A large crowd attended a public lecture by Rhodes graduate and talk show host, Eusebius McKaiser at Rhodes University Barratt Lecture Theatre Monday 1 August. The talk was entitled, “Is it morally acceptable for Sizwe and Xolani to have sex? Reflections on homosexuality”.
A large crowd attended a public lecture by Rhodes graduate and talk show host, Eusebius McKaiser at Rhodes University Barratt Lecture Theatre Monday 1 August. The talk was entitled, “Is it morally acceptable for Sizwe and Xolani to have sex? Reflections on homosexuality”.
McKaiser, writer and host of the SABC3 talk show, Interface, delivered his highly anticipated lecture about society’s attitude towards homosexuals to a diverse audience, which included students and academics. His lecture launched the five-part series “Over the Rainbow? The State of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) Rights in South Africa”.
McKaiser argued that it is wrong to view homosexuality as unnatural and immoral, and people should be accepted for who they are. “We sometimes pierce our ears and wear earrings even though that wasn’t intended by nature,” McKaiser observed.
He said that religion should not be used to influence public policy in a democratic society where constitutional democracy prevails. McKaiser argued that although South Africa has a progressive constitution that protects the rights of everyone and allows same-sex relationships, the challenge is that law cannot be used as an instrument to change peoples’ attitudes towards gays and lesbians.
“As gay men and women we must also tell positive stories, be more effective role models, and basically show that gay people are as boring and as banal as straight people!" he declared, "Stories move people. Logic doesn’t always succeed.”
At the end of the lecture the floor was opened for questions by Richard Pithouse, Political Science lecturer at Rhodes. The audience raised concerns about the degree of violence against gay and lesbian people in most African countries.
McKaiser spent the rest of the week at Rhodes educating people about gay rights, encouraging the public to act against corrective rapes and other crimes committed against homosexuals.
