The Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GLA) on Thursday announced plans for a three-day protest against Western Cape premier Peter Marais, who has come under fire for his views on homosexuals.
The protest is to start on June 1, with a demonstration outside his office, and will climax on June 3 with the handover of a letter demanding his resignation.
GLA representative Andre Baxter said the organisers were planning ”numerous surprises for him. The people are really very furious about this,” he said.
”We’ve just got nothing to lose in this situation. It’s going to be the first opportunity in South Africa where gay people show their force. The people will not leave on that Monday until he accepts the letter.”
Baxter said there would be ”one or two well-known people” in the front line of the demonstrations. GLA has yet to get city council permission for the demonstrations.
It said in a statement that the protest would serve as an opportunity for all ”lesbigay” politicians and activists to unite in solidarity against any future homophobic officials.
Marais claimed at the weekend that a gay lobby in the Democratic Alliance (DA) was seeking to destroy him because of his views on homosexuals.
He made the claim after being named in a series of sexual harassment claims by female New National Party (NNP) colleagues. He later sought to defuse growing controversy over his remarks by saying he respected homosexuals as part of the ”colourful rainbow nation”.
He said he respected the Constitution and the rights it gave all citizens, including freedom of sexual orientation. – Sapa