Since the end
of the Second World War. The world’s perceptions on many different social and
economic sciences have shifted into a more cautious and understanding attitude.
It all started with the devastation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic
bombs. This resulted in the world’s super powers concluding that war is not
the answer if it leaves so much destruction behind. Then there were the women’s
rights movements, racial equality, capitalism and communism, and most recently
the homosexual rights movement.
 |
| Le-Fabulous: Bongani & Gift |
“Homosexuality
is a romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behaviour between members
of the same sex or gender. It also refers to a person’s sense of identity based
on those attractions, related behaviours and membership in a community of
others who share those attractions”. In African culture, homosexuality is
considered taboo as it is believed a man and a woman being sexually attracted
to one another are what nature intended, while same sex relationships are an
abomination. This attitude towards homosexuals has resulted in hate crimes
being committed towards homosexuals and has even led to some being too afraid to
come out in public as a homosexual.
Thankfully
humans are capable of changing their attitudes through education. The world has
slowly but progressively learnt to accept and understand the homosexual
culture. Communities around South Africa have been adjusting their attitudes
and now more and more homosexuals wear their “Gay Pride” badges around their
community with envious pride.
In the
community of Meadowlands one choir that does not discriminate and openly
welcomes all types of people is Lesedi Gospel house (LGH). In an interview with
Gift Kgasago, Thabo Khori, and Bongani Ngubeni, who are all homosexual and not
afraid to let the world know. They all expressed how at LGH they felt like they
are part of “one big happy family” where no judgements are passed towards them,
and how everyone sticks together. They each recalled an event where they went
to a function with a few, other members of LGH and they found themselves being
discriminated against by some people at the function. They then talked about
how the “male” members of LGH all came and stood up for them like superheroes
from a comic book. They each expressed how at LGH the motto “1 fam” is not only
a fancy print on their shirts, but it’s a well-practiced motto.
Gift,
Bongani, and Thabo all wish to see more homosexuals “come out of the closet”
and more joining LGH. They each encourage homosexuals to come and express
themselves more through the art of song and dance at LGH without the worrying
factor of judgements.
We live in a
big world that still needs attitude change, but even if we can’t change
attitudes we can at least instill tolerance in the people who are too stubborn
to change their attitudes. LGH is and will always be one of the driving forces
in attempting to change attitudes.
