In celebration of Heritage Month, Khulisa Social Solutions is excited to announce a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering dialogue and building bridges of understanding between members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community and the wider community. This unique event, titled “Embracing Diversity: A Dialogue Circle” will take place on Friday 01 September at 09:00 in Moffatview, Johannesburg.
The event will feature a dialogue circle with an influential member of the LGBTQI community, Lydia Sono, alongside other local representatives, who will share their personal stories and experiences.
Lydia was born in Schoemansdal’s rural area in Mpumalanga where the LGTBI community was unheard of. She broke all odds in her community when she became an open lesbian and an advocate for others. When Lydia was raped in 2015, she realised as long as people live in ignorance, cases of corrective rape against lesbian women were going to increase. Lydia is now advocating for other lesbian women for fair treatment from schools, hospitals and the South African Police Service (SAPS). Working under Khulisa, over 18 years ago, Lydia established the first Ubuntu club, a focus group where the LGBTQI community meet and share their stories, as well as facilitate multiple cases into gender-based violence to create peace for her LGBTQI community. With over 70 people in the support group Lydia is recognised as one of the women who made a change in Mpumalanga. She is an award-winning humanitarian who won the Sunrise Woman Award in 2017.
In addition to the dialogue circle, there will be an interactive workshop facilitated by Lydia, which will focus on topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural stereotypes, and allyship. These workshops aim to provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the LGBTQI community and equip them with the knowledge and tools to become allies and advocates for equality and inclusivity.
“Khulisa recognizes that Heritage Month is not only a time to celebrate our rich cultural diversity but also an opportunity to acknowledge and embrace the beautiful diversity of identities within our society,” shares Lesley Ann van Selm, managing director of Khulisa. “The dialogue circle seeks to create an inclusive space where participants can engage in open, respectful, and meaningful conversations about the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of the LGBTIQ community. By promoting dialogue and understanding, we aim to strengthen the bonds within our community and foster a culture of acceptance and celebration.”
