HRC mulls Qwelane complaints

2008-07-23 21:19

Johannesburg - The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has received complaints against columnist Jon Qwelane, spokesperson Vincent Moaga said on Wednesday.

He said these related to an article on gays in the Sunday Sun newspaper on July 20.

"The commission is still considering all these complaints and will decide on how best to handle them.

"Further announcements on this matter will be made in due course."

Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival's board announced on Tuesday that it had lodged an objection about the column with the Press Ombudsman.

It contended that the article equated the practice of homosexuality to bestiality.

The board called on the Sunday Sun to publish a withdrawal of the column and to make a public apology to the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"While we accept that Mr Qwelane is entitled to his personal opinion, we feel that the publication of the column amounts to hate speech and can only serve to incite further violence against the LGBT community," it said.

- SAPA