Gays fling out cross-dressers

2004-06-23 22:20

Cape Town - Cross-dressers and transvestites have been banned from membership of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance, the organisation announced on Wednesday.

The decision, taken by the organisation's national executive, had resulted in the expulsion of two members of the board.

"To cross-dress or change one's sex is not seen as a qualifying factor to be regarded as part of the lesbigay orientation," the alliance said in a statement.

"Men dressing as women or women dressing as men harm the image of the lesbigay community beyond doubt."

Lesbigays were "average people" with only a single identifying aspect, namely same-sex orientation.

"We believe the majority of South Africans will welcome our decision to clean our party ranks of cross-dressers and transvestites."

The organisation describes itself as the "lesbigay political voice of South Africa".

It registered to contest the 2004 general elections, but never put up candidates.

- SAPA