No one must be made to love in fear
The revelations by actress and television presenter Nomsa Buthelezi about being bullied for her sexual orientation as published in yesterday’s edition should never be normalised. Buthelezi is a much loved and revered presenter of Our Perfect Wedding show on Mzansi Magic, but little did her fans know that she was inclined to love women romantically.
In fact, Buthelezi generously shares about her struggles of coming out and coming to terms with her homosexuality.
It’s concerning that some people would prey on her vulnerability and accuse her of coming out for fame and publicity purposes.
At a time of so much femicide, misogyny and toxic hypermasculinity, it exposes Buthelezi to further harm incited by these dispositions.
We have been horrified by heartwrenching stories of corrective rape and abuse towards lesbians and the general LGBTI+ community countrywide.
The bullying, snide remarks and ridiculing will only grow to such extreme levels if it’s left unchallenged.
Social media is festered with hate and rejection. The comments sections are a breeding ground for incitement of violence against innocent men and women who are living their truth.
As if it was not enough that Buthelezi had to open up and share this personal struggles, society then spits on her name and makes her feel inadequate and abnormal Buthelezi is a positive role model who is not only a towering figure within the local entertainment arena but preaches honesty and appreciates the importance of living one’s truth.
The respect of the rights of the LGBTI+ is not negotiable. It’s a must. Trampling on them is a transgression and goes against the tenets on which our constitution rests.
Perhaps this could be an opportunity for Buthelezi to and educate society about tolerance, that’s if she still has energy left after staving off all trolls and the mean-spirited hellbent on making her feel less of a human being.
It’s our collective responsibility to call out all abusers and the less tolerant among us, before they turn into rapists and murderers all in the name of “correcting” the homosexuals.