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8 March 1995
EQUALITY CLAUSE
South Africa has
taken a bold and internationally ground-breaking step of incorporating into its
constitution a clause on non-discrimination
with regard to SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.
As a gay person who is highly educated and as a social
worker in a helping profession where I feel I contribute to the well-being
of
society, I would like you to know that for the first time in my life I feel just
fine about being able to tell people that I am
gay.
Having my
constitutional rights protected does not remove prejudice from people's hearts
or actions but it does do something for my
psychological well-being and peace of
mind. I am really grateful for this.
There are many zealots who will
fight to have this clause removed on all sorts of grounds. They are entitled to
their belief systems
that dictate their thoughts, but they are not entitled to
impose these beliefs on me because I don't share their beliefs or
thoughts.
Please protect me and my rights and ensure that the sexual
orientation clause remains in the final constitution. I also encourage
you to
retain all the non-discriminatory rights that are currently in the interim
constitution.
PETER HENOCHSBERG
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