DA in Ekurhuleni Celebrates International Pride Month

by Cllr Lucky Dinake — DA Member for GCYPD Committee in Ekurhuleni

Date: 13 June 2023

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The month of June is celebrated as International Pride Month throughout the free world. It is a time when members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies commemorate the various struggles and victories won over may years.

Having celebrated Africa Month in May, the Democratic Alliance in the City of Ekurhuleni is profoundly aware that the constitutional liberties and protections afforded to South African members of the LGBTQIA+ community are not universal and it is that freedom which we celebrate.

The president of Uganda recently signed the so called “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” into law — cruel and inhumane legislation that makes the very existence of the LGBTQIA+ community in Uganda, and their allies a crime, punishable at the extreme by the death penalty.

This reminds us that freedom, equality and recognition have not been realised for many, and that our duty to work toward and defend universal equality and human rights must be relentless.

The South African government has refused to issue an outright condemnation of this move by Uganda. The DA in Ekurhuleni condemns this legislation in no uncertain terms, and we stand in solidarity with the universal LGBTQIA+ community as we call on the South African government to refer Uganda to the African Court on Human and People’s Rights for this active violation of the rights of it’s LGBTQIA+ citizens and their allies.

Cllr Lucky Dinake

DA Member for GCYPD

071 415 9052