Lesbian pupils face high rape risk

06 May 2008- Western Cape, South Africa- "Corrective Rape" at schools in the Western Cape is a growing concern, say non-governmental organisations, some of who have noted an "alarming" level of cases.

Earlier this year, the report by the Human Rights Commission on school violence mentioned the growing crime, where heterosexual male pupils rape lesbian pupils, believing that this will make them heterosexual.

A recent study by the Triangle Project and the University of SA found that schools were still "unsafe places for many lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered (LGBT) learners".

Marlow Valentine, community engagement and empowerment programme manager at the Triangle Project, said:

"The biggest problem is the silence. We have had a few community speak-outs where we invite LGBT people to attend and some of the stories have been horrific, particularly in the black and rural areas

"The level of cases coming to the fore is alarming … It's like (heterosexual boys think) if you want to be lesbian, this is your punishment."

He said in some communities, boys thought if girls ignored their come-ons, they could force themselves on them.

"Heterosexual boys also perceive lesbian women as being competition, so they think: 'I need to change you'," he said.

Valentine said there was a lack of support from parents and teachers.

"The Western Cape Education Department does sensitivity training with teachers, but in reality, (teachers) still have to deal with their own prejudices."

Kholeka Booi, the training and public co-ordinator at the Rape Crisis office in Khayelitsha, confirmed the problem. "If a girl discloses she is lesbian, boys assume (the reason is) the girl does not know anything about boys. There is a lot of peer pressure among boys and kids are afraid to report it (rapes)."

She said they had awareness programmes which were run at schools, but the issue was also linked to a "cultural problem".

Booi said she could tell that when some girls "generalised" about a rape, they were in fact talking about themselves.

Evelynne Moses, locum co-ordinator for training and public awareness at Rape Crisis in Athlone, said the term "corrective rape" tended to "reinforce the myth that something can be corrected and that lesbianism is a choice".

"Having sex with a male will not make someone heterosexual," she said.

Gert Witbooi, spokesperson for Education MEC Cameron Dugmore, said in terms of the learning area in Life Orientation, constitutional values were explored and sexuality was discussed in that context.

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