STATEMENT – Feather Awards in Solidarity with Orlando
We are truly saddened and shocked by this senseless shooting.
Although a single terrorist pulled the trigger - so many others are equally responsible for this tragedy.
How many times in a day are we gay, lesbian, transgender, different, treated as ‘others’ and not citizens with equal rights? Even here - with our progressive Constitution - we are still treated with hatred that, all too often, goes unpunished. The police do not answer our calls, and the few times they do arrive, they laugh and ridicule us. We are constantly anxious and fearful because we are not safe anywhere and we never know when the next sick person is going to do something like this. We live in societies that hate us for being "sinful" but coddle rapists and murderors who hurt us in the name of religion.
Homophobia is terrorism - even the everyday kind. Every insult against members of the LGBTI community, every space that abuses or excludes us, every sermon that condemns us and every time we are told that our lives are unnatural "lifestyles" - all of those acts of terrorism make us targets for this kind of cruelty.
The gunman was killed for his beastly act, but how many others who participated in the murder of the 50 people in Orlando, who have murdered lesbians here in South Africa and trans people all over the world, still walk in our communities - without remorse - and continue to bully and harass LGBTI people?
Terrorism does not only take a gun, or a bomb, or even ISIS to manifest. All it takes is hate. Everyone who hates us, who points a finger or shames us on social media, everyone who is convinced that God calls us abomination is a terrorist, and they must not be allowed the space to harm any more people.
We are terribly sorry for this tragedy. We are standing with Orlando, mourning together with the families and friends of those who were killed. Homophobes are getting out of control, it needs to stop. Governments can no longer passively claim to protect us. We need meaningful protection. We need our constitutions in action!
The South African LGBTI community mourns together with Orlando and extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to all who have lost family members, partners and friends in the tragedy and a speedy recovery to all injured.
For interviews and statements, please contact:
Motlatsi “Moz” Motseoile – Publicist, Feather Awards
083 709 7881
moz@quadrepublic.com
@moz_mcm
@FeathersSA
Please interact with me on Twitter & Instagram @YayaRSA
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