South Africa has one of the most inclusive Constitutions in the world, but despite the advanced human rights laws highlighted in it, queer people still face the brunt of a failing legal system and queerphobia in society.

Though there is a rise in understanding that queerness doesn’t equate to unnaturalness, it would be hard-pressed to find people with non-normative gender and sexual identities who haven’t experienced some form of direct or indirect oppression because of it.

So what does the country need to do to protect the rights and lives of the queer community?

The answer doesn’t seem to be as simple as the presence of anti-discriminatory constitutional rights.

However, former Constitutional Court judge, Edwin Cameron says that there has been progress regarding the Hate Crimes Act related to the rape, assault, murder, and ever-present discrimination of queer people in the country.


Full details and audio at EWN