South African lesbians live in fear, report finds

[William769]

Black lesbians in South Africa endure ridicule and abuse in schools, workplaces and churches, sometimes being accused of witchcraft, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigation has found.

"Lesbians and transgender men live in constant fear of harassment as well as physical and sexual violence," the watchdog group reported.

The research, We'll Show You You're a Woman, was based on interviews with 121 lesbians, bisexual women and transgender men over two years in the impoverished townships where most South Africans live.

Graeme Reid, director of HRW's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights programme, said: "It's a grim picture. It's a picture of fear and intimidation. A segment of South African society lives in terror and feels it has no one to turn to, including the police."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/05/south-africa-lesbians-human-rights?newsfeed=true