Secrets Make You Sick

An interesting read is Durban business man Trevor Kleinhans' book Secrets Make You Sick. It i sshockingly honest and he brings the message home without ever stooping to moralise. The book is nwo available at CNA, Exclusive Books and at www.kalahari.com

The author writes:
"My life has been a journey; I have visited the devil’s den and landed in the enchanted magical garden. This is a story that will capture your imagination, as I take you through the life of a gay man living in South Africa in the early 1980s and enduring arrest. I had a childhood of living with an alcoholic father and with a sibling that sexually molested me over a six-year period. I was forced to complete two years of National Service in apartheid South Africa and witnessed horrific events in the townships whilst doing compulsory military camps along the way.

I entered into a nine-year emotionally abusive gay relationship, which made me focus instead on a successful career path. At 39 years old I was a successful businessman who never drank alcohol, or smoked cigarettes and was totally against drugs.

When I reached my forties, all this changed. I was faced with huge challenges in my career, ended my nine-year abusive relationship, found drugs, and became HIV positive. By the age of 43, I was a crack cocaine addict and came face to face with the devil; I was on the verge of losing everything, including my life. With a 3% chance of success, I entered rehabilitation clinging to the belief that I would be one of those 3 out every 100 crack cocaine addicts who triumph over their addiction. I had to believe that I could conquer this drug whose addicts are referred to in the drug world as having stooped as low as sucking the devil’s cock.

Thanks to the amazing people I had surrounded myself with, including friends and family, I managed to enter rehabilitation, and found a counselling therapist that I visited weekly over a five-year period. This biography explains the psychological journey I went through, as my counsellor helped me empty my emotional tank and rid myself of emotions that I had not been equipped to deal with as a child.

I hope to help people that are experiencing or have experienced life in a similar way. I also believe this book will help the families and friends of people experimenting with drugs, or dealing with HIV.

After everything I have been through there is not one thing I would change, as long as I know I would end up where I am at present."

SA GLAAD Praises Unexpected SA Government Support Of UN Statement On Human Rights

On behalf of SA GLAAD, we would like to express our gratitude that the government of South Africa has signed the statement issued at the UN Human Rights Council, which was signed by 85 countries, entitled "Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity."

The news was recieved this morning with a mixture of elation and surprise, as it was generally expected that South Africa was not going to sign the UN statement, as it had not supported similar UN statements addressing the topic of homosexuality in the past, and had been in international news on several occasions recently for reportedly saying it would not support this initiative.

We also wish to express our thanks and appreciation to those who organized and supported petitions, both internationally and locally, for people to express their wish that the SA Government sign the statement, and for the attention which other human rights bodies, local and international, have given to this issue.

Over the past few weeks there has been a great deal of confusion among human rights advocacy organizations caused by conflicting reports about South Africa's willingness to support this initiative. This situation was exacerbated by our country's past failure to support a similar initiative in 2008, as well as the puzzling lack of effective official communication from the SA government to the Pink Community on this issue. We hope that in future such misunderstandings and miscommunications can be avoided.

Showing support for our community's human and civil rights as enshrined in our country's Constitution in both local affairs and foreign policy is no small thing, and will not be taken lightly. We are hopeful that this is an indication that government is indeed taking a keen interest in the welfare of ALL its citizens and that it bodes well for the future.

We also take this opportunity to praise the three other African countries who supported the UN statement - the Central African Republic, Rwanda and Sierra-Leone - for holding high the torch of equality, liberty and human rights in Africa. It is our hope that South Africa will lead the way in advancing equality, prosperity and humanity in Africa, and that this be the beginning of a new era of ubuntu on our continent.

It is indeed of grave concern that so few countries in Africa view LGBTI people as deserving of recognition, dignity, equality and decent treatment - and it is disturbing that so many African states view oppression, intolerance, persecution and cruelty as justifiable and even morally correct.

We encourage South Africa to associate more with African countries which cherish the ideals enshrined in our Constitution, and who seek to become like our rainbow nation - and to show them support, leading by example - rather than maintaining ties and shameful associations with states which demonstrate little or no regard for the human rights and dignity of their own people or for the value of human life.

As citizens of South Africa, we would prefer to see our tax Rands and economic contributions invested in uplifting Africa better applied in building a spirit of ubuntu and promoting the values we as South Africans stand for, as enshrined in our Constitution - rather than used to fund and support regimes which devalue human life, make a mockery of democratic principles - and embarrass our nation.

Once again, thank you South Africa for making our voice in the international community of nations, and our Constitution, count for something good and positive - and for making us Pink South Africans proud too for a change.

We hope it will not be the last time.


Kind regards,

------------------------
Christina Engela

South African Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (SA GLAAD)
Member of the Board, Press & Media Liaison
Email: Christina.saglaad@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36473738726&ref=ts
Blog: http://saglaad.blogspot.com/

SPONSOR FOUND FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S BID FOR MR. GAY WORLD 2012

Mr. Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd. is proud and grateful to announce that Wilco van Eeden and Club Travel Honeydew – previously nominated by TOPCO as one of South Africa’s top performing companies - has again, as they have done in the past, offered to sponsor a gay event in South Africa when it was needed the most: the company will sponsor the travel and accommodation costs of the South African bid committee for Mr. Gay World 2012 as well as the current title holder, Francois Nel.

PHOTO: FRANCOIS NEL – MR. GAY SOUTH AFRICA™ 2010 (middle), André Lammers (first prince right) and Karl-Heinz Michel (second prince, left)

Francois, Mr. Gay South Africa™ 2010, will be representing South Africa in Manila, Philippines, from the 9th until the 13th March 2011 at Mr. Gay World 2011. The Grand Finale will happen at Club Mwah in Manila on Sunday evening, 13 March 2011 (see http://www.mrgayworld.org/) where the host of next year’s competition will be announced.

The organisers of Mr. Gay South Africa™ will do a presentation and an introduction video to Mr. Gay World in support of South Africa as host of Mr. Gay World 2012 starring Cathy Specific, the hostess of Mr. Gay South Africa™ Grand Finale 2009 and 2010, Charl van den Berg, the current Mr. Gay World, Francois and some of the sponsors and organisers. Although most events in 2012 will be centred in and around Gauteng Province should South Africa receive the nod, an after-event excursion to the Cape is also in the works.

The chances of South Africa being chosen is regarded as very good, as an African country has not had a chance to stage Mr. Gay World yet and South Africa has proven that it has the ability to present competitions of international standard.

Other businesses and companies such as Babylon Nightclub in Pretoria, Kat-Man-Doo Gay Male Retreat in Dullstroom, Nomdeni Lodges in Nelspruit, Maria Garcia International™ Skincare, Foreplay Energy Drink and Bodyworks in Pretoria have also contributed greatly to the cause and the funds will be allocated to insurance, transport, expenses and to stage a first-class presentation in Manila, as well as an event in 2012 which South Africa’s LGBTI community would be proud of.

Coenie Kukkuk, Director of Operations of Mr. Gay South Africa™ said that without the support of Club Travel Honeydew and the sponsors mentioned above as well as contributors from the community such as Alan Retief from Caar'i Flora, Nicholas de Klerk and other buyers of the products sponsored, the bid would not have been possible. Kukkuk said: “We are very thankful to Club Travel Honeydew and the donors who have come to the table once again and supported this bid, which will have a huge impact on drawing the attention of the world to the plight of LGBTI people of Africa and give our bothers and sisters on the continent hope that they may one day achieve what we have achieved in South Africa. Never give up hope. That is our message.”

Francois commented: “We are very grateful to Club Travel Honeydew for this opportunity. I wish to add that one of our activities in Manila will be an Outreach Programme at Gawad Kalinga, see - http://www.gk1world.com/NewOurVision . One of their essential needs is school supplies. They have asked Mr. Gay World Ltd. if we can assist by giving them used English children's books as gifts for children aged 5-9 years old. If you have any of these to donate, please contact me, Francois Nel, on francois.stylist@gmail.com . I will be much obliged!'”

In the mean time, voting for Mr. Gay World 2011 People’s Choice Award has opened and readers are encouraged to vote for their candidate of choice here: http://www.mrgayworld.net/. One vote every 24 hours is allowed.

For all your travel requirements, contact Wilco on wilco@clubtravel.co.za .

ENDS



PHOTO: FRANCOIS NEL – MR. GAY SOUTH AFRICA™ 2010 (middle), André Lammers (first prince right) and Karl-Heinz Michel (second prince, left)

Contact telephone : 0787399366
Drawn up by : Coenie Kukkuk, Director, Mr. Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd
E-Mail address : coenie@mrgaysouthafrica.co.za

Website : www.mrgaysouthafrica.co.za

GLAAD withdraws support for COPE

The South African Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (SA GLAAD) herewith announces the withdrawal of it’s support for COPE as a party for which gay and trans citizens should vote in the 2009 elections. SA GLAAD’s reasons for this withdrawal are as follows:

COPE’s choice of Presidential Candidate – The appointment of religious figures in positions of political power and influence as a direct threat to secular democracy;
The appointment of a Presidential Candidate associated with a religious group which has in the past unequivocally demonstrated its opposition to GLBT rights and equality;
COPE’s apparent decision to change into a religious political entity and the threat this poses to equality for all in SA, particularly with reference to GLBT rights.
By appointing a religious figure in such a high office, COPE is taking on the mantle of a religious party - and we anticipate a threat that as such COPE could later form alliances with other religious-cum-political parties which are very, very far from gay friendly and anti-equality. It is no secret that some religious political parties in SA have been trying to reverse every single human rights gain GLBT have made in the last 15 years.

SA GLAAD views a secular democracy as the only safe way forward where ALL people in SA of all faiths, races, cultures and diversities can enjoy freedom and equality together. A President who is also an ordained religious minister and who had filled high offices in religious bodies – would simply by that fact alone ensure that SA would no longer be run by a secular government, but a theocracy – a country whose government is run by a church or religion.

While COPE is portraying Bishop Mvume Dandala as a moderate campaigner for human rights and an esteemed cleric with no agenda against equal rights for GLBT, a major point of concern for gay and transgender people with regard to COPE’s choice of presidential candidate is the discovery that Bishop Dandala is listed as a past Co-Chairperson of a group called SACLA (South African Christian Leadership Assembly).

Many will remember the role SACLA played at the time of the court battles surrounding the passing of legislation which legalized same gender marriage in South Africa. On its website SACLA describes this defeat in 2006 and the move to ‘restore marriage’ quite aggressively and emphatically as a quote “war” unquote. SACLA’s involvement in the fight against same gender marriage reveals this organizations (and ergo it’s leadership’s) narrow views on GLBT rights and equality. When Dr Dandala left this position is unclear, but nevertheless his association with this group is clear.

During his later tenure as head of the AACC (All Africa Conference of Churches) in Kenya, we have found no evidence that he has ever spoken out against or addressed the vicious church and state sponsored persecution of GLBT in African countries such as Uganda. Bearing Dr Dandala's association with a homophobic group like SACLA in mind, it raises questions about the likelihood of his impartiality in the matter of gay rights, specifically pertaining to his aspirations of acting as the country’s next president. Can gay and trans South Africans really expect fair and just treatment with full equal rights under a government led by this man?

Until this turn of events SA GLAAD endorsed both DA and COPE as the only two viable choices for GLBT citizens to vote for in the April elections – but now we no longer see any reason for gay and trans people to vote for COPE, nor to promote it any further.

Christina Engela
South African Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (SA GLAAD)

Tuesday, 25 November 2008: Rita van den Heever - Jannes Eiselen

BravoBrava’s Personality of the Week is Senior Manager of the University of Johannesburg’s Arts Academy and, arguably South Africa’s best-known female TV face and voice. Rita van Heever joins show host Mixael de Kock in the 1485 Radio Today studios tonight at 20:00. You can also hear this popular gay radio show on DStv Audio Channel 169.

Tune in and hear how Rita studied medicine at the University of Pretoria, failed spectacularly after a year dedicated to hedonism and then went on to study drama at UP. Since, her life has been a ball.
Mother of triplets, Rita joined the SABC TV as a film editor in 1973, after a three-month stint of selling dresses at Uniewinkels. When the TV broadcast started in 1976 she became a continuity announcer.

She subsequently presented just about everything on the box, excluding sport and the news. From early on Rita was involved with arts programmes, presenting such programmes as Encore!, Arts on One, presented the direct broadcasts of the Unisa music competitions, direct broadcasts of the symphony concerts and specialist series such as Aan die Lied.

Rita was for many years a member of the SABC Choir, which subsequently became the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg.

She has a number of unmentionable movies and TV dramas to her credit, and she has worked as a journalist for Rooi Rose magazine.

In 1994 she was appointed as the Cultural Officer to the Sandton City Council. She started the Lunch Hour Concerts in the Sandton Art Gallery on Friday afternoons, which is still going strong.

In 1996 she joined the Rand Afrikaans University as Cultural Officer. This opened up a whole new world of arts management, and she has been learning steadily on the job ever since. Over the years the cultural office grew and expanded and became the Arts Academy, and the RAU became the University of Johannesburg.

All the wonderful things culminated in the building of the UJ Arts Centre, the state of the art gallery and theatre situated on the University’s Kingsway Campus in Auckland Park, Johannesburg. This arts complex has become a favourite with Joahnnesburg’s gay community.

Rita and Mixael chat about the reason for this and also why the arts cannot survive without gay people.

Our Special Guest this week has been around the South African acting circles for some time but is probably best-known for his television role as Dr Deon Bekker in the highly acclaimed SABC drama series “Hillside”. Heart-throb Jannes Eiselen joins Mixael and Rita in the studio to talk about the series – the third season of which is coming to an end tonight.

Jannes also tells us how come he was born in New York and raised in South Africa!

Tonight at 20:00: South Africa’s only gay radio show on 1485 Radio Today and, countrywide, on DStv Audio Channel 169.

18 November 2008: Eusebius McKaiser

Our BravoBrava Personality of the Week is Eusebius McKaiser, strategy consultant, Rhodes Scholar at St Antony’s College and working towards the completion of his Oxford Doctorate.

The World Universities Debating Championships described him as one of the world's ten best debaters: A truly extraordinary South African form a mixed race background but who identifies himself as black.

We chat about his views that black gays in South Africa should be responsible for their own liberation, we talk openly about homophobia and racism and also why leaders of most African countries so violently speak out against homosexuality. Also, why there is this misguided idea that homosexuality is not part of the African culture but that it is a Western behaviour superimposed on Africans.

In the debate we touch on the belief that a common culture exists on the Africa continent and to what extent we are dealing with differentiated cultures and disparate values – and differing moral attitudes towards homosexuality - as one moves from South to North and East to West Africa.

The influence of Islam and Christianity on molding contemporary popular views of African homosexuality is considered as we muse about what Africa could have been like before the colonial era. Can we assume that there may have been very different cultural approaches to homosexuality before Western ideas and organized religions invaded the continent?

Eusebius McKaiser is an adept social and political analyst and widely published in the local media, commenting on issues of identity, with a particular interest in race, sex, sexuality and culture.

Don’t miss this lively and straightforward chat on BravoBrava at 20:00 on 1485 RadioToday and DStc Audio Channel 169.

Our Special Guest this week is a long-standing friend of BravoBrava, Judy Page, who will be telling us about her forthcoming musical tribute to love titled: "Let There Be Love".

There will only be 2 performances: Saturday 29 November at 19:00 and Sunday 30 November at 18:30.

For more information contact Melissa on 011 486 0935 or info@foxwood.co.za

TICKETS AT R90 PER PERSON

OR HER AGENT MAIRI SURTEES CAMERON OF AFRO CELT PRODUCTIONS
ON 011 477 3352 OR 083 395 1014 OR cameroon@telkomsa.net

Tuesday, 14 October 2008, Adieu Tracey Sandilands

In tonight’s edition of BravoBrava we will be reporting back on Joburg Pride 2008 and the volunteers involved in the staging of this mammoth event on the city’s calendar.

Tracey Sandilands, the Administrator of Joburg Pride joins show host, Mixael de Kock, to chat about Pride and Prejudice.

Tracey also is a seasoned professional in the areas of marketing, communication, public relations, events organisation and general management. Join in this broadcast and hear all about Tracey’s life as she and her life partner, Janine, prepares to translocate to Canada where Tracey will head up PRIDE Toronto.

Our Special Guest this week is the Sasol Wax Art Competition winner who was announced at a spectacular function at the University of Johannesburg’s Art Centre last night.

The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ntombazana Botha, who confessed that she did not quite know what was going on.

Hentie van der Merwe is senior lecturer in fine arts at the University of Stellenbosch and returned from a six year stay in Belgium during last year.

Hentie will talk about his conceptual artwork that won him the coveted prize. Congratulations to Hentie!
And, BravoBrava will be extending special birthday wishes to two very special boys from South Africa’s gay community. Don’t miss out on this one!

In the photograph above Coenie Kukkuk captains the Therapy Viva La Glam float, populated by th country's most beautiful boys! What an eye Coenie has!

In the photograph on the right Coenie strikes a naval pose!

Coenie Kukkuk, editor of Gayspeak, accompanied by the Poster Boys, were invited to Mixael de Kock's after Joburg Pride to get ready for the evening’s outing to Therapy and RuPaul's show. The gathering was served high tea with cupcakes iced in every shade of pink and, with glitter on top!

The latest Gayspeak is online. What a great publication Coenie! Congratulatiosn to you and your team!

Listeners can access this fabulous online e-magazine, free of charge, at http://www.gayspeak.co.za/

In this month’s edition – The Halloween Edition – you will find:

1. The results – and photos – of the Picture Perfect male model search.

2. Pride Pics and how to get to other galleries.

3. ‘A Critique of Sonja Herholdt’s show at Legends, and Karin Hougaard’s Shirley Bassey show, as well as this artist’s forthcoming performance at Legendss – also the shows of Sharleen Surtie-Richards, Amanda Strydom, and many more.

4.Nightclub news – Halloween party, Flip a Coin and more.

5 Read all about the flea market and antique auction at the farmer’s market just outside Pretoria.

6. Photos and write-up pertaining to writer Lidia Theron and pastor Philip Liebenberg’s talks about their respective books. There is also a review of Phillip’s book by Lidia Theron
7. Great competitions to win tickets to the shows “Dalliance”, Cathy Specific’s “Mile High” and Monte Casino’s “For Your Ears Only”.

8. Win some excellent “Dry Shave Gel” from Manology.

9. News on Graham Norton.

10.A Cher look-a-like competition for the Pink Loerie 2009.

11. Pics of sexy new golf star Camillo Vegas.
On 1485 Radio Today and, countrywide on DStv Audio Channel 169: The only show of its kind in all of Africa!