‘Say their names’ – call for hate crime victims to be remembered
|Published
LGBTIQA activist Emogen Moore creates awareness about hate crime and calls for victims to be remembered.
Cape Town - LGBTIQA activist Emogen Moore has taken to social media and is visiting public schools in a bid to change the future on how society treats and views people who are gay or lesbian. He has called on the public to remember the victims’ names and faces and their stories.
Moore has created the hashtag #Say Their Names!
“I feel there has never been (a situation) where the government has decided that hate crime is an official crime,” said Moore.
“It is seen as just another person who has been murdered.
“But it is not just another person who is being killed, it is someone who is being killed because of their sexual orientation.
“I feel the government needs to step up because this will not end.
“You will always see a story about a gay person being killed, but you never hear what happened to the perpetrators.
“There is a sensation, a gay person is killed, but there is no light shed on the perpetrators.”
Moore gives motivational talks at schools, where he speaks about equality. “You have to start at the school so we can stop this pandemic from happening and that begins with education.
“These victims of these brutal hate crimes were a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a friend, a colleague to someone. We should never forget who they are. Say their names!”
Emanuel Mouers, 24, was at the Zone 14 Tavern in Wallacedene on June 4 when he was asked by his killer why he was using the loo meant for males and was murdered.
The body of Unathi Weba, 22, who moved to Cape Town for a better life, was found in a shack in Khayelitsha after he was strangled to death on May 31. It is believed he was killed for not being a girl.
Kirvan Fortuin, 28, a well-known and respected dancer and choreographer, was stabbed to death in Macassar in June 2020 during an altercation at a house party. A 14-year-old girl confessed to the killing.
Lonwabo Jack was found on a pavement on April 18 last year in Nyanga. Jack, who was gay, was murdered after celebrating his 22nd birthday.
Lulama Mvandaba was a lesbian and her family said they believed she was targeted because of her sexuality. She was assaulted and her body found in Khayelitsha in June last year.
Liyabona Mabishi, 16, from Nkanini, Khayelitsha, was murdered on Human Rights Day last year by five men, allegedly for being lesbian.
Phelokazi Ndlwana, 24, was stabbed and killed in Khayelitsha in May 2021 because she lived openly as a lesbian.
Siya Monakali, of Ilitha Labantu, an organisation which advocates for women’s and children’s rights and those of gays and lesbians, said it was sad that people were being murdered for their sexual orientation and that there was a lack of education in society. “Hate crimes form part of the intolerance represented in some of our communities towards the LGBTQIA+ community. This is a sad state of affairs as this homophobia is linked to a culture of intolerance and is underpinned by a culture of toxic masculinity and misogyny that needs to be uprooted. As an organisation we call for justice for all those who have fallen victim to hate crimes and appeal for a multi-stakeholder approach to educate members of our communities about gender diversity and tolerance.”
MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, said a basic human right was being infringed upon and condemned the killings. “No person has the right to take someone’s life or commit any crime against anyone on the basis of their sexual orientation.
“Hate crimes can and should not be tolerated.
“I condemn these types of and any other crime in the strongest possible terms. Crimes committed against those in the LGBTIQA+ community should not be allowed to go unseen or unheard.
“These are not just victims; these are human beings who have the same rights as any other citizen of this country.
“Our Constitution is very clear that any form of unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited. As citizens, it is our responsibility to stand up for and protect each other’s rights and dare I add, celebrate these and all our other freedoms and rights.”