Call for more to be done to include queer youth in government

Queer Activist and Wits Student Representative, Penny Tshabalala, says more needs to be done — to ensure the representation of young, queer people in government.

He made the remarks in Soweto at the IEC’s Active Young South African Citizen Seminar that’s aimed at encouraging young voter participation.

In a country with an estimated 14million unregistered young voters, Tshabalala says out of touch leaders are not doing enough to reach queer youth.

Tshabalala, from the South African Higher Education Queer Alliance, says queer youth are not taking to the polls because of a lack of representation in the political sphere.

He says when women and queer people do enter the political arena, they’re put in stereotypical positions.

Tshabalala has called for an end to patriarchy. He says the inherent misogyny still present in government is preventing young queer activists from taking up more leadership positions.

He is urging young queer people to take up leadership positions, outside of just openly queer spaces. Article by Naomi Kobbie