Backlash as student’s anti-gay Facebook post hits wrong chord
A FACEBOOK status update written by UCT’s SRC vicepresident Zizipho Pae has sparked massive uproar on social media and the student community, which interpreted Pae’s status as being related to the US Supreme Court ruling last week requiring states to allow same-sex marriages.
”We are institutionalising and normalising sin! Sin. May God have mercy on us,” Pae wrote.
Her statement came two days after the US court’s decision which effectively legalised same-sex marriage in all 50 states in the country.
Pae’s comment has left the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community seething as expressed in the 174 responses to her statement. The responses include:
”Freedom of expression is not absolute, nor is it licence to spew bigotry or hate speech.”
“Homosexuality is not a sin, it’s not okay to condemn that which you do not understand just because you don’t understand it.”
“I am a Christian, but hiding behind religion for your homophobic self is a sin alone!”
The status had not been removed by late last night. UCT spokesperson Pat Lucas said yesterday that the university supported the rights of members in the LGBT community.
“UCT also upholds the right of each individual to exercise responsible freedom of speech and to voice their own opinions in a respectful manner,” she said.
Rainbow UCT vice-chairperson Nigel Patel said Pae’s statement showed a “deep disregard for equality”.
“Zizipho’s reluctance to remove the status or explain herself seems to illustrate an ambivalent attitude to her words that clearly upset the very people she’s supposed to be representing.”
UCT SRC president Ramabina Mahapa said the SRC had noted Pae’s statement with “serious concern”.
He said the SRC was investigating the matter. In an apology he said: “The SRC is here with you (LGBT). We are queer and we are here.”
Pae was not available for comment yesterday.