Gay Culture SA

 International Pronouns Day began in 2018 and takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of October each year.  The campaign has no central body but however has an official website dedicated with all the resources for individuals and organisations that wish to create an inclusive environment.  People are encouraged to use the hashtag on this day #PronounsDay. And even with that suggestions people are encouraged to be creative and come up with hashtags that will speak to the core business of this day.  What is this day all about? On this particular day, we are to learn about the importance of using the correct pronouns when referring to others.  The importance of using the correct pronouns  Believe it or not, referencing others especially people who identify as transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and gender-fluid, has serious negative effects on their mental health.  When people opt to use pronouns that an individual prefers, in that instance, that per...

Celebrate Bisexuality Day is observed worldwide on an annual basis. On this particular day, bisexuals as both individuals and as a community are celebrated. This day is also used as the opportunity to shine the light on the history of bisexuality.   This day is also known as Bi Visibility Day . For most people especially those found within the community might think this phrase is more appropriate. And this is of course when one takes into consideration how the group has been invisible since the existence of the LGBQTA+ acronym.  Whenever there is a discussion that centers around the queer community, gays and lesbians, are the two groups that enjoys the most attention and the rest are treated as accessories. This is harmful to the bi folks. For instance, the policies and measures that are formulated to better the queer people will not work for the bi community because their issues were never given proper attention.  And with September designated as Bisexual Awareness Mont...

 Phelo Bala has been teasing his followers with pictures that seem to suggest that he has found love once again after a bitter divorce with his husband, Moshe Ndidi.  The musician had been complaining about being single on his Facebook page for months . And in the recent months following, he wanted some relationship advice from his Facebook followers where in which he had asked his followers to advice him on the crush that he has on someone he really likes.  And this month, his Instagram account was occasionally plastered with pictures that had him and some gentleman whose face was intentionally hidden so the followers cannot recognize him. You know how curious people can be. They wanted to know right away if Bala has found a boyfriend. And one does not blame them, I mean come one, these celebrities they just know how to create drama that we can pass time with during the awkward dinner table. They threw a couple of names and he was just on mute. But I bet he read all the ...

Before passing away in 2022 around September, the late Lumko Johnnson, was busy working on a South African Netflix project, Home Wreker.  This is arguable the biggest project in terms of their acting career that they ever took part on. This goes to say that they were just starting being noticed in the cinema industry after almost a decade old career. And this follows a change in how they presented themselves in the public eye.  Could this sudden notice be attributed to the fact that they were true to themselves after years of concealing their true identity in the fear of judgement?  A couple of years ago after several years in the public eye, Johnson came out as non-binary, and started to embrace their identity through clothes and other ways.  It is unfortunate that they are not here to answer that question for themselves and to also witness the amazing work they had done on the film.  Johnson was part of the cast and acted the role of a receptionist named Buso....

Sade Gilibert is the latest celebrity in the South African queer scene that will soon be marked off the dating registration database as she is now officially engaged to be married to her almost a decade romantic partner, Coco Shane.  The former Yo-TV child star made the announcement on her Instagram account on July 4th, 2023 with the caption 'enGAYged!!'.  For those who are too young to have seen Gilibert doing her thing on the Yo-TV shows, perhaps, you might remember her from the South African version of the American dance reality show called 'So You Think Can Dance'. She was announced as the presenter of the show on August of 2008.  The UK based  television production coordinator and actor received an influx of congratulatory massages from her family, friends, fans, and a few South African famous faces.  Lerato Sengadi, wife of the late Motswako icon, HHP , commented on the comment section  " Congratulation my love!!!! I'm ready to be a strooi meisie"....

In the black communities, the terms moffie and stabane, are not used in the context of respect. They are frequently utilized as the power to put someone down. Its rare to find occasions where they are employed in a positive manner.  Despite this, there is quite a number of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual that accept to be referred to using such terms. But why allow an individual to call you using names that are meant to de-humanize you?.  Well! their reasoning is that, these are names in their respective languages that describe who they are and do not feel ashamed owning them. They say that there are no other names in their languages that they might use, and when told that these terms carry negative ideas about the community and therefore should not be used but use the word 'gay' instead, they accuse the group of being too forward since they prefer English name over names in their languages.  An invitation  poster to 'Stabane And Friends' event. The...

  Durban Pride is making a strong come back, and this is after experiencing a year full of hurdles and set backs, said the Facebook statement.  Problems that were encountered include but not limited to; Covid-19 strict regulations, lack of funding and a few others.  The annual event will take place on June 24, 2023 for its 11th edition under the theme #IgniteYourFire.  On this particular day, the attendees will walk the streets of Durban wearing rainbow inspired attires and chanting slogans and holding plea cards on their hands. After this exciting but imperative activity, the marchers will head to an after-party event that will spoil the attendees with music and various forms of entertainment.  The organizers extended their invitation to supporters and allies of this often marginalized community to join queer people on this magnificent day and amplify their voices that is calling for the end of discrimination and hate ushered toward the members of the community...

It is not very often that we hear of South African politicians who are openly gay. If you follow our social media platforms, then you might be aware of how passionate we are about the representation of the South African queer community in the decision-making structures. We were doing an online research about the country's queer activists, and we came across the name Zakhele Njabulo Mbhele along other names. This gentleman is actually active in politics and not just active, but he is right up there in his political career. So, we thought perhaps it would be a good fit to profile him on this International Pride Month. And we are doing so to spread some sense of proudness in our community and at the same time, we want people to be infected by his spirit as we need plenty of people like him out there.  Mbhele is relatively young being born on 9 Nov. 1984 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. From what we have gathered from a handful of articles written about him online, we quickly learnt that, he ...

  Somizi Mhlongo is among the people who had been chosen to be the judges on the South African version of the international top-secrete musical game show, The Masked Singer South Africa.  The news broke just a week ago and Mhlongo has expressed excitement in being appointed as one of the people who will be judging the celebrity contestants disguised in head-to-toe costumes. In the judge panel, the media personality will be joined by J Something, Skhumba Hlophe and Sithelo Shozi with Mpho Popps being the host of the guessing game show.  This is not the first international show Somizi has taken a role of being a judge on as you may recall. In 2015, he joined the Idols SA as a judge alongside Unathi Msengana, Rendals Abrahams, and Gareth Cliff on the eleventh season of the music competition show. In 2021, he was given time off from the show after domestic abuse claims surfaced levelled against him by his now ex-husband, Mogale Motauing.  The show will see 16 stars compe...