Date: Sun, 28 Jul 96 22:24 GMT+0200 From: Stephen Van Breda Subject: *** GAYS & LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE : ZIBF'96 ** HARARE : 28th JULY 1996. ******************************************************** STATEMENT FROM THE GAYS AND LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE (GALZ)* ******************************************************** AT A MEETING ON SUNDAY 28tH JULY 1996, THE GAYS AND LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE REAFFIRMED EMPHATICALLY THEIR POSITION TO PROCEED WITH ENTERING THE ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR. THE BARING OF GALZ HAS NO BASIS IN LAW AND AS MEMBERS OF CIVIL SOCIETY, GALZ WILL NOT BE BULLIED BY GOVERNMENT INTO WITHDRAWING. IT IS A DISGRACE THAT POLITICIANS SHOULD PUT THEMSELVES INTO THE POSITION OF DETERMINING THE MORAL CODES OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. REGARDING THE CULTURAL ISSUE THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS UN-AFRICAN, GALZ STATES THAT IN ANY DEMOCRATIC STATE WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS GUARANTEED THE INALIENABLE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, GAYS AND LESBIANS MUST ALSO BE PERMITTED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR OWN GAY AND LESBIAN CULTURE. CULTURES ARE THE BELIEF SYSTEM AND BEHAVIOUR PATTERNS OF INDIVIDUALS; THEY ARE NOT THE MORAL PRESCRIPTIONS OF DICTATORIAL BODIES. CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS TO BE ENCOURAGED AND NOT TO BE CURTAILED BY OPPRESSION AND TYRANNY. THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS GUARANTEED UNDER THE ZIMBABWE CONSTITUTION AND YET WE ARE FACED WITH A GOVERNMENT MINISTRY WHICH SEEKS TO CURTAIL IT - THERE IS NOTHING MORE ORWELIAN THAN THAT ! TRUE LEADERSHIP IS THE TOLERANCE OF DIVERSITY WHICH IS THE BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACY. FAR FROM SUPPRESSING THE VOICE OF MINORITIES, GOVERNMENT SHOULD INSTEAD BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF SETTING STANDARDS OF DEMOCRATIC THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR IN ZIMBABWE. GALZ IS TOTALLY NON-VIOLENT IN ITS APPROACH. THE ORGANISATION CALLS AGAIN ON THE ZIMBABWEAN POLICE TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THOSE ATTENDING THE GALZ STAND AND REQUIRES THAT THE POLICE NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE USED AS WEAPONS AGAINST GOVERNMENT CRITICS. GALZ ENCOURAGES ALL PERSONS WHO HAVE THREATENED VIOLENCE AND DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST GALZ MEMBERS, TO DESIST FROM SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR. A WRITTEN REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO THE POLICE TO HAVE ADEQUATE SECURITY IN PLACE AND ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER DURING THE BOOK FAIR. HOMOSEXUALS EXIST WITHIN ALL STRATA OF ZIMBABWEAN SOCIETY. IT IS INHUMAN TO PERSIST WITH THIS PERSECUTION OF US. THE PLIGHT OF HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY IS HARROWING AND GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASING TORMENT. WHEN HOMOSEXUALS CRY OUT OR ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE IN NEED WITH COUNSELLING SERVICES, GOVERNMENT RESPONDS ONLY BY BRINGING INTO PLAY HEAVY-HANDED CENSORSHIP AND TOTAL SUPPRESSION. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL GALZ TOLERATE THREATS ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. TO BOW TO SUCH PRESSURE WILL SIMPLY ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE WITH ITS INVASIVE BEHAVIOUR. THE GAY COMMUNITY IS STANDING UP NOT JUST FOR GAY RIGHTS BUT FOR THE HOLISTIC PRINCIPAL OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH WHICH APPLIES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES IN THIS COUNTRY. HOMOSEXUALS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND WE WILL BE HEARD. WE ARE PROUD TO BE ZIMBABWEAN AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE GAY. ENDS ....... |====================================================================| |Stephen M Van Breda | |P O Box 544 Tel/Fax (263)(20)61065| |Mutare, Zimbabwe | |====================================================================| ****************************************************************************** * To subscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe queerplanet * * To unsubscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe queerplanet * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * ******************************************************************************