Visiting Luleki Sizwe

Last month I posted an article about Luleki Sizwe. An organization that is fighting it's way to make corrective rape more punishable. Well thanks to Lara Aucamp and Maddy Jerry Wolmarans who has organized that we go as a group go visit this organization and see for ourselves what Ndumie Funda, the founder of Luleki Sizwe, has created. This is the event information as posted on Facebook:

"On Saturday the 19th Cape Town Lesbians would like to take a group of girls to visit the Luleki Sizwe shelter for victims of corrective rape.

For more info: http://lulekisizwe.com/

We will be meeting at Mzoli's in Guguletu at 1.45pm.

Directions to Mzoli's:

If you take the Modderdam:

Rd exit off the N2 out of Cape Town, turn left when you get to Klipfontein Rd, Cross the railway line, pass a petrol station on your left, but carry on down Klipfontein.

Turn left at about the second road after the intersection, and you will see Mzoli's meat immediately on your left.

http://mzolisplace.co.za/

From there we will take a bus (Sponsored by Lara Aucamp) that will take people across to Luleki Sizwe.

The Luleki Sizwe soccer team will also be there and it might be great fun to have a kick around with them :-)

If anyone has anything to donate (clothes, tampons, food, etc) please bring that along. There will be a list sent out shortly with items the girls require.

For more info please contact Maddy at maddy@capetownpride.org

Hope to see you there!"

It would be great if we can get a group together and help out as this is our future.

South Africa: Declare 'Corrective Rape' a Hate-Crime

This is a call to all South Africans who would like to make "Corrective Rape" more punishable. "Corrective Rape" is a term used to describe when a man rapes a lesbian with the aim of 'turning' her heterosexual! This mostly happens in our Townships but it can happen to anyone. We need to support Luleki Sizwe.

Ndumie Funda

Luleki Sizwe is an NGO/NPO formed by Ndumie Funda, the fiancée of a victim of “corrective rape” who died in 2007, to provide support to victims of “corrective rape” and to lobby for the SA Government to do something about this scourge!

The project was named after a close friend of Ndumie’s, Luleka Makiwane, who was raped by her cousin, and died of AIDS as a result of that rape in 2005, and Ndumie’s late fiancée, Nosizwe Nomsa Bizana, who was gang-raped by five men because of her sexuality and died of complications as a direct result of that rape.

 

Hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are not recognised by South African law

• 31 lesbian women have been murdered because of their sexuality in the last 10 years
• More than 10 lesbians a week are raped or gang raped in Cape Town alone
• South Africa has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world
• 150 women are raped every day in South Africa
• For every 25 men accused of rape in South Africa, 24 walk free

The objectives of Luleki Sizwe are as follows:

• To change the existing negative perception about lesbian, bi-sexual and transsexual (LBT) women in our society
• To support and reach out to lesbians who have been forced from their homes due to their sexual orientation and HIV status
• To educate and empower lesbians about issues such as safe sex, healthy living, health programmes, sport, media, arts/ culture and human rights
• To raise awareness on social issues e.g. rape, sexual assault, discrimination
• To celebrate young and older lesbians through arts, drama and other forms of expression
• To fundraise for different programs
• To create awareness around LBT human rights at a professional and social level

Please go to http://lulekisizwe.wordpress.com/ to read more about this project. Also look at this page http://lulekisizwe.wordpress.com/how-you-can-help/ to see how you can help and make a difference as they need our help and support. 

Also please go sign their petition at www.change.org.

Pink is Pregnant!

If your a die hard Pink fan like I am you'll be saying, "Not this again!". BUT, this time it's actually true and it came from Pink herself. She popped by Ellen's show and told everyone the good news. If you still don't believe me, check it out for yourself:

Now that we all said aaawwwww finally! Go and vote for Pink so she can get a People's Choice Awards. The categories to vote for are Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Pop Artist.

From the whole Modern L team we would like to congratulate Pink and her husband Carey on this amazing journey and may that little bundle of joy be a blessing to you both.

- Written by Megan

Pink's Raise Your Glass Official Music Video

Pink's new music video for her brand new single Raise Your Glass is finally here. And trust me there is a lot of gayness included and it's not just the gay wedding I'm reffering to.

Who else thought that the prom scene and nerdy glasses reminded you of Taylor Swift? Or is that just me?

Also look out for her Greatest Hits...So Far album which will be released on the 16th of November. The album includes 3 new songs which are 'Raise Your Glass', 'F***ing Perfect' and 'Heartbreak Down'. To hear a clip of the songs you can visit the German Amazon site.

What are your thoughts on the video and her upcoming album?

- Written by Megan

It Gets Awesome with Liz Feldman

Lesbeaus and friendlies! We're proud to present our "It Gets Awesome" episode of TJO! Please enjoy the super amazing Tegan Quin as we discuss just how much better/gayer it really does get. Enjoy, guffaw and be proud!!!

Wear Purple on October 20 for Spirit Day

What is Spirit Day?

The idea behind Spirit Day, first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, is a simple one, not dissimilar to the idea of "Spirit Week" held in many high schools, and can be summed up in three words: Everyone Rally Together. 

Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them.
Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. 

As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple." 

Wearing purple on October 20 is a simple way to show the world that you stand by these courageous young people and a simple way to stand UP to the bullies. Remember those lives we've tragically lost, and show your solidarity with those who are still fighting. 'Go Purple' today!   

Check out GLAAD's website to see how you can participate at http://www.glaad.org/spiritday

Pink and a Gay Wedding

Pink will be having a real-life same-sex marriage in her new video for her single "Raise Your Glass". Having been an allay of the LGBT community for years this was bound to happen and I am glad it finally did. The official video has not been released yet but I will keep you updated, in the mean time you can listen to "Raise Your Glass" right here!

To show you what a real and true ally she really is to the LGBT community you can watch the following video where she was honored with the Ally for Equality award at the 14th annual Human Right Campaign National Dinner. It was truly a heart warming and touching speech. Congrats Pink! You deserve it!

 

- Written by Megan

Coming Out Day 2010 with Liz Feldman

Friendos, Lizbians and Homotaculars!   Welcome back to the wonderful world of This Just Out!  Your favorite insti-gay-tor is back in action with her pals and special guests.  This week the beautiful and awesome Tracy Ryerson from Showtime's the "Real L Word" joins Liz for an in depth and way too personal interview.  Plus, Raimy tells you what you want to hear!  As always, there are special guests and constant surprises.  Watch out bullies, Liz is here to tell you that it's more than okay to be gay!

Check out Liz Feldman's official site for more fun and laughs!