Women are reporting a rising tide of brutal homophobic attacks and murders and the widespread use of 'corrective' rape as a form of punishment.
The report, commissioned by international NGO ActionAid, called for South Africa's criminal justice system to recognize the rapes as hate crimes as police are reportedly failing to take action over the spiraling violence.
Horrific crimes against lesbians in South Africa are reportedly going unrecognized by the state and unpunished by the legal system
The extent of the brutality became clear when Eudy Simelane, former star of South Africa's national female football squad, became one of the victims last April.
Simelane, one of the first women to live openly as a lesbian and an equality rights campaigner, was gang-raped and beaten before being stabbed to death 25 times in the face, chest and legs.
Eudy Simelane died after being gang-raped, beaten and stabbed 25 times
Triangle, a gay rights organization, said it deals with up to 10 new cases of 'corrective rape' every week.
Support groups claim an increasingly macho political environment led to inaction over attacks.
A statement released by South Africa's national prosecuting authority said: 'While hate crimes – especially of a sexual nature – are rife, it is not something that the South African government has prioritized as a specific project.'
Human rights and equality campaigners are hoping the reaction to Simelane's death and the trial of the three men accused of her rape and murder will help put an end to the attacks.
Laura Turquet, ActionAid’s women’s rights coordinator, said: 'So-called "corrective" rape is yet another grotesque manifestation of violence against women, the most widespread human rights violation in the world today.
'These crimes continue unabated and with impunity, while governments simply turn a blind eye.
Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!
President Obama, Stand Up And Demand Equality!
Two strongly worded court orders place President Obama in an awkward position on the issue of whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, The New York Times reports.
In separate instances of employee grievance resolution, judges of the federal appeals court in California said that the same-sex partners of their employees were entitled to health benefits. This position challenges the federal Office of Personnel Management, which has directed insurers not to provide the benefits, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines the word "spouse" as a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.
Obama must decide whether to support the personnel office, and risk disappointing the liberal base that helped elect him, or support the judges, and court conservative anger at a time he needs them to help advance his daunting domestic agenda.
President Obama, as an American who believes in FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SEPARATION OF CHURCH/STATE, a disaster volunteer during 9/11, a community volunteer that helps everyone (never discriminating against others for being heterosexual even though they often discriminate against our LGBT community), a taxpayer and supporter of many of your causes including your election and someone who is queer, I ask you to DO THE RIGHT THING AND STAND UP AGAINST THE BULLIES OF THE RIGHT AND EXTREMIST OF THE PULPITS.
Sign an order barring discrimination (as well as abolishing DOMA) against our community as enough is enough and say government stands for and demands change for fairness and equality for ALL AMERICANS. It is not just the right thing to do, it is also the best thing to do!!
Keep a smile on your face and love in your heart!
