Con Hill Exhibition commemorates Nazi gay persecution
JOBURG - In Whom Can I Still Trust, an exhibition at Constitution Hill's Women's Jail, commemorated homosexual men and women who lost their lives under Nazi rule in Europe.
The aim of the exhibition, launched by Constitution Hill in partnership with the South African Holocaust and Genocide Foundation, was to highlight the progress made, and challenges faced, in ensuring the protection of sexual minorities in South Africa.
Archive photographs, personal testimonies and video clips presented different stories of homosexual oppression.
The exhibition also featured messages from South Africans from various walks of life.
A message from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu read, “We should support one another as an act of Ubuntu.”
TV presenter Sade Giliberti said, “Bullying is not okay. It’s not okay to go around making people feel less or worse about themselves.”
Struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada’s message read, “By understanding and accepting difference, we embrace the human condition,” and student Sonwabiso Ngcowa said, “If you may have been bullied because of your sexuality, I want you to know that it’s not your fault.”
Historian and teacher Dr Lutz Van Dijk delivered the keynote address at the exhibition opening, and spoke about human rights and the crimes committed against sexual minorities during the Nazi regime.
Constitution Hill’s Fanisa Masia said, “Part of the exhibition looks at how we, as South Africans, can address challenges of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights by quoting from Section Nine on the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, which says that no-one may be discriminated against based on gender or sexual orientation.”
The exhibition also included an educator workshop, a schools’ programme, a panel discussion and film screenings.
In Whom Can I Still Trust is on at the Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill, 11 Kotze Street, Braamfontein, until 25 August.
Details: 011-381-3100; www.constitutionhill.org.za
