Michael de Kock delivered this speech today at the Gay Protest Rally against John Qwelane's anti-gay writings in the Sunday Sun

Friends

I am not going to talk to you about the issues surrounding freedom of speech, the ideals of liberation or the importance of an equitable society. Nor am I going to stress the importance of responsible journalism, the devastation brought about by hate speech, the erosion of our democracy or the eventual loss of press freedom in our country.

South Africa’s gay community had valiantly fought for the creation of an ethical and just society in this country and you, my friends, are standing here today exactly because you intimately understand the very meaning of oppression, of discrimination and of bigotry.

All of you have been - and continue to be - the victims of an unjust society and ever so often you become the objects of ridicule by people such as John Qwelane.

Qwelane is well-known for his ranting and ravings against gay people. He has done it before. And his employers. Media24, has allowed him to continue to express his hatreds and uniformed opinions into an unsuspecting and impressionable society.

Mr Qwelane has stated publicly that he would rather die than have blood from a gay person infused into his veins.

And, if that is his attitude then I have bad news for him. Qwelane, whether he likes it or not, is going to have to relinquish most of the sumptuous lifestyle that he so much enjoys and for which Media24 helps to pay.

Maybe we can make a start with:

his fine suede shoes
his well-cut woollen pants
his soft silk shirts
his tailored leather jackets and his fashionable sunglasses.

Gay people were involved in designing and making up his warm cashmere sweaters and the crisp linen and the comfortable blankets under which he snugly sleeps on cold winter nights.

It is gay people who helped bring into production his luxury cars, and it is gay people that helped design his comfortable home with its lavish trappings.

Gay people, Mr Qwelane, played a part in developing the education that your children are benefiting from and it is gay people that prepare the delicious menus from which you so scrumptiously dine. And, it is gay people that help create the entertainment that you pursue with such vigour.

You, Mr Qwelane, cannot go through this life without being touched by a gay person’s brilliance every minute of your life.

And, what is more laughable than your misguided ideas, Mr Qwelane, Is the fact that you express these hate-filled thoughts of yours through a computer which was designed by none other than a gay man!

Yes, a gay man who was the father of modern computer science; a gay man without whose genius the Nazi communication codes would not have been deciphered; and, a gay man without whom the Allies could not have won the war against fascism.

But, it was the same gay man, who after he had helped win the war, who became the victim of cruel prejudice and social intolerance and was forced to commit suicide - robbing the world of one of its most brilliant brains. Indeed a scarce commodity nowadays, wouldn’t you agree Mr. Qwelane?

So, Mr Qwelane why don’t you just give up that computer?

But, maybe we should pause for a moment to thank Mr Qwelane. While we condemn his bigoted views and wrongful opinions,

We, at the same time, should be grateful to him for:

despite his efforts to insult gay people

despite his attempts at humiliating gay people and,

despite his labouring towards condemning and debasing gay people,

all he has achieved has been the unification of gay people.

Once again this grouping of the oppressed has been brought together – a grouping that, along with all the other oppressed people of this country,

had fought for change

had fought for democracy and

had fought for freedom!

How ironic then, Mr Qwelane, that you should deride liberalism and the left and that you should deny freedom and dignity to the very people who supported you in attaining your own liberties; liberties that you now so flagrantly abuse.

And, Mr Qwelane, may I remind you and your employers, Media24, that without gay people

there will be few pleasures

there will be little beauty and

there will be an absence of empathy

in a world that has been rendered hopeless

in a world that has been made ugly and,

in a world filled with the desperation and suffering

brought about by the brutal views and skewed thinking of people such as you.

Media24 cannot distance itself from the views of its employees - not if those views have been printed on paper OWNED BY and then SOLD BY the company.

And there is only one question for Media24 to answer:

Is it ethical for Media24 to be making profits from spreading writings of intolerance and which writings may even incite the uninformed to commit crimes of violence against their fellow citizens?

The very name Media24 is simply a pretty new dress that replaced the old uniform worn by the Nasionale Persgroep - a group that once was the mouthpiece of the oppressors and bigots of this country. Media24 is the descendant of those that once before supported the fascist views of a regime that brought about incarceration, indignity, death and destruction to the peoples of this country.

By distancing itself from Mr Qwelane and, coming out in favour of editorial independence, Media24, I suspect for the sake of profits, once again may be supporting the kind of fascist views that very well may revisit insult, injustice, imprisonment and murder upon South Africa’s people.

Because, Media24, if you do not counter discrimination and bigotry against a minority grouping - discrimination and bigotry that comes from within your very own ranks - you as a management, as well as the editors of your publications, will be powerless when it comes to the bigger discriminations that eventually will lead to a controlled media and no freedom of the press.

Without gay people, Media24 indeed will find it difficult to bring its publications onto the street. Gays and lesbians populate your ranks; gays and lesbians are associated with your boards; gay and lesbian hands help carry your supplies - even the firm of lawyers that represent the Group here today will find it difficult distance themselves from us.

Today 17 NGO’s will hand Media24 a petition calling for the dismissal of John Qwelane.

My call is for Media24 to think carefully before they decide on how to proceed. This issue is about respect for our country’s constitution, it is about deference for those that died in its pursuit and, it is about our esteem for our hard-won structures of justice. Media24’s decision may very well determine the eventual future of South Africa and all of its peoples – both straight and gay.

Thank you.

Full text of the speech by:
Mixael de Kock, APR, FPRISA, M IPRA
Chief Executive of The MAVERICK Group
Executive Producer of BRAVOBRAVA, South Africa’s only gay radio show
Johannesburg, 29 July 2008