Lulu Xingwana is a bigot - DA

Bigoted Minister should resign

Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana's behaviour has revealed her to be a homophobe and her attitude as bigoted and regressive. She is unwilling to recognise or accept that every South African citizen is equal before our constitution and that our new democracy has no place for the kind of prejudice she publicly espouses. She should be ashamed and embarrassed, as should the ANC and the government. The Democratic Alliance believes we cannot have a bigot overseeing any government portfolio, but particularly Arts and Culture. We believe she should tender her resignation.

The Minister walked out of an exhibition featuring photographs of black lesbian couples, stating that what she had seen was "...immoral, offensive and going against nation building". She said: "Our mandate is to promote social cohesion and nation-building. I left the exhibition because it expressed the very opposite of this".

I have seen a range of the photos on display and I can state categorically that I think they are quite beautiful.

It is worth, at this point, identifying some of the principles at stake here.

First: constitutionalism. The new South Africa is a constitutional democracy. At the heart of our Constitution is a Bill of Rights. And, contained in that Bill are the following provisions:

• Equality: It states, "Everyone is equal before the law", that "equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms" and that neither the state, nor any person, may "unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone" on one or more grounds including, among other things, their gender, sex, marital status or sexual orientation.
• Dignity: It states, "Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected".
• Freedom: It states, "Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion" and "the right to freedom of expression"

In her capacity and as a representative of the state, the Minister has a duty to uphold, protect and promote those values; indeed, she has taken an oath before the Chief Justice to that effect. But she has failed fundamentally to do so. And, as such, her position as representative of the South African people is no longer tenable.

Second: nationalism. The state has no place interfering in the lives and morals of private citizens. But the ANC, led by a wounded Jacob Zuma, is on a drive to socially re-engineer South Africa and its citizens according to its own image, to redefine our ‘moral code'. This exercise is borne of a nationalist impulse to impose uniformity and social and moral conservatism. It is anti-constitutional and should be opposed.

But even in practice, the idea is profoundly disturbing - when one sees the kinds of values and attitudes the ANC's representatives in government hold. The very people who publicly promote prejudice are the same people calling for us to redefine our moral code. It is a deeply alarming state of affairs.

Remember too that Jacob Zuma - the man at the forefront of this drive - is deeply compromised on this particular issue. It was Zuma who stood before a crowd in 2006 and stated: "Same sex marriage is a disgrace to the nation and to God. When I was growing up, ‘ungqingili' [homosexuals in isiZulu] could not stand in front of me, I would knock him out"; a statement for which he would later apologise, saying that he "did not intend to have this interpreted as a condemnation of gays and lesbians".

Most recently, Zuma appointed Jon Qwelane, an outspoken homophobe as Ambassador to Uganda. It would appear that, below the surface bigotry and prejudice run deep in the ANC. It is disgraceful.

If this government is serious about creating a genuine democracy built on a foundation of human rights, it needs to act against the kind of prejudice the Minister espouses. One would hope the Minister has enough perspective to sanction herself and resign, should her pride prevent her from doing so, President Jacob Zuma needs to take action.

Statement issued Annelie Lotriet, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of arts and culture, March 3 2010

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Lulu Xingwana I for one, respect Ms Xingwana's stand against pornography. The DA needs to rethink their stand and their support in this as this country is drowning in the mire of sexual abuse and even art of this kind is tantamount to arousal to this sort of . .more promiscuous behaviour. In her official capacity Ms Xingwana has the right to display her stand publicly, we expect that of her and respect her for it. Gays and homosexuals, by their lifestyle are already condemned by the Word of God, whether they and the DA like it or not and whether our Constitution gives them certain rights or not. The Constitution is not above the Bible. Read the Bible. I suggest you do not go against the Bible for your own sake, God is holy and just and if He says homosexuality is not acceptable, then no man or woman or political party dare go against it. . .less by Voter on March 04 2010, 08:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Annelie Lotriet, DA MP Ms Lotriet, you are applying double standards. You criticise Jacob Zuma for his private life, and in this I do agree with you, but then you expect Ms Xingwana to approve of disgusting art. It seems that you will grab any little thing to . .more demand the resignation of other people. The DA will never get my vote if they stand for or approve disgusting sexual behaviour and this is what this art under discussion is all about. I am not an ANC supporter, but I do believe people must be consequent in their criticism. . .less by Realistic on March 04 2010, 09:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Realistic You just don't get it do you? The main problem with JZ's behaviour is that he says one thing and does another. With him being the president of the country, I, and most thinking South Africans, find that deeply troubling. by Alice in Wonderland on March 04 2010, 09:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A Stand Lulu Xingwana The minister has the courage of her convictions and I applaud her. The DA is wrong to criticise her just because she is not politically correct; but is true to her principles. I wonder what she would have said had she been . .more Muslim? . .less by john kalala on March 04 2010, 11:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Lulu Xingwana In matters such as these, Politics, Religion and Prefernce must be left out in totallity. The Law clearly states, that each human being has the rights we are all entitled too iand we should respect the law. I myself do not approve of same sex . .more relationships and niether does my religion, but as a citizen of this country, I am compelled to respect all its constituents and their respective opinions and life choices. Lulu has the right to express her opinion on the issue as an individual, but the statement must not be directed from an offical capacity. She must withdraw the comment from an official capacity prespective. . .less by Naz on March 04 2010, 15:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bigoted minister Quite frankly I couldn't care a flying donkey's toss about anyone's claptrap about god odr any other mythical creature. If you want to live under god's law, go commit suicide and go to his kingdom. This earth would be better off for your . .more departure. This woman Xingwana has every right as an individual to diapprove of lesbianism. As Minister of Arts and Culture she has no right to let that bigotry influence her behaviour in her official capacity. I object to my taxes being paid for a Minister of State to mouth off her prejudices while I am paying for her luxurious upkeep. As for religious people and their "god-given morals", gays and lesbians who I have known, religious or not live far more moral lives than these hypocritical christians, moslems and jews who expound their bigotry and hatred against other humans. So far I don't know of any war being fought in the name of homosexuality where millions are killed for loony ideologies; but how many in the name of religion. Re-read your bible and just count the number of people god personally killed in his own little killing sprees. Even in the bible he accounts for millions dead in his name, but for Satan, the bible can account for only a few deaths that he brought about. You should be grateful that god is only a figment of your fevered imaginations. . .less by Jeff on March 04 2010, 21:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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