east

The EC LGBTI Organisation banner!

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:45:25 +0100

Photo by Zama Mzimela

Happy Family....Look at these lovely People here! — with Abongile Matyila, Zikhona Ncukana, Ongezwa Mcunukelwa, Zolelwa Zein Mngambi, Aha Deda, Polela Ntsepe, Ayakha Nodayinge, Sisipho Msoki, Phumza T. Rave, Asandiswa Mjoli Makaula, Thembisa Gonya, Nombasa CzwekaDabane Gxuluwe, Kholisa Manona and Phiwe Masiko.

Creative Pulse Facebook Group

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:51:21 +0100

Don't forget that as well as joining the main EC LGBTI Organisation Facebook group (details on our contact page if you haven't already), you can also join The Creative Pulse's very own Facebook group, connect with other creative queers in your area and find out about events etc. Feel free to share your art too.

The Creative Pulse Saturday 27 August 2011 - Imbizo

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:28:45 +0100

Not such a Friendly City After All, PE?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:53:58 +0100

The refusal of staff at Port Elizabeth Home Affairs to perform a civil union between Donovan Wynne and Michael Cronje recently, although it falls within the letter of the law, is unconstitutional. It is also reactionary; South Africa proudly and justifiably boasts of having one of the most progressive and liberal constitutions in the world and yet recently, Port Elizabeth Home Affairs have effectively wiped their feet on it, displaying an alarmingly conservative point of view.

ECLGBTI condemns such backward focused behaviour and extends its support and sympathy to Donovan and Michael. “We can just imagine the couple’s sadness,” said Zamanguni Mzimela, ECLGBTI Chairperson, “being refused this basic civil right. Not to mention their disappointment. South Africa was the fifth country to ever sanction gay civil unions, putting us ahead of Western superpowers like the USA. Port Elizabeth Home Affairs have made a mockery of something that should simply be a cause for pride.”

However, the organisation would like to formally applaud Ronnie Mamoepa (Home Affairs spokesperson) for his condemnation of the events. Mzimela stated that she and the ECLGBTI Organisation look forward to hearing a positive outcome from Mr Mamoepa’s intention to investigate the matter.

The organisation would love to hear of any same sex couples who have undergone a civil union locally, or who have failed to do so. “We wonder whether Home Affairs staff are actually aware of this area of the constitution,” said Mzimela, “and we are concerned that this type of response is discouraging same sex couples from exercising their constitutional right to a civil union.” Email us on eclgbti@gmail.com

Lizeka Tufwa and Tobela Mkosi, who had their civil union ceremony in Mthatha, almost had a similar experience, when staff there also refused to perform the ceremony in May 2008. However, the couple have nothing but praise for Mrs Thutha, a senior official in Mthatha, saying, “When we got to the Home Affairs office in Mthatha we found that no-one was prepared to marry us, but MamuThutha was very supportive and arranged for a marriage officer to come from one of the small towns – I think it might have been Engcobo – to marry us. We were married the next day. It was wonderful… wonderful… MamuThutha said that she only had a few years to go before retirement and she hoped to help a lot more couples like us to tie the knot.”

Perhaps Donovan and Michael would like to visit a friendlier Eastern Cape town to formalise their relationship.

The Creative Pulse

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:46:18 +0100

Visit the Facebook group to connect with the creative side of the ECLGBTI Organisation.

"Creative Pulse allows young people to meet and share their talents.
Their objective: is to have an entertainment structure within the LGBT movement, to support and afford those members with opportunity for growth while upholding and sensitizing our communities to the recognition and appreciation of all human rights including for all people contained within the EC LGBTI organisation."

Desktop backgrounds

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:09:38 +0100

Click to get the full size image for your computer/phone etc.

Out in Africa Weekend

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:44:47 +0100

This weekend East London was lucky enough to host its second ever Out in Africa Film Festival ... and a braai too. The photo is of the ECLGBTI Organisation's new banner - look out for it at the Pride March later this year.

EC LGBTI Hits the Front Page!

Mon, 16 May 2011 12:31:45 +0100

Click the image for the full story from today's Daily Dispatch.

Protest Against the Rape & Murders of LGBTI People - more photos

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:39:20 +0100

These photographs are by Zamanguni Mzimela, the Chairperson of the EC LGBTI Organisation, based in East London. The protest was called for and organised at extremely short notice, flashmob style and the team got organised fast.

Now there's a couch being put to good use. Although the organisation is not a religious one, many members have strong christian beliefs.

Zama

Gentle winter sunshine in the Eastern Cape - a beautiful day for solidarity.

East Londoners Protest the Rape and Murder of Lesbians and Transgender People

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:03:11 +0100

It was a kind of flashmob, I guess - not to mention proof that occasionally, Facebook activism does actually transfer out of the zone of cyberspace and powerfully into what we tend (online) to call "real life." (For more background and photos and an explanation of the agenda, go here)

So East London is sometimes (often) looked down on by the rest of the country for being backwards and stuff ... but sometimes this place can astonish a person very pleasantly indeed. Take our first ever pride march last year, for example. And today. In one hell of a rush and with considerably fewer resources than the rest of SA, our local EC LGBTI Organisation went into motion to hook the rest of us up to form a protest in the only bit of town that's guaranteed to have some people in it on a Sunday afternoon.

We met up with them and the Club Eden people (local queer club) and so on, on the open space near the esplanade, where they have the flea market (know where I mean?). Last minute placards were painted, hugs exchanged and then we formed a peaceful but vocal crowd.

It's easy to get all misty eyed at the display of solidarity, the songs and the comradeship. But will any of it change anything?

Well, Dee Love from the Quigney Journal was there, as well as a journo and photographer from the Daily Dispatch. Major-General Hloba came to represent the High Commissioner and accept the memorandum drawn up by the EC LGBTI Organisation. He also requested that the organisation assist them in rape prevention strategies.

That's local. In a broader sense, we (and by that I mean you too) need to keep the pressure on the government to get their skates on and sort out a hate crimes task force.

Sally Prins (Club Eden) and Dee Love (Quigney Journal)

Thabisa

Mfundi

Major-General Hloba and Zamanguni Mzimela (Chairperson, EC LGBTI)

Malta, from Sweden, who handed out info and explained things to interested passers-by. Thanks bro! Thanks also to the people who joined us all the way from Dimbaza - you rock.