Members of the LGBTI community in Durban and Cape Town stood up against homophobia, transphobia and anti-LGBTI hate crimes on the weekend.

Saturday’s protests came in the wake of a disturbing spike in attacks against the LGBTI community in the past few weeks.

In Durban, a small but determined group turned out for a Beach Walk, organised by the Same Love Toti Support Group, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), which was commemorated on May 17.

The participants walked along the promenade from uShaka Marine World waving rainbow flags, holding hands and displaying placards with messages such as: “Different families, same love”; “Being LGBT is fine, homophobia is the crime”; and, “Be careful who you hate, it might be someone you love – Proud Parents.”

A larger crowd took part in the annual Khumbulani Pride (Khumbulani means “remember” in Xhosa) in Strand in the Western Cape. The march aims to honour the lives of LGBTI people lost to hate crimes.

Participants help up signs that proclaimed: “Our love has to stop being identified as sin”, and “Justice 4 all women – stop the killing!” Read more via Mamba Online