#simon nkoli

[queerasfact]

Happy birthday to Josephine Baker, born on 3 June in 1906. Josephine was bi, making this a perfect day to celebrate some her and some other Black queer figures from history during Pride month!

Check out podcasts on each of them here: Josephine Baker, Marsha P Johnson, Njinga of Ndongo, Simon Nkoli

[mental-mona]

I am black and I am gay. I cannot separate the two parts of me into secondary or primary struggles. In South Africa, I am oppressed because I am a black man and I am oppressed because I am a gay man. So, when I fight for my freedom I must fight against both oppressions… All those who believe in a democratic South Africa must fight against all oppression, all intolerance, all injustice.

Simon Nkoli

[flowercat13]

Simon Tseko Nkoli

Gay activist and anti-apartheid leader, He fought for freedom and social justice in South Africa.

Listened to @queerasfact latest episode and since its pride month i felt so inpired. Definitely a great podcast to listen to!

[yourdailyqueer]

Simon Nkoli (deceased)

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

DOB: 26 November 1957  

RIP: 30 November 1998

Ethnicity: African - South African (Sotho)

Occupation: Activist

Note of firsts (some of the things he achieved): Organised the first pride parade in South Africa held in 1990, one of the first gay activists to meet with President Nelson Mandela in 1994, became one of the first publicly HIV-positive African gay men. He opened the first Gay Games in New York and was made a freeman of that city.

[genderfluidpositivity]

Black History Month | Simon Nkoli

[queerasfact]

Today, 27 April, in South Africa is Freedom Day, commemorating the day in 1994 when the country’s first post-apartheid elections were held. When the country’s post-apartheid constitution was ratified in 1996, it South Africa became the first country in the world to constitutionally outlaw sexuality-based discrimination, in no small part thanks to the world of gay anti-apartheid activist Simon Nkoli.

To hear Simon’s story, check out our podcast!

[queerasfact]

"I am black, and I am gay. I cannot separate the two parts of me into secondary and primary struggle. They will all be one struggle.” - Simon Nkoli

Happy birthday to South African activist Simon Nkoli, born on 27 November in the late 1950s.

An anti-apartheid activist, Simon was arrested in 1984 after his participation in a protest against rent increases in the Black township of Delmas. While in prison awaiting trial, Simon was outed as gay. He received an outpouring of support from the international queer community, which in turn led to greater international support for anti-apartheid work.

Following his acquittal, Simon became a founding member the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of Witwatersrand (GLOW) fighting for the rights of queer people in Johannesburg’s Black townships. He focussed especially on HIV/AIDS activism. With GLOW, Simon organised Johannesburg’s first Pride march in 1990.

In 1994, following the end of apartheid. Simon met with government officials to ensure the rights of gay and lesbian people would be enshrined in the country’s new constitution - the first country in the world to do so.

Simon died from AIDS-related illness in 1998.

We made a whole podcast on Simon if you want to learn more!

[queerasfact]

In 1984, Simon Nkoli was arrested for his anti-apartheid activist. While in prison awaiting trial, he was outed as gay. Despite fears of backlash, Simon received an outpouring of support from the international queer community, which in turn led to greater international support for group he was arrested with, known as the Delmas 22, and for anti-apartheid work more broadly.

Following his acquittal, Simon co-founded GLOW, a group fighting for the rights of queer people in Johannesburg’s Black townships. Simon was involved in organising Johannesburg’s first Pride march in 1990, and ensured that gay and lesbian rights were enshrined in the new post-apartheid constitution of South Africa.

Check out our podcast on Simon to learn more!