North West gay march aims to promote awareness

24 Nov 2007- South Africa- Gay and lesbian people from all over the North West province are scheduled to participate in the gay March in Mafikeng later this morning. The march is organised by the Gay Umbrella Organisation.

Chairperson Mildred Maropefela says the aim of the march is to make people aware that homosexuality does not only exist in urban areas and big cities, but also in rural provinces such as North West. She says because of the stigma and discrimination attached to homosexuality, people who live double lives.

"The stigma forces our people to live double lives. You find our brothers and sisters when they get to Johannesburg or big cities like Cape Town, they start living their real life. They start enjoying their life as gay and lesbian people. When they get back home, you have to be sister Mildred. They pretend to be heterosexual, just to impress the community," she said.

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