On Monday, 7 June 2021, a small group of queer students and their allies came together at break to celebrate the first week of International Pride Month. 

Instead of being greeted with understanding and treated with respect, they were subject to hate speech by queerphobic students and staff. The group of LGBTQ+ students were surrounded, threatened and intimidated 'til the end of break. 

After this, they were involuntarily added to a WhatsApp group called "F*ck The F*ggots", and the members consisted of mainly queerphobic students. 

Two matric learners went to Deputy Principal to report the situation, and it he was apparently very understanding and said that it was unacceptable. The principal proceeded to speak to grade about the situation.

The principal, Mr. Sias Conradie, told them that they had been intimidated because they made themselves targets, and that celebrating Pride Month is not inclusive. They were told that any more meetings of LGBTQ+ students are prohibited. 

As a government school, it DF Malan High School's responsibility to ensure that all their students feel safe and included in order to generate a successful learning environment. The fact that no action has been taken against the queerphobic students and the LGBTQ+ students have been blamed for the hate speech against them is a violation of constitutional rights.

We are calling on DF Malan High School to

1.) give a public apology for silencing the queer community in their school, 

2.) discipline the queerphobic students for their behaviour,

3) actively hold educational seminars for both learners and teachers to promote inclusion in the school, regardless of personal belief.