and souls of our people across the continent. The Rwandan representative on the panel was the most on point and clearly understood this discussion in a more complex and inviting way. She took time to explain and contextualize the conversation. Others simply assumed that the majority of Africans watching understood their discussion and their languaging (human rights defender, transgender, lesbian etc ,etc – THEY DO NOT!!!).

I hope that if this discussion is held again that it is within a more sober space and better moderated so that people watching this can actually learn and make informed decision about their feelings around homosexuality and Africa.

Thank you
Nguru Karugu
Public Health Consultant (focus on Sexual Minorities in the East African region).
Nairobi, Kenya

Comment on It shall pass by admin

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:21 +0000

Problems may seem endless but for sure every dog has got its day.The good thing to do is never to give up.