GAYS, LESBIANS WANT TO VISIT SCHOOLS

 PIGG’S PEAK – It is not a secret that there are thousands of emaSwati who are either gay or lesbian but as far as the education system is concerned in the country, one can only be male or female.

During a recent stakeholders meeting organised by the Alliance of Mayor’s Initiative on Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL), which was held at Gobolondlo Hall in Pigg’s Peak, it was noted that representatives of the LBGTQI community wanted to visit schools to sensitise pupils about sexual preferences. The meeting is one of the many initiatives by AMICAALL.

At the meeting, a representative of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community noted how difficult it was to sensitise pupils about their rights if they have found themselves to have a gender preference.
This followed concerns that pupils who are either gay or lesbian are ridiculed or bullied in schools, possibly due to a lack of understanding of their sexual orientation.

It was also noted in the same meeting that every school had people who fall under the LGBTQI community but that many suffered in silence despite their rights being violated.

Blamed

This was blamed on schools which are said to be hostile environments for LGBTQI individuals.
Some of the pupils who are either gay or lesbian are also reportedly bullied or ridiculed and in certain instances, prayed for as they are classified as ‘demon-possessed’.

Reached for comment on the matter, Lindelwa Dlamini, who is an Advocacy Officer for the Rock of Hope, also noted that it was not easy getting to schools.
Rock of Hope Swaziland is community-based organisation that advocates for the rights of the LGBTQI community in Eswatini.

Challenge

She said the challenge with schools was the Education Policy.
Dlamini said the Education Policy classified pupils as being male or female. She said when members of the LGBTQI community spoke about other genders, they were not accepted.

Dlamini said due to this, LGBTQI members struggled to access certain services.
She lamented that the LGBTQI community was also not protected under the Constitution of Eswatini.

Dlamini said this was because the Constitution only acknowledged male or female. She also expressed concern that in many cases, the general public did not understand why some people were gay or lesbian.
Dlamini said many of their members in schools were considered demon- possessed and prayed for in the hope that they would change but that this was not the case.

Such is referred to as ‘conversion therapy’, according to Dlamini.
She further revealed that schools within the urban communities were more accepting than those in rural areas. Dlamini attributed this to access to information as well as media in urban areas whereas this was not the case in rural communities.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: