‘Pop-up’ selfies take pride of place

Cape Town - In celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (Idahot), a photo campaign called “pop-up pride” was held outside the Slave Lodge on Tuesday.

The campaign sought to highlight the need for equality for homosexual and transsexual communities.

The pop-up pride started on Human Rights Day and was led by the human rights officer at the Scalabrini centre, Neil Goodwin.

Goodwin said the campaign took place outside the Slave Lodge because of its status. He said homophobia and transphobia are a form of modern day slavery.

“It is modern day slavery, where they are enslaving people’s minds and forcing them to live a life that is not theirs,” said Goodwin.

The human rights team had been taking a rainbow cut-out of Africa to various areas in Cape Town in the hopes of getting 1 000 selfies taken by Africa Day on May 25.

On Tuesday they had 750 faces.

Once the project is completed, they plan to create a book of the photos to raise funds for African gay and lesbian communities.

The cut-out board contained information about gay and lesbian rights and why it was not “un-African”, an idea commonly used to oppose the rights of people with different sexual orientations on the continent.

“The idea that homosexuality is un-African perpetuates homophobia,” said Ruvimbo Tenga.

“In its quest to combat acts of homophobia and transphobia that are being perpetrated against the LGBTI community, the department and the National Task Team has developed the National Intervention Strategy.

“This is intended to address homophobic rapes and other action that are in violation of the rights of LGBTI people,” department spokesman advocate
Mthunzi Mhaga said