A heterosexist ANCYL: One boyfriend, one girlfriend

Like the ANCYL says, multiple concurrent partners are certainly not “fashionable” these days. HIV has made them decidedly untrendy. One thing that apparently is fashionable, however, and is getting a lot of southern African support, is homophobia. And polygamy. Goodness, that one is really hitting the headlines these days. The YL believe that Zuma is a responsible man and have said that the campaign is not aimed at him. I’m a bit confused about what responsible means to the YL?

For me responsible means watching what you say and using your public platform to promote the rights of others. For me responsible means acknowledging the problem of homophobia, acknowledging that gay and lesbian and bisexual people are people and have rights and can love and have sex with who they would like to. For me responsible is not taking a shower, but using a condom. Sheesh, I wonder what they do mean?

When you speak about one boyfriend one girlfriend, you are simply avoiding that not all men want a girlfriend, some want a boyfriend and not all women want a boyfriend, some want a girlfriend. That’s the reality. The voice of our president, and presidents around Africa, have contributed to this stigma. I think we need to have a look at how we can use public campaigns to make a space for gay and lesbian people and to ensure that our public campaigns around sexuality are inclusive.

On the plus side, the idea behind the campaign is good. It is simple to understand and communicates the message that multiple concurrent partners are not a great idea. So I must say I hope it’s successful.