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14 January 1994
Sir/Madam
AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION NHNORITY GROUPS
The positive implications of redressing past
wrongs by affirmative action should also be extended to other groups which
suffered injustices.
Of concern to me is the status of the subculture
labelled homosexuals or gay persons.
Gay people were forced to live in
subcultures and for the most part out of the public eye. This has had adverse
effects in our assimilation
in the general population, self image, and
acceptance into normal and key positions in both business and the public sector.
People
were by legislation discriminated against and often have had to live
their lives as lies, or compronfise both their and other peoples
lives. Many
doors in government and private sector are closed for single men and women,
especially if they are 'suspected' of being
gay.
No more stereotyping us
in the moffic image and tolerated as only being good enough to be the chef ,
arrange the flowers and decorate
the stately homes. Gay people are more than
that.
As with victims under apartheid the injustices to gay people should
as a matter of urgency also be addressed. Because of the stigma
attached to
being gay, few leaders outside the gay community have taken any positive steps
to address these injustices since the
changes in the country, as opposed to the
number of people, institutions and businesses taking up the cause of the black
conununity
and womans' rights.
It is important that the situation be
normalised so that people because of whatever sexual proclivity, be afforded the
same rights
and opportunities as any other person in this
country.
I -
126-1
Strong community, sports and
commercial organisations established by gay people already exist and these have
had opportunity to voice
their stakes. Yet these assertions are not seriously
considered by politicians and other leaders because of the entrenched
discriminatory
perception of people labeled as being gay: illegal, out of place,
ridiculed and closeted. We just don't exist.
Their main thrust for
changes in the country has only been affirmative action as generally perceived
and to a lesser degree womans
rights. Who is looking at the
minorities?
Gay leaders have voiced their concern with assuring the gay
person's legal status in law.
Gay people should not have to be concerned only
with assuring their right to being.
Gay people must be afforded the same
opportunities as any other people who have suffered.
It is therefore your
duty, as with affn-mative action, and by similar means, to provide for the
creation of a respected and proper
place for us in this society, so that
eventually, as with the colour of your skin or sex, differences fade and loose
importance.
I and other gay people want our rightful place in this
society recogmsed.
Thank you for the opportunity to address my
concerns.
Sincerely
Pierre Jordaan
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