The time for JUSTICE...The time for EQUALITY

...is always always always right now. I'm sitting here thinking about this hate crime I just heard about it I get chills running down my spine. Here is what I just read in my friend's Facebook post:

 "PRESS RELEASE: Hate Crimes Rise as a Young Gay Activist is murdered in Kuruman, Northern Cape 
By Jabu C. Pereira 

Thapelo Makhutle a 24 year old, Gay activist commonly known as ‘ThaBling’ in Kuruman has become the latest victim of a homophobic hate crime. His family and the LGBTI communities, have been deeply shocked by this brutal attack. LEGBO is the Northern Cape LGBTI human rights group who in collaboration with the NC NGO Coalition and Iranti-Org, a queer media rights organization has jointly called for the Provincial Police Commissioner to urgently investigate and arrest the perpetrators. Thapelo Makhutle was brutally murdered on the early hours of 9 June 2012. His body was found severely mutilated. His throat was so badly slit, and it was near decapitation. His attackers broke down the door to his room, determined to kill him. Unconfirmed reports from witnesses state that Thapelo’s genitalia was severed and inserted into his mouth. There are no signs that this was an attempted burglary, rather is evident that his was killed because of his sexual orientation. “We demand to have the right to have access to the forensic reports, and to be updated on the current investigation. We are shocked that the Mothibistad Police have not made any arrests at this stage,” states, Shaine Griqua, Director of LEGBO. A police official stated that Kuruman had not had any reports of hate crimes before. This comment is wholly untrue and shows that, “despite ongoing homophobic attacks in South Africa, the Police remain ignorant and insensitive to how they should address hate crimes,” says Jabu Pereira, the Director of Iranti, a Queer Visual Media NGO. He further stated that the community in Kuruman continues to suffer trauma. It was reported that earlier this year the Mothibistad Police Station, poorly invested the death of a young lesbian, she was murdered in Magojaneng Village. She was mutilated, her genitalia cut out and a bottle was inserted into her body. Thapelo is a loss the Kuruman community and to South Africa at large. He was a young gay activist, who believed that young people should not only focus on materiality, but develop a sense of activism and pride about who they are. He was openly Gay, he was proud and believed that freedom in South Africa was attainable. “Now we have to bury a young innocent bright young man on National Youth Day, this is so sad, says Charmaine van den Heever, the NC Provincial Coordinator NGO Coalition. We are hosting a memorial service on the 15 June, at St Mary’s Anglican Church, 3pm. The funeral will be held on Saturday, 16 June 2012, at 7am in Bendelle Village, Anglican Church. We are also preparing an international call for justice in South Africa, as hate crimes continue to be ignored. We demand justice for all."

Here is another article: http://www.mambaonline.com//article.asp?artid=7060 


 The right to just be who you really are and express that openly are available to South Africans. But to not be able to truly practice that it absurd. I love this speech that was made in the Great Debaters about the time for justice and equality because it is true. The right time is ALWAYS now. And my condolences go out to the family and I can't even imagine what type of pain they are going through.

   

 We all deserve the right to be happy, to love who we want to love and to do that without fear or consequence. Holding back that human right is only holding back the development of an equal and just society. Hopefully, one day that will come.