When Patricia Mabidilala, an Economic Freedom Fighters councillor in Alexandra, witnessed the anguish of six young people she cared deeply about after they were mistreated at a rally she had attended with them, she knew something had to change.

That moment of pain later became the spark for her mission to create a space where members of the LGBTQIA+ community are not only seen, but accepted and embraced for who they are. So, when she hosted the recent three-day long dialogue centred on the challenges LGBTQIA+ individuals are grappling with in the community, she explained that it was not politics, or a ploy to campaign for her party ahead of the elections… It was personal.

Read more: Councillor pushes for acceptance of LGBTQIA+ community

Like many residents who have close family members and friends who are gay and lesbian, Mabidilala has watched loved ones shrink under the weight of judgment and exclusion, and she refuses to let their voices be silenced. Her dialogue in Setswetla was a bold statement that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights, and that dignity must be defended beyond celebrations like Human Rights Day.

By inviting both the community and LGBTQIA+ members to speak openly, Mabidilala hopes to bridge divides and foster understanding. “A lot of people still cannot accept members of the LGBTQIA+ community. So, we are coming together with the hope to change that. We intend to listen to their challenges, so that we can be better informed, and, in turn, tell the community to accept them the way they are.”

Also read: Twitter Reacts: LGBTQIA+ community forges forward despite terrorist attack warnings

Mabidilala wants to build a community where no one feels unwelcome because of who they are. So, what began as heartbreak, has become a mission to ensure that every LGBTQIA+ individual knows their rights are not negotiable.

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