He goes out of his way to offend; I don't think he's an asset to any publication. Can't the HRC organise a muzzle order for him?

And what's more: he can't really write. His prose is clumsy and faux-Anglo.

I agree about the quality of his writing. His so-called claim to journalistic fame has been built on a pedestal that has as big a chip in it as he carries on his shoulder. This chip could be the undoing of both ...

Spot on! Columnists are there to provoke debate. And that's what JQ has done. He has a talent for whipping people up into debate about contentious issues. If the SA public doesn't have the stomach for debate, that's not JQ's problem...

What was that saying? "I may not like what you have to say, but I will defend unto death your right to say it..."

JQ did more than provoke debate. His language, analogies,and tone provoke intolerance among many narrow-minded heterosexual people in our country, and fear of persecution among homosexuals. Lesbians are being targeted in our country. They are being killed. As a gay man, I know in the flesh the fear it generates in me everytime I read articles such as Mr Qwelane's. His words legitimise violence against us among many poorly educated people (and there are many of them in SA).

Ah yes, ok, so bullard must get fired, but this prick gets to stay because he's just being a journalist?

He's a self-righteous idiot, the only thing i want to read about him in the newspaper is his obituary

debate se ma man! en joune ook..ons suffer nou al 14 jaar vir die kak wat ons voor-ouers gedoen het met apartheid, en hier kom en stupid f bobbejaan en doen dieselfde?

In South Africa this does not yet apply and anyone who claims a South African journalist can say what they like when they like is being a slight bit naive. There are major consequences to this kind of “journalism” in this country – or is getting newspapers sold the most important goal? If you are gay yourself my friend, and I’m not talking young and fortunate enough to have come out of the closet in the last ten years, but people that have experienced the “apartheid” era and what gay men and women had to go through to for fight for freedom then you might understand the concerns of the community. If you are not gay – find something else to write about because you clearly have no idea.
How “educated” would an article be if it associated black, white, Hindu, Catholic individuals to animals? Same thing!!!

It's one thing to stir up debate.

It's quite another to be blatantly bigoted. Qwelane is a bigot. He supplies no other reasoning for his viewpoint other than "wrong is wrong". His "arguments" are of the same stuff on which the previous regime built apartheid: "blacks and whites shouldn't mix because it's wrong".

I think Qwelane has forgotten what it was like not so long ago to be hated, maligned and despised for no reason other than being different. And while I respect his right to an opinion, I can't support what is obviously hate-speech on his part.

Perhaps Qwelane would prefer to return to the draconian eras of before where the persecution he advocates was rife. The question is will he be able to accept the inevitable consequences of such a move?

Dear staff and management of the Sunday Sun, Media 24, the human rights commission, clients of evenovation marketing and events, the pink business directory, all facebook readers, and all gumtree readers.
As reported on mamba “Notoriously homophobic writer Jon Qwelane has again outraged the LGBT community with a recent column in which he equates homosexuality with bestiality. Titled Call me names, but gay is NOT okay..., the article was published in the Sunday Sun on the weekend.In the piece Qwelane writes about the Anglican Church’s internal rift over the ordination of gay priests, stating that the "real problem" is the "rapid degradation of values and traditions..." In this regard, he lauds Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for his "unflinching and unapologetic stance over homosexuals."Qwelane goes on to claim that "you regularly see men kissing other men in public, walking holding hands and shamefully flaunting what are misleadingly termed their 'lifestyle' and 'sexual preferences.'"
The constitution also comes under fire when he writes that he prays that politicians will some day have "the balls" to rewrite the constitution "to excise those sections which give license to men 'marrying' other men, and ditto women."
"Otherwise at this rate, how soon before some idiot demands to 'marry' an animal, and that this constitution 'allows' it?" he asks. "And by the way, please tell the Human Rights Commission that I totally refuse to withdraw or apologise for my views," because, he adds, "wrong is wrong." “
I ask for the following actions, reactions and answers?


To the management of Media 24 and the Sunday Sun?

It is despicable that you can allow such negligence and hate to emanate from your publications. As a South African, I am humiliated, but as a Gay South African I feel violated by this pig headed individual who has absolutely NO REGARD for any other human being. His arrogance astounds me – and in my opinion he is so far behind in our new country that he thinks he isfirst. Your response please – see e-mail address below

To the human Rights Commission?

What will happen this time – another ‘slap on the wrist?’ or are you not able to take the rights of homosexual people into regard? – also please respond to e-mail address below

To the editors I ask and make comment?
Do you actually edit the content of your publication? Do you consider the impact of the content their in? Your contact page on your website contains the following about the Sunday Sun:

"It is politically independent and committed to upholding the Constitution."

Really?

And yet you allow bigoted, moronic, bordering-on-hate-speech commentary from Jon Qwelane who calls for politicians to have "the balls" to rewrite the constitution and make homosexuality illegal? IF a white journalist called for "politicians" to change the constitution and not allow black South Africans to vote because it is equivalent to allowing animals to vote what do you think the result would be? What Mr. Qwelane writes has the same impact on a vibrant, dynamic part of our society. So what if they talk or dress or behave differently? They are still people who enjoy the same rights all South Africans do under a constitution ratified by the government of this country.

Jon Qwelane has lost the plot and you as a national publication claiming to be "politically independent and committed to upholding the Constitution" should issue a retraction and an apology and distance yourself from him.

To clients of evenovation, Gumtree readers, Facebook readers and their families - I PLEAD?
Please boycott all advertising in the following publications, and please do not buy any of these publications, It is the only way that Media 24 and its publications will remove bigots like this.

Following here is a picture of Mr. Qwelane and also an organogram of Media 24 and their publications – please spread the good word. – ACTION PLEASE

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Gay Media24 protests of the utmost importance - Jhb and Cape Town


Dear all

By now we all know about the whole Jon Qwelane saga (http://www.mambaonline.com/article.asp?artid=2168). The response from gays & lesbians, and others, is unprecedented. And there is good reason for it.

Much more is at stake than just Qwelane's homophobia. Or his past. Jon Qwelane is one of the very few in the media world who is a staunch Jacob Zuma supporter. We also know that JZ has a history of homophobia (See http://152.111.1.251/argief/berigte/volksblad/2006/10/03/VB/6/ddZumaGays.html). He did apologise, but that was spin - politically expedient. We all also know that Zuma is our next presumptive president. And he will reward his supporters. Including one Jon Qwelane. Qwelane has already called for the amendment of the consitution to excise gay rights. And it will be in Zuma's power to do so. Improbable? We don't know. What we do know, is that it is possible. A possibility too ghastly to contemplate. We can only think about the persecutions of gays in next door Zim, by Mugabe, another of Qwelane's heroes.

We have also heard from reliable sources, that Media24 is watching developments very closely. They are still very jittery after Rapport's editor had to fire Deon Maas due to pressure from advertisers. We do no have that support.

What we do have however, is the Press Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission. Charges have been laid there. But these institutions are largely "toothless watchdogs". Civil action law suits are being investigated. But, again, funds are lacking and if the person or organisation looses, there will be a cost order against them, which may run into hundreds of thousands of rands. "Class action" law suits are American concepts, and not part of South African Law.

So what can we do? We can protest. We have all the resources for that - we have people. We have people on the net, we have e-mail, we have Facebook and other sites, we have the ear of some media. And we have ourselves. We can march. We can loudly protest. We can make Qwelane, and Zuma, and others of the same ilk, think twice before they touch our hard-fought-for rights. That is why we call on OUR masses - you - to attend the two protests at the Media24 offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg (details to follow).

This is the weapons we have. Use it.


Cape Town:

When: Friday, July 25 at 1 pm - 2pm
Where: 40 Heerengracht, Media 24 Building

See: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20068152069


Johannesburg:

When: Tuesday, July 29 at 2 pm.
Where: Media24, Media Park, 69 Kingsway, Auckland Park (off Empire)

See: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=21189496073

(Also: please join the group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24506411719 )



Let us reclaim what is by law ours.

See you there.


www.gayspeak.co.za

(PS - Please also go vote to have JQ fired - here - right middle: http://www.biz-community.com/ )

It is so easy to have a knee-jerk reaction to the article that Jon Qwelane wrote for the 'Sunday Sun' 20 July 2008. But after reading his article I could only feel totally unconcerned about what he had to say. Either it comes from a completely ignorant perspective, or he is deliberately (if not somewhat desperately) trying to invoke a reaction. I remain unmoved and disinterested.

He doesn't like gay people, well boo-hoo-hoo-hoo! He has every right to speak his mind no matter how limited most people might think his opinion to be. South Africa is a democracy and all voices should be heard. To quash his opinion means a selective democracy. I don't believe he should be fired, let him say what he has to say. Ignorance is best remedied by information. Mr. Qwelane seems to lack the information and is therefor fearful of something he doesn't at all understand. Perhaps this is his cry, as well as his cry for others to understand, know and learn.

Typically however, his article immediately opens citing church doctrine and policy; he then goes on to agree with the sentiments of one of history's worst dictators as a support for his arguments. Think again Mr. Qwelane, perhaps you could be a little more receptive to what Mr. Mandela has had to say on the topic. Do your homework!

Trevor du Buisson.

be careful he could be the next minister of telecommunications...

I think john brings up some important points, being gay is not normal!! y did god not allow a man and a man to reproduce ? i hope that that if JZ bcomes president they will amend the constitution for the sake of morality of this world. god help you gays and show you the right path

have you eva????

Let people live, judge urself not us, you're not god..

I'd love Qwelane to be fired, if for no other reason than he's a useless writer and clearly a bigot. But if that's what sells newspapers then the Sun has every right to keep him. Freedom of speech and all. It's their decision whether they want to publish that kind of stuff. Frankly it's the morons who buy the Sun, and lap this kind of stuff up, that we should be worried about...

I cannot believe that you lot are calling for the man to be fired- he is entitled to his own opinion.

Every religion in the world condemns homosexuality- do we now ignore that? Qwelane has a right to assert his moral stance on it. What he says does not amount to hate speech- IT IS HIS O-P-I-N-I-O-N

There are way too many questionable things are being allowed today. Qwelane is right when he asks where and when will we draw the line...

After reading this "FREEDOM OF SPEECH?????" I'm just amazed at how many people there are out there that think this way! Even more so then to fight for our long deserved rights in this country. It really is astonishing that people with the loudest voice are usually the people that have never experienced discrimination.

And that is the critical part; he has the right to say what he wants
but like racism and bigotry homophobic hate speech is illegal.

I agree that Jon Qwelane is entitled to his opinion. Whatever it may be. As was Verwoerd, and Hitler, and Idi Amin - to name a few who had opinions that shaped history. That is not the issue really. And it shouldnt be. Jon can say what he wants when he wants, as can anyone under our constitution. The central issue is if that opinion is communicated in a way that could incite hatred or support hatred towards one specific societal group. And there is no question that in this case Jon does exactly that - in fact the cartoonist deserves censure as well - he takes the column to a whole new level.

There are a number of people with comments who point to freedom of speech as the wall behind which Jon can claim protection for his distasteful column. Unfortunately a man of his intelligence (yes I credit him with a modicum of brain power) knows better than to write such drivel in a national newspaper about a topic of such sensitivity in a country rife with scars from a wounded past. It can only be deliberate and the last gasps from a journalist desperate for some long lost national exposure - and if Jon were at a dinner party of friends and he picked a fight because of downing too many beers or too many glasses of wine, one could probably forgive him (and never reinvite him). But in context, the article (whether written sober or not) was irresponsible and it invites aggressive debate that could easily lead to some unfortunate innocent being the victim of some anti gay backlash.

For that alone he should lose his job, and the newspaper should be censured. He has some responsibility as a journalist and he knows better. One could argue that Bullard at least didnt start a ball like the one Jon did rolling, with now the very possibility that people could get hurt.

And for those who would call me gay or an apologist for them - I am neither. I am not gay and I am uncomfortable with their choices. Nevertheless I respect their right to difference within a world of differences and I know better than to judge others so absolutely, lest I be judged myself for being different at some other level at some other time.

Imperialistsand rightwingers are now moving to South Africa with their sheet to display white power in black ruled countries leaning on this freedomof speech rhetoric to which they don`t practise freedomof speech since most of them are members of white secret clubs and companies that don`t allw members por staff to speak to the media .I welcome the judgement exonerating Qwelane and I`m sure the HRC WILL BE motivated by the facts of it and see it as another ruse by mainly pale and bald complainants and dismiss those complaints with the contempt they deserve.

This is Africa and it has its values and standards and Qwelane might be basing his anti-gay statements on those grounds and he is within his rights to do so.THIS IS A TRADITIONALMATTER AND CHIEFS WILL HAVE TO BE CALLED TO TESTIFY.

Thloloe said in his findings that the biggest part of the column was a call for a revision of the Constitution so that the rights recently awarded to gays and lesbians could be taken away.

He found that this did not constitute hate speech.

"In his column, Qwelane does not advocate hate, but merely gives his opinion about homosexuality. He does not ask for gays and lesbians to be harmed. It is robust language, not hate speech."

Thloloe found that after he read the column "carefully", that Qwelane did not equate homosexuality with bestiality.

He simply placed both on different rungs on a ladder, with bestiality lower than homosexuality and heterosexuality, by implication, higher.

"The underlying meaning is that gays and lesbians are of a lower race and the column is degrading towards them in this manner."

Unlikely to lead to violence

Furthermore, he found it was "unlikely" that the column would lead to violence against gays and lesbians.

"Qwelane was well within the law,