Lisakhanya gets youth, elderly talking
GILGAL - A Gilgal resident was left with unanswered questions after learning that not accepting a child who has come out of ‘the closet’ regarding their sexual orientation is an example of abuse.
The question was directed to Makhosazana Dlamini, a community nurse who was presenting on mental health and gender-based violence (GBV) at Gilgal Sports Ground over a week ago. The presentation was part of a GBV and Mental Health Awareness Campaign hosted by a newly-formed non-profit organisation, Lisakhanya Likusasa. The resident, after being informed that not accepting his child’s sexual orientation was tantamount to abuse posed a follow-up question.
“Am I not being abused as a parent if my child will tell me their gender was a mistake?” the resident asked. Despite posing his question three times, he failed to get a response. The resident added that such rights should not be forced on parents, but rather, further research should be done as to what they thought should be done as well.
Dreams
“The law itself is an abuser. The Bill allowing (LGBTQI) behaviour in our country has not passed as we speak. Hence, it is wrong to ask us parents to accept such from our children. We always have dreams (for our children), depending on their gender, hence it is hard to accept that they have changed,” the resident said. Civic Rights Programme Manager Southern Africa Litigation Centre Melusi Simelane was of the view that it was not the duty of parents to decide what their children should be. “Children need to be allowed to grow up in an enabling environment, ensuring that they become great in whatever they want to be. A parent’s job cannot be to tell a child what they and should not be. Theirs is to nurture children so they blossom and become the most beautiful form of what is desired by their hearts,” Simelane said. Meanwhile, Dlamini, the community nurse, also appealed for the end of violence at homes, stating that this had a negative effect on children. “Abuse can affect a child mentally and emotionally, that is why it is important that children are not neglected. Partners have no right to abuse each other, especially if they have a child together. There are structures to report issues such as the Social Welfare Department,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lisakhanya Likusasa
Director Njabuliso Shongwe expressed his gratitude for the event’s success. “There is an increase of over 50 people from when we first hosted an event. The youth, which is our target audience, is present, meaning the relevant messages are being delivered. We have played a role in reducing GBV,” Shongwe said.