Οι αμέτρητες υποθέσεις “διορθωτικού βιασμού” που πλήττουν τη Νότια Αφρική σε επικίνδυνο βαθμό αυξάνονται συνεχώς. Ο “διορθωτικός βιασμός” αποτελεί μια εγκληματική πρακτική, όπου ένας άνδρας βιάζει μια λεσβία, υποτίθεται ως ένα μέσο “ίασης” της γυναίκας για το σεξουαλικό της προσανατολισμό.

Τελευταίο θύμα: μια 24χρονη παίκτρια ποδοσφαίρου από το Γιοχάνεσμπουργκ, που μαχαιρώθηκε μέχρι θανάτου λίγα λεπτά αφότου άφησε σπίτι τη σύντροφό της. Η σελίδα της Δημοκρατικής Συμμαχίας (DA) δημοσιεύει:

Ms Nogwaza’s murder – she was stoned, stabbed and gang-raped – is now the latest in what has become a string of violent assaults known as “corrective rapes”, which are allegedly intended to “cure” members of the gay and lesbian community of their sexual orientation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) unequivocally condemns these crimes and the contemptible motives behind them in the strongest terms. They are an affront to the constitutional values of freedom and equality which we all hold dear, and have rightly outraged progressive South Africans everywhere who recognise that gay rights are also human rights.

Η Noxolo ήταν δραστήρια ακτιβίστρια υπέρ των ΛΟΑΤ και εργαζόταν επίσης στο Συντονιστικό της Οργάνωσης Ekurhuleni Pride. Πρόκειται για μια σειρά πολυάριθμων βιασμών στη Νότια Αφρική, ορισμένοι από τους οποίους οδηγούν στο θάνατο των θυμάτων. Ένα μήνα πριν, άλλη μια 13χρονη λεσβία υπήρξε θύμα βιασμού στην Πραιτώρια:

A 13-year-old lesbian girl was raped in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, says the department of justice and constitutional development.

“Government condemns this senseless and cowardly act of criminality,” department spokesman Tlali Tlali said in a statement on Friday.

He said the girl, who was open about her sexuality, was raped in what seemed to be an act of “corrective rape” on Thursday.

According to activists, lesbian women are often victims of “corrective rape”, which is forced sex with a man to “cure” their sexuality.

The department said every South African had the right to express themselves in the sexual orientation of their choice.

Tlali said police and the National Prosecuting Authority’s sexual offences and community affairs unit would investigate the case.

The girl and her family would also receive assistance from the department of justice and the department of social development.

Η Millicent Gaika, άλλο ένα θύμα διορθωτικού βιασμού στη Νότια Αφρική. Πηγή: lezgetreal.com

Καθώς οι Νοτιοαφρικανοί γιόρταζαν τη 17η επέτειο ανεξαρτησίας τους τον προηγούμενο μήνα, η Sokari επισήμανε πως λίγα είχαν να γιοτάσουν οι μαύρες λεσβίες:

Today is the 17th anniversary of South Africa’s independence but for Black lesbians there is little to celebrate as today we learn of the rape and murder of yet another young sister. The Constitution debated and formed to protect all South Africans has failed the majority of South Africans. It has shamefully failed the most vulnerable people in the country and in particular young Black lesbians. The body of Noxola Nogwaza was found on Sunday morning. This is just 4 weeks after the body of 20 years old Nokuthula Radebe was discovered and which has not even been reported in the media. The pain of these brutal attacks grows and my heart goes out to their family and friends. May both Nogwaza and Nokuthula Rest in Peace

Ο Ben Khumalo Seegelken σχολίασε στη δημοσίευση της Sokari:

Disgusting crimes and violation of human rights will continue ravaging society as long as only a few stand up and raise their voice in protection of marginalised individuals and minorities: Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends, teachers and neighbours – each one of us could prevent criminals from intimidating or doing harm to girls and boys, men and women living among us – our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and colleagues, neighbours and students, teachers and leaders – by making it clear for everybody that we accept and respect them as unconditionally as we do accept and respect ourselves and everybody else. Every family is diverse – it consists of people of different identities and orientation; the community as well. None of the various different identities – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and others – ought to be marginalised or discriminated against!

Η Sarinmona ταράχτηκε βαθύτατα:

I am deeply distured by this. What a shame. You have to be very careful who you tell your business to. Some men hate you for being gay. They will take your life and not even blink. Some women will roll their eyes at you thinking that you want them. Being gay doesn't rub off. You can't catch it. Truth be told gay people are very picky and probably not even look at you, so don't be scared. The violence must stop. I pray they rise up for this poor young woman. They should find those men and YES publicly do to them what they did to her. Excuse me, I have to go throw up now. I am sick to my stomach.

Η New Black Woman θλίβεται από το ότι υπάρχουν γυναίκες σε μια χώρα σύγχρονη όπως η Νότια Αφρική που συνεχίζουν και υφίστανται την απειλή του “διορθωτικού βιασμού”:

Rape is about controlling and exerting power and dominance over women. Rape is about instilling fear in the hearts and minds of women. It pains me to know there are women in a country as modern as South Africa who continue to face this threat each and every day just because they don't conform into heterosexual or cisgender norms. It sickens, but doesn't surprise me, to know there are men out there who are willing to utilize such violence and hatred towards women because they don't fit their standards of what it means to be a woman.

Ironically, a man's willingness to and society's tolerance of rape to put me in my place reminds should remind women of the everlasting second-class citizenship we continue to hold in the global world.

Η Luleki Sizwe, μια νοτιοαφρικανική φιλανθρωπική οργάνωση που ασχολείται με τη διάσωση, υποστήριξη, διαβίωση και ιατρική φροντίδα θυμάτων διορθωτικού βιασμού, δημιούργησε μια διαδικτυακή αίτηση πέρυσι στο διαδικτυακό τόπο change.org με παραλήπτη τον Υπουργό Δικαιοσύνης της Νοτίου Αφρικής Jeffrey Radebe, ζητώντας από την νοτιοαφρικανική κυβέρνηση να αναγνωρίσει το “Διορθωτικό Βιασμό” ως Έγκλημα Μίσους.

Παρά το ότι η Νότια Αφρική ήταν η πρώτη αφρικανική χώρα που νομιμοποίησε το γάμο μεταξύ ατόμων του ιδίου φύλου και το πρώτο δημοκρατικό κράτος που εξασφάλισε στους πολίτες ΛΟΑΤ ίσα δικαιώματα σε όλες τις εκφάνσεις της ζωής τους, τα περιστατικά διορθωτικών βιασμών αυξάνονται συνεχώς.