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Iranti-Org, creating meaningful space for Queer Activism. Iranti-Org is a queer human rights visual media organization based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Iranti-Org works within a human rights framework as its foundational platform for raising issues on Gender, Identities and Sexuality. Read more about Iranti-Org. Sitemap |
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Past events 2012
EventsLaunch of TvT research report 2012Transgender Europe Press Release11 December 2012. Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide: A Comparative Review of the Human-rights Situation of
The comprehensive research report by TGEU’s Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide (TvT) research project presents, discusses and contextualises the key findings of two sub-projects. The first is the Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM), a systematic collection, monitoring and analysis of reported killings of gender-variant/trans people worldwide. Read more...
See the Iranti-Org hate-crimes fact file.
A Solidarity Gathering of families and LGBTI youth, 8 December 20128 December 2012. ACT AGAINST HATE CRIMES Over the past year, we have witnessed an alarming number of attacks on queer bodies. Many did not survive and were killed in the most brutal of ways. We remember Thapelo Makuthle, Sanna Supa, Andritha Morifi, Sasha Lee Gordon, Vuyisa Dyanti, Sihle Sikoji and so many others who have been killed this year. Parents and families are almost never ready for the news that a family member has been murdered. It is much more complex to grapple with sexuality, identity and death and in moments of grief a much larger LGBTI community experiences secondary trauma and is deeply pained by the loss of our friends and loved ones.
We cannot fully understand why so many Lesbians, Gay men, Transgender and Intersex persons are killed in South Africa. While the world continues to highlight that South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions and laws protecting our sexual identity, it has not been possible to fully enjoy these rights as young LGBTI persons face physical harassment, ridicule and death on daily basis. We have to find various strategies that could effectively address crime and violence. We have to find creative ways of reducing hatred and stereotypes. We need a police system that we trust and believe in as more than administrative paper pushers. We must trust and work with the Police and other government departments in working towards ending these homophobic and transphobic attacks. Iranti-Org and the Hector Pieterson Museum met and planned a joint programme that will use the museum as a space of solidarity in our fight against being violated by our fellow citizens and by the government. The Hector Pieterson Museum commemorates the struggle for freedom against the tyranny of Apartheid. We bring together our current struggles, as we have not yet won the right to fully enjoy South Africa’s democracy. Systemic failures, such as poor police investigations into violent crimes, a delayed judicial system and the absence of a law that guides the judiciary on hate crimes further frustrates our need for justice. Not just justice, but justice that ensures that families can begin to move on and begin a process of healing. But this is not possible as sexual orientation and hate crimes are omitted from the procedures of state prosecution.
Transgender Intersex Africa (TIA) commemorated International Transgender Day of Remembrance in November. Photograph by Jabu C. Pereira
Transgender activists gather to commemorate the lives of those who died due to transphobia. Photograph by Jabu C. Pereira
Click image for a larger version
Click image for a larger version
Transgender Persons Seeking Asylum in South Africa:The Story of Tiwonge ChimbalangaBy Jabu C. Pereira
It seems a celebration for human rights in Malawi as we learn of the decision of the President, Joyce Banda and the Justice Minister, to suspend all laws that criminalise homosexuality. This suspension means that no person “suspected” to be Gay, Lesbian or Transgender will be arrested.
This suspension came to late for Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steve Monjeza. Tiwonge had to escape Malawi because of her sexual orientation and Steve Monjeza will be in prison for the next three years for stealing food. Since August 2011, Gender Dynamix has supported the integration of Tiwonge Chimbalanga into South Africa. I met Tiwonge, the day she landed and arrived in Mellville, South Africa with her a dear friend Dunker Kamba.
Photo by: Jabu C. Pereira, a portrait of Tiwonge Chimbalanga.
Prior to her landing in South Africa, Tiwonge had never left her home and country, Malawi. She did not leave by choice, but her safety as a Transwoman living in Malawi was not an option. In 2009 Tiwonge was due to be engaged to her partner Steve Monjeza, when a journalist in Malawi published a story of two gay men who intend to marry.
Steve Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were soon arrested and faced the ridicule and public abuse by state officials, such as the police and judicial officers. The conservative media of Malawi had fed the public with homophobic, pro-nationalist propaganda and made the lives of Steve and Tiwonge a living hell. For six-months they had to endure living in prison as they were charged under the penal code of Malawi.
International pressure from Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, forced the late President Muthurika and his parliament to pardon Steve and Tiwonge from a 14-year prison sentence.
Organisations such as CEDEP and CHRR in Malawi are tireless warriors that should be acknowledged and thanked for vigour and hard work. I recall the many weeks when Gift Trapence, the leader of CEDEP, and Undule, from CHRR, had to go into hiding as President Muthurika sought to arrest them. I am confident that had he caught these great activists, President Muthurika may have called on his security forces to kill them, as he did in July 2011 when 60 protestors were killed.
Iranti-Org, together with Gender Dynamix, continues to support Tiwonge’s integration into South Africa. This short media clip is a mere introduction to a much larger media and documentation story on Tiwonge’s life as a Transwoman.
In January 2013 Tiwonge will be a guest and media intern at Iranti-Org, and we plan to host several talks on the human rights situation in Malawi.
For more information on the current suspension of the Penal Codes see: BBC Africa News
16 days of Activism against Gender Violence 2012This year’s 16 Days Campaign will continue with the global theme: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! This year’s Campaign marks its third year of advocacy on the intersections of gender violence and militarism.
The sub-themes of the Campaign are:
This year Iranti-Org will join the campaign to reduce gender violence in our communities. Iranti-Org in collaboration with the Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, aim to raise awareness of the impact of Gender Violence on LGBTI Youth, their parents and the community at large. Over the past years we have witnessed and experience and increasing number of deaths and injuries against LGBTI persons. Black Lesbians have been the main target of the attacks. Many of the deceased Black Lesbians are themselves parents and sadly many children are orphaned and left in the hands of their grand-parents and extended families. So many families are left with severe secondary trauma and loss.
Over the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, Iranti-Org and the Hector Pieterson Museum will come together to find creative methods of raise awareness to reduce homophobia and gender violence.
Kwa Thema Pride, 2012
A one-day dialogue with LGBTI youth, parents, extended families, the communities and organisational stakeholders will come together to discuss the impact of gender violence on families and to seek ways of addressing these issues.
The programme will include input from LGBTI youth, parents of deceased children and members of the community. Iranti-Org will also hold an exhibition of its photographic and video documentation on hate crimes. The set date is
For more information please contact, Nqobile Zungu on intern@iranti-org.co.za
ARC International panel13 December 2012. Panellists convened to discuss gender-motivated violence against women: Kim Vance (Canada), Jabulani Chen Pereira (South Africa), Jessica Stern (U.S.A.), Rosanna Flamer-Caldera (Sri Lanka), Carla LaGata (Germany), Cynthia Rothschild (U.S.A.)
Date: Thursday, 13 December
Download the invitation to the ARC International event HERE, for emailing.
Joburg Pride 2012 Exposes Divisions within the SA LGBTI CommunityIranti-Org joined forces with activists from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland as we collectively celebrated our rights.
It would almost be too simplistic to believe that LGBTI persons in South Africa are one rainbow nation, bonded together by their sexual identities. When the 1 in 9 campaign blockaded the Joburg Pride Parade, the organizers of the annual Joburg Pride immediately became aggressive and violent towards the 1 in 9 campaign group.
There is much to be analysed about this violent altercation, however, it has become clear that the LGBTI agenda in South Africa is far from united. Although the theme for this year’s pride was “protecting our rights”, this shameful, violent outburst illustrates an unhealthy communication and political agenda within South Africa’s LGBTI sector. The divisions are as evident as those we face on a daily basis in South Africa. But it is indeed sad that we seem to have lost our sense of humanity, and as a result weaken our ability to communicate in a non-violent manner.
I questioned this as I sadly realized that living in South Africa as a Black Gender Queer person is deeply stigmatized and painful. Black and Queer have become generic terms that enforce and retain a certain anonymity about who we are as individuals in South Africa. We have no names, we are faceless, and we are grouped and clustered into an agenda of sorts. Sadly this does not provide any feasible solution to any group’s interest.
However, it still remained a joyful day, as the majority of Black LGBTI people celebrated our rights outside the barricaded fences of Pride. I had a great time as I photographed and interviewed many gorgeous queer beings.
Phumeza from Jozi having a great time at Joburg Pride 2012.
Marco and Jerry, celebrating Joburg Pride 2012.
Sihle and Kopano at Joburg Pride 2012.
A topic seldom spoken about – BDSM and Kink in this fab continent, on display at Joburg Pride 2012. Skills Development: Photography and Social Media27 September 2012 was a perfect day. This is a common expression when we feel we spent a day together and it was well worth it. Iranti-Org, in collaboration with Spectra Speaks, co-convened a workshop focused on photography and social media. The participants were youth from the Uthingo Youth LGBTI group from Daveyton.
The workshop was held at the Alf Kumalo Museum, an appropriate space young people to be surrounded by photographs that reflect on South Africa’s history. The group was introduced to the importance of the photographer as a witness and we looked at how photography plays an important role in documenting key moments in our lives. Photography also serves to inform, educate and advance change.
Uthingo Youth LGBTI group from Daveyton
Soweto Pride 201229 September 2012 from 14h00-17h00. FEW’s annual Soweto Pride Parade will take place at the Credo Mutwa Park. Join us at the Alf Kumalo Museum, in Diepkloof Soweto. We will be making our banners and posters in preparation for Soweto Pride. Email Nqobile Zungu (intern@iranti-org.co.za) Iranti-Org intern for more info.
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image
ArtsWork: Women in the arts in AfricaAugust 2012. "ArtsWork: Women in the arts in Africa" project launches its first series of talks on different themes about women, gender and the arts. The talks take place every Wednesday at 18H30 at the Parking Gallery / VANSA Offices in 289 Fox Street, 5th floor, City & Suburban. The intention of the talks is not to frame them as formal presentations, but as informal conversations among colleagues about the current position of women in the arts. They promise to be engaging experiences and real debates about the politics of gender in the arts sector. The August talks of Refiguring Women lead up to the ArtsWork conference at the end of November 2012 in Johannesburg. ArtsWork is a project of the Goethe-Institut South Africa, conceptualised with Nontobeko Ntombela and Jabu Pereira. The talks take place at the Parking gallery which is hosted by VANSA. Read more about the Arts Work project and the next Arts Work event.
Workshop: Human Rights challenges in relation to LGBTI persons17 August 2012. Iranti-Org will present a workshop to the Foundation for Human Rights on human rights challenges in relation to LGBTI persons. This workshop will help guide the Foundation for Human Right on developing its programme interventions on sexual orientation.
67 Minutes of Shame 2012July 2012. A national protest against hate crimes and violence. Iranti-Org, along with FEW, Open-Closet, Free Gender, Triangle Project and others called on all people in South Africa to spend 67 minutes in honor of Nelson Mandela by holding public pickets on the shame of governments silence on hate crimes. We named this 67 minutes of Shame. This was a significant day, as it was Mandela’s birthday during which everyone is urged to dedicate 67 minutes of doing good in South Africa. 67 minutes of shame was conceptualized therefore as a way of upholding Mandela’s values of equality
Durban Pride 2012Solidarity and action against hate crimes. Durban Pride is an important calendar event in KwaZulu Natal. The June 2012 pride focused on hate crimes in South Africa. Iranti-Org attended Durban Pride in solidarity with the KZN LGBTI community and to document the event.
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Upcoming eventsIranti-Org covers LGBTI events on the African continent. Let Jabu (jabu@iranti-org.co.za) know if you want to be alerted to upcoming events.
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