Young lesbian murdered in an act of "corrective rape" (S Africa)

[theHandpuppet]

This is just horrible beyond words. Dammit all to hell! Every day it's another young gay man or woman being murdered, often in the most hideous, tortured ways. I'm sick of the ignorance, I'm sick of the hate.

RIP, Gift.

News24
Woman killed for being a lesbian - report
2014-08-18

Mahikeng - The brutal rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in Ventersdorp, North West, last week appears to have been yet another incident of “corrective rape”.

The young woman, Gift Makau, was found dead in Tshing location on Friday. She had been raped and strangled with wire and a shoelace and a hosepipe had been shoved into her mouth, reported the Times.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested and will appear in the Venterdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday, police said.

Makau’s cousin said her family, who knew she was a lesbian, was devastated....

MORE at http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Woman-killed-for-being-a-lesbian-report-20140818

[historylovr]

1. ...

[theHandpuppet]

2. Gift is just the latest victim of "corrective rape"

Last edited Mon Aug 18, 2014, 10:46 PM - Edit history (1)

This is an ongoing horror for lesbians in South Africa. For more on the subject of "corrective rape", follow these links:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/01/16/clare_carter_investigating_the_brutality_of_corrective_rape_in_south_africa.html
The Horror of “Corrective Rape” in South Africa
By David Rosenberg

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/udoka-okafor/corrective-rape-in-south-africa_b_4292271.html
'Corrective' Rape in South Africa: Targeted Violence Against Homosexual Womyn
by Udoka Okafor

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/world/wus-sa-rapes/
Horror of South Africa's 'corrective rape'
By Nkepile Mabuse, CNN

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. ^ n/t

[shenmue]

3. Makes me want to throw up

[nomorenomore08]

6. Me too.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Absolutely disgusting.

How dare they even call it "corrective!"

[ismnotwasm]

7. So kids play rape

And men, among other things-- shove objects in women's mouths

The young woman, Gift Makau, was found dead in Tshing location on Friday. She had been raped and strangled with wire and a shoelace and a hosepipe had been shoved into her mouth, reported the Times.

What exactly was this supposed to "correct"? Lord lord I hate that term.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Like you, the word "corrective" gives me fits!

I know the authors likely don't mean to, but it almost appears to give some legitimacy to the attack, as if "there were good intentions." That fucking pisses me off.

[theHandpuppet]

9. The term was not created by the authors

It's been in use for years and was first coined in South Africa. It's called "corrective rape" because it's believed that such rape will turn lesbians into heterosexuals, believe it or not. In some cases it has been perpetrated to "teach a lesson" to other lesbians, i.e., this is what will happen to you if you reject men. Those who survive "corrective rape" may endure permanent physical damage, HIV, or pregnancy, not to mention the psychological damage.

The total number of women who have been subjected to corrective rape in SA is unknown as many lesbians are too fearful to report it. However, this kind of assault has been going on for years. If you take a look at the links I provided in post #2, especially that first link, you'll read some of their stories.

Here is another article on this barbaric practice:
Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of 'corrective rape' - aimed at 'curing' lesbians

Mvuleni Fana was walking down a quiet alleyway in Springs – 30 miles east of Johannesburg – on her way home from football practice one evening when four men surrounded her and dragged her back to the football stadium. She recognised her attackers. One by one, the men raped her, beating her unconscious and leaving her for dead.

The next morning, Mvuleni came round, bleeding, battered, in shock, and taunted by one overriding memory – the last thing they said to her before she passed out: "After everything we're going to do to you, you're going to be a real woman, and you're never going to act like this again".

Corrective rape is a hate crime wielded to convert lesbians to heterosexuality – an attempt to 'cure' them of being gay. The term was coined in South Africa in the early 2000s when charity workers first noticed an influx of such attacks. But despite recognition and international coverage, corrective rape in the region is escalating in severity, according to Clare Carter, the photographer behind these images. This is amid a backdrop of parts of the country "becoming more homophobic", as one recent victim asserts.

Compared to many of South Africa's victims, Mvuleni was lucky: she survived. At least 31 women in the past 15 years did not. In 2007, to cite one incident, Sizakele Sigasa, a women's and gay rights activist, and her friend Salone Massooa, were outside a bar when a group of men started heckling and calling them tomboys. The women were gang raped, tortured, tied up with their underwear and shot in the head. Executed. No one was ever convicted.... MORE at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/crisis-in-south-africa-the-shocking-practice-of-corrective-rape--aimed-at-curing-lesbians-9033224.html

[Behind the Aegis]

10. That is just nauseating!

I knew the homophobia was getting worse in SA, despite few groups ever mentioning it. I just didn't know it was this bad!

[theHandpuppet]

12. It's out of control in many African nations

Unfortunately, so few people seem to give a damn, even on DU. Pardon my cynicism, but I'd probably find more outrage if someone yelled at a dog. After all, these are just gay people, and women, and black women.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I join you in your cynicism.

I even posted so the other night because of another GLBT issue that sank like a damn stone; the Uganda story. I would say more, but well...you know.

[theHandpuppet]

15. Yes, I noticed.

I was actually going to post something really, really angry but knew it would be hidden. I was so touched that the ongoing murder of GLBTs both here at home generates such concern.

Frankly, this post might be hidden, too, but you know what -- I'm really beyond caring.

[Behind the Aegis]

17. I hear you, I have to censor myself too.

I have written a number of angry posts only to delete them before posting. I think it is one of the reasons I get such a kick out of people who claim I am "in a hissy" or "coming unglued" when I respond to them. On DU2, there was a possibility, but here, the juries are too capricious and many are too bigoted, so why give them ammunition.

[theHandpuppet]

19. We're never supposed to be insulted or outraged

After all, what do you want, a pony?

Edited to add: I mean, look at this thread. 3 recs. The concern and interest about the ongoing slaughter of young lesbians is really touching.

[Behind the Aegis]

20. The ponies...I remember the ponies.

I am kinda a mix on recs because sometimes I have a really hard time recommending a thread with really bad news. I know I should but it almost seems like I am "approving" it. I guess I really should look at recs as more of "read this article."

[theHandpuppet]

21. That's the way I judge my recs.

I don't rec threads just because they make me feel good or impart good news. I judge by what I feel is the importance of the topic or the potential of the OP to generate some interesting debate. So even if an OP states an opinion diametrically opposed to my own, if it's interesting and may spur some meaty discourse, I recommend it. If we only rec happy threads then we'd better be willing to settle for kitten and puppy pics rather than discussions. I've seen wayyyyy too many really good threads sink like stones because there weren't enough recs to support them or provide greater visibility by making it to the front page.

[theHandpuppet]

14. More stats

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrective_rape
Corrective rape is on the rise in South Africa. More than 10 lesbians are raped or gang-raped weekly, as estimated by Luleki Sizwe, a South African nonprofit.[22] It is estimated that at least 500 lesbians become victims of corrective rape every year and that 86% of black lesbians in the Western Cape live in fear of being sexually assaulted, as reported by the Triangle Project in 2008.[3] Yet, victims of corrective rape are less likely to report it because of the negative social view of homosexuality.[3] Under-reporting is high for sexually violent crimes, thus the number of corrective rapes are likely higher than what is reported.[3]

One South African man stated, "Lesbians get raped and killed because it is accepted by our community and by our culture".

In my world this is called genocide.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. "More than 10 lesbians are raped or gang-raped weekly" WEEKLY!?!

Yeah, this has the makings of genocide. How is this happening in the ONLY country where sexual orientation is actually in the Constitution?!

[theHandpuppet]

18. SA has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world.

No Constitution, it seems, can stand against superstition and barbaric customs. In the case of "corrective rape", many of these are actually "supervised" by family just as "honor" killings are executed by family members.

[theHandpuppet]

11. It's supposed to "correct" their sexual orientation

Yes, believe it or not, there are men who think that raping a lesbian will turn her into a heterosexual. You wouldn't believe how many times throughout my life I've been told that I wouldn't be gay if I just had a piece of this guy or that guy. It's disgusting.