Queer Unicorns Launch by Cape Peninsula University of Technology

2 This paragraph is based on remarks made by Sammy Elie, Head of Student Governance and Leadership Development, on behalf of Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Tulani Nkunste, at the launch of the Queer Unicorns society

A report on the launch of the Queer Unicorns society at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on 23 February 2022 1. Introduction1

Against this background, the new student organisation, which will receive funding as well as official support from CPUT, has already made headway in raising the profile of LGBT issues at the institution. For example, support is now being put in place for staff and students who have undergone a sex change after this was identified as an important need in a university survey.

1 This section is based on introductory remarks made by Melani Ann Hara, Student Development Officer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), at the launch of the Queer Unicorns society hosted by the university on 23 February 2022.

The new initiative, which has the full support of the student leadership and university governance structures, was established in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs. The society provides a crucial service in fostering self worth, self belief and resilience in LGBTIQA+ students at a critical juncture in their lives. It helps them to say: “I am anchored, I know what I want and I am not ashamed of who I am of the colour of my skin, of where I come from, of my sexuality.” In this regard, the society cultivates an important sense of “somebody ness” among students. It also fosters a sense of belonging, which is the foundation for excellence of achievement. It imbues those in the society with a sense that they have arrived, empowering them as trailblazers to create the space for others to stand tall with the necessary ease and confidence. In this way, the society is an embodiment of love, beauty, peace and justice.

2. Messages of support for the Queer Unicorns society

The society was established with the support of CPUT Student Development Officer Melani Ann Hara, who coordinated with LGBT student activists at the university over the course of more than a year to mount a human rights campaign in support of their interests thus giving birth to the Queer Unicorns.

The launch of the new CPUT Queer Unicorns society was welcomed by the leaders of the university’s Division of Student Affairs and its Transformation, Diversity and Social Cohesion Unit; and by students, who sang, danced and listened to poems (see Appendix A) in celebration at the open air, picnic style event (see at Appendix B an article on the launch produced for dissemination to the media).

South Africa’s Constitution affirms fundamental human rights, including the dignity and worth of every single person. The Constitution’s vision can only be realised if all people are reached regardless of their

The rainbow flag of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride was hoist aloft the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on 23 February 2022 in celebration of the establishment of the institution’s first officially supported organisation representing LGBT, intersex, queer and questioning and asexual students and those with other sexual orientation and gender identities (LGBTIQA+).

Studies have shown that members of the LGBTQI+ community suffer disproportionate discrimination and abuse. Some are rejected by their families and even kicked out of their homes. Some are the victims of gender based violence. Some are pushed out of universities. The impacts on their mental health can be severe. Such oppression and marginalisation represent a personal tragedy for the individuals and families concerned. For society, the result is a shameful waste of human talent, ingenuity and economic potential.

The Transformation, Diversity and Social Cohesion Unit shares the students’ passion and commitment to producing progressive change. It is through strength in diversity and unity of purpose that CPUT’s stakeholders can together establish a campus where opportunity, respect, inclusivity, and belonging are no longer privileges to be fought for, but a reality.

3 This paragraph and the rest of this section is based on remarks made by Nonkosi Tyolwana, Director for Transformation and Social Cohesion, CPUT, at the launch of the Queer Unicorns society

• 18% of staff complained about a lack of support or counselling for colleagues who had undergone sex changes.

The survey also found that there was a general lack of readily available information regarding issues of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation

• 45% of lesbians and gay men reported having experienced verbal harassment, 25% said they had been threatened with physical violence at least once, and 17% reported persistent subtle discrimination; and

• 29% of trans identified students reported experiencing bias, harassment and/or discrimination based on gender identity, 43% reported cyberbullying and name calling, and 80% reported misgendering in admission, enrolment, recruitment and residence placement processes;

In seeking to address the issue at CPUT, a recent diversity and inclusivity survey found that:

2 sexual orientation or gender identity. Accordingly, CPUT supports the establishment of the Queer Unicorns society as a result of its understanding that ending the marginalisation and exclusion of LGBT people is a human rights priority and a development imperative. The university recognises that collaboration is required to eradicate the barriers that prevent LGBT people from exercising their full human rights. Such efforts are necessary to liberate them fully and enable their productive contribution to economic progress. In this respect, the institutional investment in eliminating intolerance and hate will bring huge benefits across the university’s agenda.

In response to the findings, the Transformation, Diversity and Social Cohesion Unit has brought the issue of misgendering in university processes to the attention of the registrar; and is seeking to provide support for staff and students who have undergone a sex change. More broadly, it is promoting collaboration among student activists and the university’s management to address and find solutions to the issues of discrimination facing the LGBT community.

• 48% of sexual minority students reported experiencing bias, harassment and/or discrimination based on sexual orientation;

In line with this goal, Queer Unicorns has adopted a human rights approach, upholding six values enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution: freedom; equality; human dignity; non discrimination; non racialism; and non sexism. The society seeks to eradicate prejudice on the grounds of sexuality in the belief that people should not be what they are told to be, but rather what they allow themselves to be. In this regard, the aim is to enable the LGBTIQA+ minority to be free in the university space, consciously affirming their identities and promoting advocacy in their interests.

The society’s constitution states: “We believe that the post apartheid transformation process of our society must involve the removal and prevention of discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), patriarchal and hetero normative privilege, cis sexism and ideas that inhibit the full realisation of sexual and gender minority liberation.”

3 3. Student support for the Queer Unicorns society4

The Queer Unicorn’s constitution notes that the society strives to provide a social and safe place for LGBTIQA+ students, addressing their needs, interests and concerns, and opposing the expression of all phobias related to this community.

In particular, the society seeks to promote a genuinely inclusive community at the university in which all students are treated equitably, emphasising that the “future is intersectionality” a concept that highlights the multiple struggles for black members of the LGBTIQA+ community as they engage in a society shaped by a history of racism, patriarchy and hetero normative privilege.

The launch of Queer Unicorns was also hailed as presenting an academic opportunity to educate all students and CPUT officials around the issues including, for example, the meaning of the word “cisgender” which is used to denote someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex assigned them at birth. The launch was further accompanied by a call for CPUT to take a public stand in condemning hate crimes against lesbians and gays. It was noted that there was a need to establish appropriate infrastructure to ensure that all spaces could accommodate members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In this context, extra toilets for intersectional, gender non confirming and wheelchair using students need to be provided in addition to those already in place for men and women.

For activist students, the launch represented the latest step in a protracted struggle to force the university to meet the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. In this regard, CPUT was urged at the society’s establishment to engage members of this community in institutional policy processes, including in relation to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, so that they are safer and the full range of their needs are met. It was noted that queer souls need institutional support.

Acknowledging the scale of the task facing it, the new society aims to capacitate queer activists so that others can join in the benefits of the liberation that they are creating. In this regard, it was noted that the 4 This section is based on remarks made by Ludwe Ndeleni, Queer Unicorns Chairperson; Ananinonke Mtalaliso, Queer Unicorns Treasurer; Kabelo Rapholo, Queer Unicorns Secretary; and Luto Kagai, the Student Representative Council (SRC) chair from Bellville campus, at the launch of the society.

Appendix B: Students party as LGBT rights campaign garners official support

Time is what I need to see that being me is the best thing that I can be, But I don’t have time. All I have is pressure, to be the best. Will it make me less of a man, I guess. And then I wonder why I can’t sleep at night I’m too worried that I don’t have enough time to do everything right. But I will fight, this internal battle that I have. Even though I’m smiling on the outside, I feel like an outsider inside my own body. Fighting over possession of freedom. Banging on the walls of my being.

Appendix A: Poems by Miguel Cameron Horne Pride

Out NEED TO ADD THE FULL TEXT THE POEM HERE

IfHowever.youchoose to see this, then I feel guilt free in your presence. And I hereby break these chains and will no longer embody a lie. I want to live my life with pride, from now on until the day I die.

Looking at people and wondering if they can see in, inside me. Do they truly see me? Or do they look at the canvas that I have painted effortlessly for them to see… A faux of a man. A poor excuse of a man. If I told you who I truly am, Would you understand? No, you won’t. Because you already have a preconceived idea of me, A picture I wanted you to see. Just so that you don’t judge me, For the coward that I am.

The rainbow flag of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride was hoist aloft the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on Wednesday (NOTE TO EDITOR: 23 February) in celebration of the launch of the institution’s first officially supported organisation representing LGBTIQA+ students.

Telling everyone to speak the truth when I hide the truth deep inside me, but you see… It’s not that easy.

dual struggle against racial prejudice and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity can foster a realisation of the importance of struggling against all form of oppression and intolerance.

“We are here today with the understanding that ending the marginalisation and exclusion of LGBT people is a human rights priority and a development imperative,” Nonkosi Tyolwana, CPUT’s Director for Transformation and Social Cohesion told the happy throng at the university’s Bellville campus as she pledged her unit’s full support for the new initiative.

Meanwhile, 80% of trans identified students reported widespread misgendering in CPUT’s practices, including in relation to admission, enrolment and placement in residences.

The Queer Unicorn’s constitution says that the society strives to provide a social and safe place for LGBT, intersex, queer and questioning and asexual students and those with other sexual orientation and gender identities (LGBTIQA+), addressing their needs, interests and concerns, and opposing the expression of all phobias related to the LGBTIQA+ community.

“You are at a particular juncture on your life that will decide your future,” CPUT’s head of student governance and leadership development, Sammy Elie, told the participants at the launch. “In your life’s toolbox, you must have self worth, a deep belief in yourself. You must not allow anyone to derail you from what you want.

It was also found that there was a broad lack of information being made available across the institution regarding gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

In response, CPUT student development officer Melani Ann Hara coordinated with LGBT student activists at the university over the course of more than a year to establish a society that could mount a human rights campaign in support of their interests thus giving birth to the Queer Unicorns.

The launch comes at a crucial moment for CPUT after a recent recent diversity and inclusivity survey revealed that 48% of sexual minority students reported experiencing bias, harassment or discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

As the sun dropped behind the trees and the shadows lengthened across the grass, a host of students sang and danced in celebration at the open air, picnic style event where leading figures at the university welcomed the establishment of the new “CPUT Queer Unicorns” society.

In particular, the society seeks to promote a genuinely inclusive community at the university, emphasising that the “future is intersectionality” a concept that highlights the multiple struggles in which many black members of the LGBTIQA+ community are forced to engage in a society shaped by a history of racism, patriarchy and hetero normative privilege.

A total of 45% of lesbians and gay men said they had experienced verbal harassment, with a quarter reporting that they had been threatened with physical violence at least once.

“The feeling should be: ‘I am anchored; I know what I want; I am not ashamed of who I am I have somebody ness. I am not ashamed about the colour of my skin, where I come from or my sexuality.’ ”

The point was amplified by Rapholo: “We need to capacitate queer activists, making the world open to everyone. When you rise up, don’t do it alone, take others with you!”

“When we do that, we will liberate them to fully and productively contribute to our common economic progress. The investments we make in eliminating intolerance and hate will bring huge benefits across the university agenda.”

It was a message that was received in celebration by the students at the launch, whose joyous response to the establishment of the new society was echoed in the words of a poem called Pride which was presented by its author, Miguel Cameron Horne, at the event: “I hereby break these chains and I will no longer live a lie”

The launch was also seen by those present as providing a platform for a campaign that, in the words of Sammy Elie, “needs to continue into the future”. “You are trailblazers,” he said. “You have opened the path for other to work with ease and confidence on the soil of CPUT.”

In line with this, Queer Unicorns treasurer Ananinonke Mtalaliso said: “We uphold six values enshrined in our Constitution: freedom; equality; human dignity; non discrimination; non racialism; and non sexism.”

In this context, she hailed the Queer Unicorns initiative as an opportunity “to break down the barriers that prevent LGBT people from exercising their full human rights”.

Or as Nonkosi Tyolwana emphasised in her address to the gathering: “It is through the strength of our diversity and our unity of purpose, that we can and will achieve our shared ambition; a campus where opportunity, respect, inclusivity, and belonging are no longer privileges to be fought for, but a reality.”

“For the individuals and their families, this is a personal tragedy,” said Nonkosi Tyolwana. “And for society, it is a shameful waste of human talent, ingenuity and economic potential.”

In this regard, Rapholo emphasised the importance of CPUT engaging members of the LGBTQIA+ community in institutional policy processes so that they are safer and the full range of their needs are met. In particular, Rapholo noted, “our spaces do not accommodate us infrastructurally”, and asked for extra intersectional toilets to be provided in addition to those already in place for “just men and women”.

Studies have shown that, in general, members of the LGBTIQA+ community suffer disproportionate discrimination and abuse, which can take the form of being rejected by their families and forced from their homes, being marginalised at universities; or being attacked. The impacts on their mental health can be severe.

For activist students, the launch represented the latest step in a protracted struggle, after, according to Queer Unicorns secretary Kabelo Rapholo, “the university failed to meet LGBTQIA+ community halfway”.

Rapholo further called on the university to review its gender policy “to advocate for us also”; and hailed the launch of Queer Unicorns as presenting an academic opportunity to educate all students and CPUT officials around all the issues including, for example, the meaning of the word “cisgender” which is used to denote someone whose gender identity is the same as their sex as assigned at birth.