Dear Mr. President, This PRIDE Pass The National Identification and Registration Bill
The Issue
I am a 19 year old transgender, non-binary individual from South Africa. I am not comfortable identifying with the gender marker that I was assigned at birth. And yet, I am forced to use the male gender that I was assigned at birth on all my official Department of Home Affairs-issued documentation- this makes me feel isolated and depressed and causes anxiety.
Every time I have to share my documents such as a bank card, or passport, or access any official website that needs my ID number I have to first think of my mental health. This is not just my story but that of many people who identify beyond male and female gender markers.
I am also proud to say that South Africa has been quite progressive compared to other countries when it comes to understanding the lives of people from the LGBTQia+ community but as our community grows the laws around us are not evolving at the pace that they should. We the transgender and non-binary people of South Africa are equal citizens and we need to be understood and respected for the humans we are. This Pride month we demand to be seen, recognised as who we are on the official documentation.
I am Zade de Kock, A Nguvu Collective Change leader and I am on a mission to see that the National Identification and Registration Bill gets passed in the current parliament session and comes to life as an Act of Parliament!
The good news is that the Bill is ready for the President's approval. The bad news is that it is being delayed. And every day of delay adds to our suffering.
Since 2020 we have seen the Department of Home Affairs working on The National Identification and Registration Bill. It is now in a shape where it has gone through its process of expert’s review, public comments and recommendation. After 30th June,2023 the Bill awaits the attention of the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
This Pride month, I urge you to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to approve the National Identification and Registration Bill and bring it into reality immediately. Join me in asking Minister Arron Motsoaledi to ensure that this October the South African Queer community can celebrate PRIDE with the government by having options of gender markers beyond the binaries of male and female.
The soul of South Africa Pride Month is etched in ensuring that we celebrate our victories and ensure that no one is left behind. Your voice will help me to truly take Pride in myself when I share my documents with anyone!
If the Act comes into effect it will not help just me but many who identify as trans-and-non-binary-people. It will truly show that South Africa is a society that believes every individual matters and stops the discrimination that is happening with us.
#PrideOctober #PassNIRBill
1,640
The Issue
I am a 19 year old transgender, non-binary individual from South Africa. I am not comfortable identifying with the gender marker that I was assigned at birth. And yet, I am forced to use the male gender that I was assigned at birth on all my official Department of Home Affairs-issued documentation- this makes me feel isolated and depressed and causes anxiety.
Every time I have to share my documents such as a bank card, or passport, or access any official website that needs my ID number I have to first think of my mental health. This is not just my story but that of many people who identify beyond male and female gender markers.
I am also proud to say that South Africa has been quite progressive compared to other countries when it comes to understanding the lives of people from the LGBTQia+ community but as our community grows the laws around us are not evolving at the pace that they should. We the transgender and non-binary people of South Africa are equal citizens and we need to be understood and respected for the humans we are. This Pride month we demand to be seen, recognised as who we are on the official documentation.
I am Zade de Kock, A Nguvu Collective Change leader and I am on a mission to see that the National Identification and Registration Bill gets passed in the current parliament session and comes to life as an Act of Parliament!
The good news is that the Bill is ready for the President's approval. The bad news is that it is being delayed. And every day of delay adds to our suffering.
Since 2020 we have seen the Department of Home Affairs working on The National Identification and Registration Bill. It is now in a shape where it has gone through its process of expert’s review, public comments and recommendation. After 30th June,2023 the Bill awaits the attention of the President by proclamation in the Gazette.
This Pride month, I urge you to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to approve the National Identification and Registration Bill and bring it into reality immediately. Join me in asking Minister Arron Motsoaledi to ensure that this October the South African Queer community can celebrate PRIDE with the government by having options of gender markers beyond the binaries of male and female.
The soul of South Africa Pride Month is etched in ensuring that we celebrate our victories and ensure that no one is left behind. Your voice will help me to truly take Pride in myself when I share my documents with anyone!
If the Act comes into effect it will not help just me but many who identify as trans-and-non-binary-people. It will truly show that South Africa is a society that believes every individual matters and stops the discrimination that is happening with us.
#PrideOctober #PassNIRBill
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 19 January 2023