Sexual minorities demand fair news coverage

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community have called on the media to help in the protection of their rights in the fight against discrimination and stereotyping in media coverage.

At a recent Human Rights dialogue themed, “Shaping perceptions of LGBT through media,” by the Rainbow Identity Association (RIA), the LBGT community expressed concern over poor quality of coverage on LGBT issues.“Local media has a predilection to write news stories in a sensationalized and bombastic manner as well as stigmatize the community,” RIA Advocacy Officer Refilwe Mogorosi said.

She added that the press was in a position to give a voice to those who are voiceless and allow them to stand up for their rights as citizens of this country.Citing research carried out by the RIA, Mogorosi said LGBT issues received little news coverage across the majority of local media.Mogorosi believes such issues should receive more special attention because of the conditions that the community faces on a daily basis in which their existence tends to be largely ignored by the government.

On a wider scope, the government objection to dealing with LGBT issues is not uncommon. “Vulnerable groups still do not have a place in this country,” said Trans-sexual woman Kai Kol-Kes. Born male but identifying herself as female, Kai pointed to the lack of an official government census of LGBT people as an example of the ignorance. However, she said such refusal does not make them go away.

She explained that she advocates for greater acceptance of LGBT individuals in the country, and further admitted that they have to come out in order to assert and enjoy same rights as other citizens. “The more we become visible, the more there will be political will to change the laws,” she said.

Although coming out often leads to rejection by the family, with children sometimes forced out of their homes, Kai said even LGBT people who believe that their sexual orientation or identity is no one else’s business should know they need to make it other people’s business if they are to gain those rights.

She urged journalists and the media in general to pay close attention to societal developments and report in truth to objectively bring up the issues to the public awareness.