Dear RainbowUCT

Over the past month I couldn’t help but have intense feelings of nostalgia; suddenly the reality has set in that my time as RainbowUCT Chairperson has come to an end. I have no hard feelings about this fact because like all processes in life there is a start and an inevitable end and this end is gladly welcomed. This timely end has given me a chance to reflect on the year that was, how I have grown as an individual and it has also allowed me to evaluate my identity as a black gay man.

RainbowUCT has been an emotional rollercoaster but like all true leaders I have had to put aside my emotions when work needed doing. I have forged many great friendships over the past year but more importantly I also acquired critics, frenemies and plain and simple enemies who have all kept me on my toes. All of these I appreciate as they have kept me grounded and ensured that I did not lose sight of the goals I had set out to achieve at the beginning of the year for RainbowUCT.

RainbowUCT saw over 250 official members sign-up this year, one of the highest member tallies the organizaton has seen since its inception. What was so beautiful about this fact though was the diverse pool of members RainbowUCT managed to attract for the year. This diversity varied in the spectra of race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, academic faculties, age and favorite color, all to form a RainbowUCT which is as inclusive as can be, being a great reflection of the demographics of the LGBTIQ community in South Africa.

The other great achievement was RainbowUCT’s increased involvement in activism; during the year there were many great collaborations with Cape Town based LGBTIQ organizations as RainbowUCT took to the streets, courts and Parliament to strike for Gay Rights as Human Rights. RainbowUCT was part and parcel of the mobilizations of LGBTIQ organizations that raised their voices against a spat of rapes specifically targeting lesbian women and was pivotal in questioning our government’s inaction and silence at the time.

One of the biggest highlights for RainbowUCT in 2011 has to have been our appearances on national television on SABC 2’s flagship youth show Hectic Nine 9. Hectic Nine 9 attracts 2-4 million viewers on average per episode and RainbowUCT was invited to discuss homosexuality and how it affects the youth of South Africa. This was truly an amazing experience as we reached out to the younger generation in hopes of encouraging a society that will be more than tolerant, but rather appreciative of sexual diversity in the now and in future.

Another highlight has been RainbowUCT’s weekly Discussion Groups; they have been a constituent part of RainbowUCT that I have enjoyed immensely. They often got heated: RainbowUCT members more often than not were at logger heads on issues that pertained to the LGBTIQ community, but all in all the opinions expressed were always a sign of the diverse backgrounds from which all our members come. I can say with the utmost certainty that our Discussion Groups for the year were well thought of, thought provoking, insightful and challenged the many facets that make up the LGBTIQ community in UCT and in South Africa at large. The beauty of the Discussion Groups was that they were an educational tool not only for the LGBTIQ community but for the greater university populace as well.

Concerning social functions, RainbowUCT lived up to its infamous image of throwing the best functions on campus. The Opening Function was the first of its kind and saw us trek down to Hiddingh Hall and pervert The Quad into a party venue; many followed suit afterwards, which was more than a compliment to RainbowUCT. Beach Bums was a logistical nightmare which saw RainbowUCT embark on a train trip to Muizenberg to take in the Atlantic’s beauty and just feel awkward with all that sand inbetween our toes. Our movie night saw us embrace Tinseltown as we screened A Single Man starring Collin Firth, Julianne Moore and Matthew Goode; we also screened The Kids Are Alright starring Annette Benning and Julianne Moore once again.

As the world celebrated the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell RainbowUCT saw fit to join in on the celebrations and pay homage to all those who have been affected by the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy by throwing our end of semester function themed along the same vein. The function was held at the Mowbray Bowls and what a great celebration that was.  

In the tight squeeze that was the second semester, RainbowUCT had its intervarsity social in the form of a Karaoke Night in the ARTS Building; naturally the event saw some great melodic melodrama by all in attendance. And finally, who could forget The Trailer Trash Bash: after two hours without sound, RainbowUCT reclaimed its party status with great music, fifty litres of wine and tons of vodka which all just perished. If you didn’t get sloshed at our closing function my hat goes off to you… respect! All in all RainbowUCT’s social functions were meant for the history books and all round epic successes, thank you to all those who came even if it was just for the free booze.

Pink Week 2011 was perhaps one of the most prolific weeks in UCT’s calendar for 2011. We started things off with The Vice Chancellor Dr. Max Price opening the week on plaza. The closet was immediately graffiti’d, certainly with more positive messages than negative with regards to the LGBTIQ community and LGBTIQ rights. Our film screening of Mysterious Skins was seen as counter intuitive and controversial by many and generally got a lot of people talking with regards to the nature or nurture argument when it comes to homosexuality. The Triangle Project and HAICU UCT were a welcomed presence on plaza and were more than informative when it came to issues of sexual health. Our debate titled Religion as a Basis of Homophobia and Transphobia was well attended and was attended by the 2011/2012 SRC who promised to work more closely with RainbowUCT in the coming year. Pierre De Vos was great in his talk titled Religion Versus the Rights of Gay Men and Lesbians in South Africa.

Our Pride Day was a great success made by all those who wore pink or rainbow coloured clothing; Out In Africa was also on campus on the day to give away tickets for their upcoming film festival and also distributed Out In Africa T-shirts. The panel discussion held later on that day was titled Corrective Rape In South Africa and was made up of a panel which consisted of Associate Professor Jane Bennett, who is the Head of Department of Gender Studies in UCT and also part of The African Gender Institute and Funeka Soldaat of Free Gender. The panel discussion was insightful and a much needed wake up call for all those who live in the bubble that is UCT. Pink week 2011 then ended off in classic fashion with a Pink Week After Party that was held in a lecture theatre (only in Africa).

What a great experience, pleasure and privilege it has been to chair RainbowUCT in 2010/2011. Thank you to all those who supported me during the year, thank you to all my friends, my fellow committee members, RainbowUCT members and most importantly to The Triangle of Man Love. It’s been a tough year filled with joy, tears, tantrums and plotting murder. Thank God I have no grey hairs to serve as evidence of RainbowUCT 2011. I wish nothing but the best for the 2011/2012 RainbowUCT committee and know for a fact that they will take RainbowUCT to new heights under the watchful and diligent eye of Rey Olivier

I can only hope that I left
my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, and something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget
I was here…

Regards