LGBT vacations in South Africa

Appropriately for the country nicknamed the ‘rainbow nation’, the push for greater LGBT rights continued throughout the 2000s. As early as 2002, the court ruled that same sex couples should be given the same rights as married couples with regards to adoption. Same sex couples can adopt a child together, as well as adopting each other’s children. In 2006, the South African parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill permitting same-sex civil marriage. In addition, openly gay people may serve in the South African armed forces, and transgender people are permitted to alter their recorded gender in the population registry, allowing them to acquire updated passports and other identity documents.

Just as the end of apartheid has not resulted in equality for South Africans, regardless of race, so enshrining equality and rights in law does not mean that there is no discrimination against LGBT people. Within some black communities, it is claimed that homosexuality is “un-African”, as it is associated with colonialism or Western culture. Even the South African President, Jacob Zuma, has been particularly outspoken against the civil marriage bill, and LGBT people continue to face social stigma – particularly in rural areas and in more traditional communities. South African society is comprised of many races, religions and contemporary and traditional beliefs and customs; unsurprisingly, therefore, attitudes towards sexuality and transgender people vary widely across the country. Sadly, discrimination and even violence towards homosexuals, including the horrific practice of “corrective rape”, is not uncommon, although as with most violent crime in South Africa, this takes place largely within local communities (particularly in poor townships), and the threat is often overstated, with foreign visitors unlikely to be targeted. And in a country with one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, the reluctance of gay men to be open about their sexual orientation can cost them their lives.

For more information on attitudes towards LGBT people in South Africa, see the full report from the Other Foundation. Interestingly, the report is titled “progressive prudes” because, according to the organisation, “the majority of South Africans think that gay and lesbian people should have the same human rights as other people and should be part of the cultures and traditions of South Africa – even though the majority also think that sex between people of the same sex is morally wrong.”

While all the tour operators we work with describe themselves as LBGT friendly, it is worth asking questions to learn more about how this is put into practice in their South Africa vacations. It is easy to operate an LGBT-friendly tour in socially liberal Cape Town; however, it is less straightforward to incorporate village tours, homestays and explorations of South Africa’s more traditional cultures into an LGBT-friendly vacation. Good operators should be able to share information about customs and beliefs – not just for South Africa as a whole, but for individual regions and cultures across the country.

Cape Town Pride – February-March. Ten days of marches, parties and parades across the city.

Pink Loerie Mardi Gras, Knysna – April-May. Featuring parades, concerts, art exhibitions and parties.

Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – August-September. 10-day queer cinema festival, featuring local and international filmmakers.

Gay Pride March, Johannesburg – September/October. The march through the cities is followed by street parties and an open air concert.

Mother City Queer Project, Cape Town – December. An incredibly popular event described as Africa’s biggest gay costume party, attracting gay and straight crowds.

Read more in our guide to LGBT vacations

Photo credits: [Top box: Niko Knigge] [Attitudes: Samantha Marx] [Violence against lesbians protest: Charles Haynes ] [Cape Town V&A Waterfront: South African Tourism] [Visiting locals respectible : South African Tourism]