Hilton Pride

25/04/2025

Helen Zille - I would like to invite you for a conversation regarding trans people and trans experience.

You position your post as a trans debate - however I do not think trans people and trans identities are up for debate. As you so rightly say - trans people deserve support, acceptance and compassion- I however prefer using the term gender incongruence as is found in the WHO’s ICD11 - as I do not see being trans as a disorder but rather as one facet of identity that reflects the diversity that we find in being human.

I have been wondering if I should publicly respond to you as I do not always have the mental energy to face the hate and backlash that are so often evoked when trans and the trans experience are mentioned.
However, I feel to be silent does not add my experiences and understandings to this conversation.

I work in the field of trans healthcare. I have the amazing opportunity to witness people becoming true to themselves. I see people living their authentic selves. Trans persons that had to hide for many years now being able to live freely in our wonderful country as we have an amazing Constitution that is built on Human Rights, respect and dignity. I witness people who’s mental health improves as they do not have to hide away any longer. As their bodies begin to reflect who they know they are.

You may ask why am I inviting you to a conversation. I am of the opinion that your post has the potential to harm trans people. I have already witnessed the negative impact that your post has had on many trans people. Most will not be speaking out as they know their experience will be dismissed and invalidated by so many that have already responded to your post. I do not think you intended to cause harm by posting your opinion. Over the years I have seen that you passionately share your opinion. Unfortunately this post has also invoked many hurtful comments by some of your supporters. And hopefully through an open and honest conversation we could discuss why I see many of the points you raise as potentially damaging to the trans communities.

I do not see being transgender as in opposition to women rights. I think women’s rights are so incredibly important and must be a pillar of our society. Women’s rights and trans rights can both be important in the same country. It can even be complimentary and work together as both are pushing back against patriarchy and the injustices that it created. Women’s rights and trans rights are not in opposition to one another and it is not another binary that people so often create.

I do hear your concerns about youth. However when I look at my colleagues providing care in South Africa I have not known any to rush into medical transitioning. Instead they work in a multidisciplinary team with the young person and their parents. The so-called ‘trans agenda’ - I have never seen evidence of it in our healthcare system. What I have witnessed is healthcare workers that work ethically, are compassionate and accountable and that always work in the best interest of each person. Trans healthcare is very individualised and each person that explores their gender identity, being trans or not, should receive our support. I see affirming healthcare as an affirmation that trans people exist - however each young person that explores their gender identity should be allowed to be heard and given space to learn more about who they truly are. In South Africa most trans people struggle to access trans healthcare due to systemic challenges, availability of adequate care and transphobia that is still rampant in our society. If you are not financially privileged the possibility of receiving care is very slim.

Gender is just one aspect of life and our identity. I think you know what a powerful construct it is as so much suffering and inequality have been evoked in the name of gender - the idea that some genders are less important than others.

As a woman of power your words have an impact on many. And I hope through conversations you will be able to hear more about trans people just wanting to be free in society and being treated as equal persons in South Africa. Trans people are part of families - they have parents and siblings, they have partners and children, they have family members and friends. Trans people exist.

May we embrace human-kind-ness and live with compassion, celebrate diversity and live authentically.

Chris McLachlan

23/04/2025

https://www.litnet.co.za/press-release-on-the-uk-supreme-court-ruling-and-public-commentary-by-helen-zille/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ2NClleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsWCeMwYYhmDhamWKSBGWEfrSFsbn4I2JIom4WFM5oUiZbCF5-7WYI0ZcwWh_aem_-VKNtt2rJCWMFhV54hsHCw

We are aware that some of the very sources cited here have been deliberately misinterpreted or misrepresented by those seeking to discredit gender-affirming care. This pattern — the selective citation of studies, the exaggeration of uncertainty, and the failure to reflect scientific consensus — ...

15/10/2024

https://chng.it/LHtxMV8ppD

Support evidence-based care for trans and gender diverse young people in South Africa

15/03/2024

HOMOPHOBIC RELIGIOUS BIGOTS DEFACE HOWICK FALLS PRIDE STEPS

Letters to the editor: The Witness today - unabridged version. (Shortened, published version in image)

To whom it may concern:

I am deeply concerned at the potential harmful impact of some recent bigotry on the LGBTQI community in uMngeni. In 2023, a team of individuals painted the Howick Falls stairs in the Pride/rainbow colours to beautify the area and share the message of uMngeni’s culture of inclusivity for all people. The gesture was meant to embrace people of all demographics - a message of love to all colours, creeds, s*xual orientations, and other persuasions shared with open hearts. Unfortunately, some bigot has chosen to go and spray-paint “Romans 1:18-32” and “Genesis 9:8-17” at the top of these Pride Steps. This is a shameful and cowardly expression of hatred.

It seems fair to infer that the spray painter intends us to apply the language of the Romans reference to the LGBTQIA community, and the language of Genesis to claim Yahweh’s ownership of the rainbow to remind himself of his “everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth,” so that he doesn’t accidentally kill all life again.

The language used to judge people in the Romans text includes (among several other hateful insults and epithets): “fools,” “sinful desires,” “s*xual impurity,” “degrading of their bodies,” “shameful lusts,” “unnatural,” “shameful acts,” “depraved mind,” “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity,” “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice,” “God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful,” and the final, glorious kicker: “those who do such things deserve death.” There is no universe in which these words are shared with those one loves, much as religious bigots will claim to be doing so "in love".

Apart from the obvious scientific and ethical problems with these words, South African law prohibits hate speech by explicitly excluding it from Constitutional free speech protections. As we all know, civil rights are never absolute. My right to swing my fist stops at the tip of your nose, and so religious rights and free speech rights do not extend to burning Christians at the stake for not believing in the old Roman gods, murdering people for body parts, or throwing gay people off the tops of buildings. Our spray painter doesn’t seem to realize that there are limits on Christian expression too.

The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA - Act 4 of 2000) says no person may publish, propagate, advocate, or communicate words based on one or more of the prohibited grounds (race, gender, s*x, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, s*xual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language, and birth.) against any person that could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to be hurtful; be harmful or to incite harm; promote or propagate hatred.”

Like the constitution, I think we should grant everyone the right to practice whatever convictions they hold – in private. But the same Bill of Rights and speech legislation that protects those religious freedoms also protects people of all s*xual orientations – which is the part our spray painter conveniently ignores. I am fully aware that not all Christians are bigots – there are gay Christians, and many Christians who support equality and actually practice the love that Christianity is supposedly based on. I count many friends among them. But I am not going to get tangled up in arguments about which version of Christianity is the correct one – that’s for Christians to sort out, and it seems they’re having trouble doing so.

This hateful defacing of symbolically inclusive steps at (arguably) uMngeni’s crown tourist jewel brings shame on our community. To the spray-painter: You are free to think and believe what you want to in your own home. Unfortunately, you are even allowed to teach the bigotry to your kids. But your hate speech is an unacceptable blight on our community, and an insult to all LGBTQIA people and allies who live here – not least our mayor. As for the rainbow itself, that is by no means exclusive to your religion, and your homophobic version of Yahweh has no special claim to it. Other rainbow myths come from cultures as old and diverse as the Mesopotamian and Elamite, Greek, Aboriginal Australian, Chinese, Mesoamerican, Hawaiian, West African, Andean, Norse, Japanese, and Navajo. The rainbow belongs to all of us. Your arrogant claim of special ownership is as false, elitist, and hateful as your nauseating homophobia.

Questioning gay people’s right to exist is a despicable and cowardly act of hate speech that is rightly illegal. I wish I knew who you were so that I could report you to the Human Rights Commission. PS: the dark ages called – they want their values back.

27/11/2022

Nursery school teachers are being urged to make children’s rhymes and songs gender-neutral.This is in a bid to prevent discrimination against transgender pup...

09/09/2022

Hilton Pride would like to welcome Charles to the LGBTQIA+ community.

01/07/2022

FOR LGBTQI+ women in or near Durban! Pride Month After Party...

19/06/2022

Welcome, Mr Mayor Chris Pappas. ❤️🌈

19/06/2022

Gerda Swanepoel from Howick has organised a Pride Picnic at Highgate on Sunday the 26th, for anyone who’s keen. Here’s the event link:

https://fb.me/e/2f4XZzKqm