By Buziwe Nocuze
• Khumbulani Pride members marched through Site C in Khayelitsha to remember queer people killed in hate crimes and support survivors.
• The father of murdered teenager Khanya Ntlanganiso joined the march and called for his son’s killers to spend their lives in jail.
Rainbow colours filled the streets of Site C in Khayelitsha as LGBTQI+ activists marched to honour victims of hate crimes and demand justice for queer communities.
The Khumbulani Pride march brought together members of the LGBTQI+ community, survivors and families of victims for a day of remembrance and resistance.
Marchers carried flags and posters through the township to show support for Black queer people living in fear of violence and discrimination.
Anele Ligunya, chairperson of Free Gender, said the campaign started in 2013 to honour queer people who lost their lives because of homophobia and hate crimes.
“The Pride is about remembering those we have lost and showing that queer lives in Black communities matter,” said Ligunya.
“We are also celebrating survivors who continue to fight every day.”
Ligunya said the march also helps educate communities about LGBTQI+ people.
“We want the community to know that we are here. Even if they do not have queer family members, they will meet queer people in everyday life,” said Ligunya.
During the event, activists also spoke about murder cases involving LGBTQI+ members that still have not received justice.
One of the people who joined the march was Sicelo Ntlanganiso, whose 16 year old son Khanya was murdered in December last year.
Khanya was killed in what the family believes was a homophobic attack.
According to the family, a group of boys assaulted him with stones, burnt his body and gouged out his eyes.
Ntlanganiso said the support from the LGBTQI+ community has helped the family cope during the court case.
“I am grateful for the support we are receiving from the LGBTQI+ community. They are always with us in court,” he said.
“All we want is for my child’s killers to rot in jail. They killed him like a dog.”
He said keeping the accused behind bars could save other young queer people from suffering the same fate.
Image Caption: LGBTQI+ activists marched through Khayelitsha to honour victims of hate crimes and demand justice for queer communities.
Image: Supplied
