Radical. African. Lesbian. Feminist.
When the Coalition of African Lesbians was formed, the dream was to create a public political space for lesbian feminist voices to emerge, be visible and influence the ongoing private and public debate about our sexual and gendered lives as […]
When you give me the gift of Your body It is like I have no choice But to return to you the gift of My soul I love the way we kiss Do you know that? I love that you […]
Culture and tradition have long been used as a means of shutting down debate on Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights on the continent even as the most vulnerable members of our society continue to suffer because of our chronic inability […]
Interview with Dawn Cavanaugh Tell us about how CAL has changed since you first joined it. I joined CAL first as an Executive Committee member in 2008, and became Co-director alongside Fikile Vilakazi in October 2010 until she left in […]
It was in university, around second year, that I came across a Sister Namibia magazine, published by an organisation of the same name, that spoke about feminism and lesbians and equality. I had found my Bible. Without the language to […]
I remember my former partner – Zanele Muholi, with whom I co-founded Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) in Johannesburg – coming home and telling me about “Tommy Boys”, a publication on lesbian oral history research. She was desperate […]
When I was asked to write something for the tenth anniversary of the Coalition of African Lesbians, I wanted to dig out old reports and documents to recap facts, names and dates of the founding phase. But then I decided I want […]
It was at the Johannesburg International Airport that a seemingly disparate group of women gathered on 22 August 2004. Initially scattered, warm greetings and hugs brought them together as they recognized one another from previous forums and meetings and spoke […]
Hella…hella Our daughter has come home Hella…hella The one who has been cast away is home Let us dance and rejoice today Shame on those who do not acknowledge my daughter’s homecoming The African! Shame on those who treated my […]
Nine years after first learning of the Coalition of African Lesbians, I was just back from a meeting of sexual rights activists where two CAL members made me reflect, made me laugh, and made me just so glad they were […]
Today You have spoken Africa Yesterday…rolling stone… red pepper… * Declared… Kill them …Hunt them down… Today… You have publicly refused…. Africa You have commissioned… Never again… Shall I be Hunted…Killed… Not in your name… Africa… Shall I be Raped…Tortured…Arrested…Again… […]
In April 2015, the Coalition of African Lesbians was granted observer status at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) – hereinafter referred to as the African Commission, representing a milestone in the pan-African work of CAL. This […]
During my political detention in Apartheid South Africa, the questions from the security police revolved around their stereoptypes of what lesbians are all about. They questioned me about a co-treason trialist: ‘Is she a lesbian? Does she have cats?’ They […]
African feminism has come of age. For this reason, it is necessary to celebrate the rich tapestry of women organising across the continent for the basic dignity and essential value of human beings in all their diversity. Feminist struggles have […]
The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) illustrates the triumph of feminist lesbian activism and movement building on a continent where lesbo-, homo- and transphobia are rife. It is within this hostile environment that lesbians and the trans-community are continuously forging innovative […]
English