News

Hey RainbowUCT

SRC Interrogations

One of our dedicated members Lindelwa had the excellent idea of RainbowUCT attending and participating in the SRC interrogations tomorrow evening at Clarinus, so we are. It starts at 8:30 pm and runs until 10pm. We will all meet there and form a little intellectual posse, asking questions to the running candidates on what they plan to do concerning "gay rights" and increasing visibility, integration and what policies they would put in place concerning these (and what ever else you would like to ask obviously).

On Thursday 20 May a demonstration was held outside the Department of Home Affairs in Cape Town, South Africa, to protest against the sentencing of Malawian couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. The two men were given 14 years in jail for ‘gross indecency’ and the ‘crime’ of getting engaged.

To punish these two men for as innocent a thing as showing their commitment to each other is unjust, inhumane and an abject violation of human rights. RainbowUCT supports the SJC's call on the South African government to intervene in order to reverse this shameful act of discrimination and victimisation in Malawi.

Below is a video of the protest, and also a link to the online petition calling for Steven and Tiwonge’s immediate release. Please sign the petition and share both the petition and the video with others, in order to increase the volume of the call for justice.

Hey RainbowUCT!

LGBTI Rights in Africa Panel Discussion

This week we will not be having our normal Discussion Group. Instead we will be hosting a collaborative event with the History and Current Affairs Society as part of their Gender Week.
 
This Thursday, the 15th of April, at 5pm in Beattie 114 there will be an expert Panel Discussion on “LGBTI Rights in Africa”. Come along and hear the experts give a short presentation on the current situation on the continent and get to ask them a few Questions.
 
This is one not to be missed.

Also, remember to vote in our poll on what you'd like our next Discussion Group topic to be!

For all those aspiring Journalists

Our Media and Communication specialist, Yati, is looking for RainbowUCT reporters. We need members to write articles for our website on our events and other topics. Please contact Yati at khumalo.nkosiyati@gmail.com if you are interested.
 
The Pink Tongue newspaper has also informed us that they would really like to include a "younger/student" voice or opinion on matters, so if you are interested, please email the editor at gary.deklerk@inl.co.za.

The Cape Argus yesterday reported on the rape of a lesbian woman in Philippi. The accused is alleged to have told the woman "You are not a man, you think you are, but I am going to show you, you are a woman."

The accused will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court at 9am on Tuesday.

Members and friends are encouraged to be there at that time in solidarity with those LGBTI people who are living each day in fear of being attacked for their sexual orientation. RSVP to the Facebook event.

It's enough, and we need to have a united voice which says so.

Please see the article by the Cape Argus for more information, and we hope to see you at the court on Tuesday.

RainbowUCT at Pride 2010Dear RainbowUCT,
 
Welcome to the second term!
 
Whatever you were up to this vac, we hope it was relaxing!
 
What an amazing first term we have had! After our amazing Opening Function (UCT Pub = dominated), RainbowUCT has been busy non-stop, and here are a few highlights:
 

• Our Discussion Groups have been rich and stimulating, and that’s thanks to you!
• We had an awesome time at the Pride parade — and there are plenty of photos to prove it! Our own Pride Hike was a huge success — big shout-outs to Catherine and Louis for organising and leading what is sure to become a regular Pride event.
• Many of you attended Alex Muller’s international “Faces of IGLYO” exhibition at the Centre for African Studies. The Exhibition moves now to the International Gay and Lesbian Archives (IHLIA) in the Netherlands and will be shown across Eastern Europe during Pride season.
• On the activism side, we have fought for justice over the past few months by taking part in the protest on the Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill, as well as CoED’s demonstration outside the Khayelitsha Regional Court to demand justice for Zoliswa Nkonyana.
• RainbowUCT has been featured in the press both on and off campus with lots of great coverage in Varsity and The Pink Tongue newspapers for our activism and other activities — and there are lots of pictures of you, so get your copy of The Pink Tongue (see below).

A quick overview of upcoming events:
 
This term promises to be just as exciting with lots planned to keep your life colourful!