Week 5: Upcoming Advocacy Events
Along with refugee appeals, PASSOP does a lot of advocacy work, specifically involving LGBTI rights. Recently, we have been working on three major projects, detailed below.
Gofundme Fundraiser
Despite minimal funding, PASSOP is still doing great work. The reality for my co-workers is that sometimes they do not get paid because funding is largely dependent upon available grants, which can fluctuate from year to year. More information on what we are doing and how you can contribute to the cause can be found on our Gofundme page: https://www.gofundme.com/uwnsa8-support-lgbti-refugees.
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
This Thursday, we will be hosting the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, a group of around 175 men who will perform at Langa Civic Hall. A company the chorus had hired to create their South Africa tour had planned most of the event before my arrival. While some of their shows will have an entrance fee of about 200 rand (approximately $15), our show will have no entrance fee. This is because many people in townships are not able to afford the show and we want to make sure they have access to the event and that we have a large audience.
Unfortunately, I have some reservations about the event. First, it is unclear whether or not the company hired to pick the location and set up the event has spoken to the community leaders in Langa. Speaking to the community leaders is important because they run the township and have socially conservative views. This means they may not appreciate the presence of a large gay men’s choir and a majority LGBTI audience in their township. As an example of the more conservative and traditional nature of the township, one of my friends who visited Langa explained that there is a ritual in the community for circumcision that involves sending teenage boys to a neighboring town to “become men”. This means that they are circumcised without medical tools and are not given any medical treatment following the circumcision. I learned from reading Long Walk to Freedom that this is the same ritual Nelson Mandela underwent.
Colours of Cape Town
I am in charge of an event called Colours of Cape Town, which will be held on Wednesday, July 18th, 2018. This event will focus on the intersectionality of xenophobia and homophobia and will feature the stories of three refugees, music, and poetry. Additionally, there will be a mini-market of jewelry items and art being sold by LGBTI refugees. Our hope is that this event will raise awareness about the struggles LGBTI refugees face in their everyday lives, but also demonstrate how some have been able to succeed in Cape Town.