South Africa’s constitution is rated amongst the best in the world with clauses protecting the rights of the vulnerable people in society. These include members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTQI) community.
However, despite their rights being enshrined in the constitution, members of the LBTQI community remain at the receiving end of human rights violations.
It is against this background that Mokone Mmola decided to write a book.
In the audio below, Author Mokone Mmola says he wrote the book to expose some of the challenges facing the LGBTQI community:
Expose follows the story of Kagiso, a student at the University of Limpopo, who explores his sexuality amidst a society that considers same-sex relations abnormal. Kagiso was shocked by his mother’s reaction when she finds out that her only child is not heterosexual.
“This thing is gay. What a curse? I know the full story about you Kagiso and you are not going to play smart with us.”
Thus begins Kagiso’s a long-term conflict with his mother and a journey to seek acceptance from the most important person in his life.
Mmola says this is a reality for most members of the LGBTQI community who often find themselves ostracized by their families when they reveal their sexuality.
Members of the LGBTQI also face mockery, insults and others even lose their lives through hate crime.
In my book I touch on this issue. Members of the LGBTIQ+ are killed for who they are and it is not seen as wrong. Our people need to be educated. It starts by reading. This is heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/qdQt2PPeEq
— McOnizer (@Mk_McOnizer) February 9, 2020
Mmola’s book is a result of perseverance, after having been rejected by some publishing companies.
In the audio below, Author Mokone Mmola, says it was difficult to get the book published:
Expose is available at the Book Lounge in Cape Town, libraries at the University of the Western Cape, Amazon and Good Reads.
Below is an infographic of those who lost their lives to hate crime:
