The Loud Enuf programme at the UWC Gender Equity Unit at Khumbulani Pride March in Strand, Cape Town on 17 May 2025. Picture SuppliedIt was only 35 years ago that the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases - an act that marked a significant, if long overdue, step towards recognising the dignity and rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Just three years later, in 1993, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) formally launched its Gender Equity Unit, building on the work of feminists and allies who had been organising informally on campus since the mid-1980s.
Today, UWC is entering a new chapter in its ongoing journey towards equity and inclusion. The University has begun discussions to establish a staff-led Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, and Queer/Questioning+ (LGBTIAQ+) Forum - an initiative that reflects a deepened commitment to diversity and social justice. This forum seeks to amplify LGBTIAQ+ voices within the University, champion inclusive policy development, promote representation in institutional events and campaigns, and advocate for greater visibility and support within academic and administrative structures.
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Balfour said: “This gender work is often the one that is the least supported, but at UWC we have a proud history and strong community allies who are advocates and champions of the everyday reality of staff and students.”
He wants the forum to serve as a sounding board for the University administration and said that this is not only about supporting an initiative, but taking initiative.
UWC Gender Equity Unit in attendance at the movie screening of GIRL. Picture SuppliedDiscussions to establish the UWC staff-led LGBTIAQ+ Forum came a day after the commemoration of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which is observed annually on May 17th.
The date commemorates the landmark moment in the global LGBTIAQ+ rights movement when the WHO changed its policy stance in 1990. This year’s IDAHOBIT theme is The Power of Communities.
The Gender Equity Unit commemorated IDAHOBIT through its support to long-standing gender and sexuality advocacy organisations such as Triangle Project, Free Gender, and Gender DynamiX’s annual initiatives. One of the initiatives was coordinated by the Consulate of Belgium and the Consulate of Flanders, who hosted a screening of the film Girl. The screening included a panel discussion under the theme LGBTIAQ+ Rights in South Africa and the Power of Communities.
Panel members included representatives from various organisations, including Sthembiso Gongqa (Nelson Mandela Bay Pride), Melody Seherrie (Gender DynamiX), Gaba Capitaine (Triangle Project), and Antoinnette Keller (mother of a trans teen), moderated by Limpho Makapela from the UWC Gender Equity Unit.
Makapela said: “Additionally, our participation in Khumbulani Pride was hosted by Free Gender in collaboration with Triangle Project, Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW). Khumbulani, which means ‘Remember’, was established in 2013 to advocate for the rights of Black lesbians in townships and to remember the victims of hate crimes. In both engagements, reflections and a moment of silence on the killing of Imam Mushin Hendricks were held.”
The Gender Equity Unit hopes to continue to thread through “Power in Communities” in upcoming gender and sexuality initiatives alongside critical gender and sexuality organisations in the institutional space to speak on reforming and safeguarding LGBTIAQ+ rights in South Africa and beyond. This includes facilitating the staff-led LGBTIAQ+ Forum, which will be launched soon.
The staff-led LGBTIAQ+ Forum will:
- Assist in fostering an inclusive, affirming, and equitable environment for all staff members, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
- Aim to integrate advocacy and activism efforts across key operational areas: capacity building, research, case management, and policy development.
- Offer guidance in training and awareness programmes to enhance staff understanding of LGBTIAQ+ issues.
- Offer workshops on inclusive language, pronoun usage, and unconscious bias, emphasising the importance of gender-neutral language and correct pronoun usage.
- Support and promote research on LGBTIAQ+ experiences within the university context, encourage interdisciplinary studies, and provide platforms for sharing findings that inform policy and practice.
- Serve as a confidential resource for staff members facing discrimination, harassment, or other challenges related to their LGBTIAQ+ identity.
- Advocate for policies that protect and empower LGBTIAQ+ staff, which includes reviewing existing policies for inclusivity, recommending new policies where gaps exist, and ensuring that the university's commitment to diversity is reflected in its governance.
- Align initiatives with the Gender Equity Unit's Loud Enuf programme, amplifying voices within the LGBTIAQ+ community and promoting visibility by sharing stories, hosting events, and facilitating dialogues.
As UWC reflects on its proud legacy of activism and inclusion, the establishment of a staff-led LGBTIAQ+ Forum marks an important and forward-looking step in deepening its commitment to equity, dignity, and justice for all. Rooted in the power of community and shaped by decades of advocacy, this initiative will strengthen institutional support, drive inclusive policy, and amplify the voices of those too often marginalised. Together, we continue to build a university where every identity is affirmed, every voice is heard, and every person belongs.
Thumbnail image: Jose Pablo Garcia by Unsplash
