Lesbian and Gay Equality Project
Encyclopedia
The Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP), formerly known as the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCGLE), is a non-profit, non-governmental organization in South Africa
that focuses on the expansion of LGBT
civil rights in South Africa and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa
. It was founded in 1994, and successfully lobbied for the inclusion of sexual orientation as a basis for non-discrimination laws in the country after the end of the apartheid period; the organization has continued to operate after South Africa officially legalized same-sex marriage
in 2005. Its work includes "law reform, lobbying, litigation, advocacy, employment equity, leadership training and development."
One of the foremost concerns of the organization is the continued homophobia
that is present in post-apartheid society, and it is also in solidarity with LGBT organizations in Zimbabwe
, where the Mugabe regime has placed severe restrictions on the living rights of the LGBT minority and other citizens.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that focuses on the expansion of LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
civil rights in South Africa and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
. It was founded in 1994, and successfully lobbied for the inclusion of sexual orientation as a basis for non-discrimination laws in the country after the end of the apartheid period; the organization has continued to operate after South Africa officially legalized same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in South Africa
Same-sex marriage has been legal in South Africa since 30 November 2006, when the Civil Union Act, 2006 came into force, having been passed by Parliament earlier that month. A ruling by the Constitutional Court on 1 December 2005 had given Parliament one year to make same-sex marriage legal...
in 2005. Its work includes "law reform, lobbying, litigation, advocacy, employment equity, leadership training and development."
One of the foremost concerns of the organization is the continued homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
that is present in post-apartheid society, and it is also in solidarity with LGBT organizations in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, where the Mugabe regime has placed severe restrictions on the living rights of the LGBT minority and other citizens.