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.

Coffee News Break 6 August 2010

It's August and spring is almost here. I can't wait! Warm sunny days, no more layers and layers of clothing it sounds amazing. But while we wait for spring to arrive have a read through the newest Coffee News Break.

Finally America realised their flaws and District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has ruled Proposition 8 against gay marriage to be unconstitutional, meaning gay marriage cannot be banned in the state of California. Congrats!
Looks can be deceiving and this music video for ATB's "Could You Believe" is not to be judged by it's cover. A really great song accompanied by a really great music video. Check it out for yourself.

Rose Rollins from The L Word fame is now starring in a drama series called Chase. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced series is described as “a fast-paced drama that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. marshals hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives.” Rollins will play the team’s weapons/tactical specialist. That's something to look forward to.

Another former The L Word star Sarah Shahi will be starring in a new drama series Facing Kate. What does this series have for lesbians? Here is what Sarah had to say:
Those L Word fans have been so loyal and so accepting of anything that I've done. I think they'll like it. I think they'll enjoy seeing me in something that's kind of light, and the role of Carmen was kind of light on The L Word. My character doesn't take herself too seriously. She's fun and I think they'll have fun watching it.
If your like me and get bored occasionally at work here is something to lighten the spirits and make time fly by a little faster. Be warned this can be addictive!

Funny or Die made a parody video of M.I.A's "Paper Planes". Watch out for John the Pony!

Tegan and Sara's music video for "On Directing" is out.

Here is a behind the scenes look of making the "On Directing" video and on the same day the video for "Northshore" was being shot. The video for "Northshore" will be out on the 10th of August.

The Gay Games started in Cologne and I am proud that we have a South African team representing. Here is a part of the opening ceremony with Taylor Danes performing the Gay Games anthem, "Facing a Miracle".

Here is a 20 second video I found of our South African team playing soccer.

Also an interview with some of our South African soccer players.

Watch live streaming video from onemorelesbian at livestream.com

To check out more videos of the Gay Games you can visit this website http://www.livestream.com/onemorelesbian

- Article written by Megan

The Runaways Movie Release Date

The Runaways will start it's screen debut on the 18th of June here in South Africa. For those of you who have not yet heard about this movie here is a little background information
for you. The movie is based on Cherie Currie's 1989 autobiography, Neon Angel. Cherie was also a Runaway lead by the one and only Joan Jett. For those who don't know Joan Jett I would recommend you go Google her, now. Just some background info on the band, The Runaways were an all-girl teenage rock band that performed in the 1970's. Some of their best known songs are "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Rock n Roll", "Neon Angels" and "Born to Be Bad".

The film follows the two friends Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota
Fanning), as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock starts of the now
legendary group The Runaways that paved the way for future generations of girl bands. Joan and Cherie fall under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley
(Michael Shannon), who turns the group into an outrageous success and a family of misfits.

With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself—and so do its two leads: Joan is the band's pure rock 'n' roll heart, while Cherie, with her Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten. The Runaways chronicles Joan and Cherie's tumultuous relationship on and off stage, as the band starts to break out.


- Article Written By Megan

Interview With Amanda Bester

She's cool, she's funky, the girl next door, full of awesomness and best of all she is gay. Amanda Bester born in 1983 is making it big for herself in the graphic design world.This Capetonian is definitly going to go far. Be sure to keep an eye out for her and her art. But now let's see what goes in that artistic mind:

TML : How did you decide between being a graphic designer and a painter?
AB : I still do illustration but it just isn't that good or stable as graphic design is.

TML : What is your favourite category?
AB : Pen and watercolor

TML : What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
AB : I love vector artwork. I love to manipulate the art and of course the finished product. Nothing sexier than a truck, building etc. with new signs.

TML : For those of us that are not familiar with vector artwork, would you mind explaining it?
AB : Vector is line work. It's art that consists of lines and shapes.

TML : Your job sounds like a lot of fun. It must be amazing for you to see something being made from scratch into something amazing?
AB : Yes it's insane! I can stand infront of a building, car, boat, whatever and come up with a design right there on the spot.

TML : How did you get to where you are today?
AB : Hardwork and stubbornness. Extra hours goes a long way.

TML : On the social network. How would you rate yourself?
AB : I know people and they know me, I know where and when events occur. So almost there.

TML : How do you think the gay and lesbian scene changed over the past 20 years?
AB : Wow it did change alot! There are more gay clubs and restaurants. Girls are putting in more of an effort and events are endless.

TML : Do you think South Africa should host more LGBT festivals?
AB : I think South Africa must realize that nothing will work without their input.

TML : Where can people go to see your illustrations?
AB : I am currently working on a website put for now they can go to deviantArt

Well ladies what did you think about that? Are you going to go check out her artwork?

- Article Written By Martha