Gay rights are Human Rights

Student activists were preparing to stage an anti-homophobia protest at the University of Cape Town after midday on Thursday in the wake of hate crimes against non-heterosexuals at the institution.

Wearing pink, activists from Rainbow UCT would gather at the Rondebosch campus at 1.45pm and deliver a memorandum to university management, said chairman Dylan van Vuuren.

The society will lead the “Pink Protest” under the banner 'Gay rights are Human Rights', which is being held in collaboration with the university to promote the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community.

This comes after a closet display symbolising the crux of Pink Week on the institution's Jameson Plaza was set alight on Monday, after being on display for less than twelve hours.

No arrests had been made yet, he said.

“The remains of the Closet have remained in position for the duration of Pink Week, and have been integrated into somewhat of an art installation designed to memorialise those who have suffered injustices and lost their lives at the hands of homophobia and homoprejudice,” Van Vuuren said in a statement.

He said friends of the society had donated flowers and a new metal closet had been installed to symbolise the strength of their community.

Rainbow UCT said its message was that it did not condone hatred, regardless of whether it occurred within the campus boundaries or on a national level. - Sapa


(2010-10-07/iol.co.za)