The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins millions across the world in support of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
We mourn those we have lost over many years to acts of violence, intolerance and discrimination against our LGBTQIA Plus compatriots. We cherish those who overcome formidable walls of hatred and thrived in spite of them. We celebrate the many substantial gains we have made in the struggle against intolerance and discrimination. We rededicate ourselves to continue to champion the rights of all South Africans irrespective of gender of sexual identity.
As we celebrate 30 years of democracy, we are proud that under the leadership of the African National Congress, today our Constitution stands high amongst the world in explicitly prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual identity. Our laws have been overhauled to embrace the inclusive letter and spirit of the Constitution. The Civil Union Act guarantees the right to same sex marriages. The Employment Equity Act prohibits unfair discrimination and demands equal pay for equal work. The Labour Laws Amendment Act provides for parental leave for same sex parents of newborn children. In 2021 Parliament overhauled our criminal law strengthening protections for survivors of gender-based violence and tightening search and seizure, arrest, bail and sentencing provisions for the accused.
South Africa today is a far better place than it was before 1994 when homophobia was the law of the apartheid regime and members of the LGBTQIA Plus communities were criminalised, tortured and imprisoned in psychiatric facilities. South Africa is a better place today than it was in 1994 when many in society continued to mainstream discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA Plus communities.
Whilst we are correctly proud of the real and progressive advances, we dare not be complacent when members of the LGBTQIA Plus communities still face some of the most horrific forms of discrimination and gender-based violence in their communities and at their workplaces.
Equally we must not take our advances for granted when the Democratic Alliance pledges to scrap our labour laws prohibiting discrimination at the workplace or providing paid parental leave or the right wing fundamentalist political parties contesting the May 29th elections who openly mock these gains and promise to return South Africa to the dark days of intolerance and hatred.
COSATU and its Affiliates will continue to champion the rights of all workers, including members of the LGBTQIA Plus communities, to be protected from discrimination at their workplaces and in their communities.
Issued by COSATU
For further information please contact:
Matthew Parks
Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator
Cell: 082 785 0687