“There have been 1500 cases [of #Monkeypox] that have been identified so far, and looking at those cases, they have been mainly in men who have sex with men… that’s probably how it was originally introduced in these countries outside of Africa” 

Prof. Koleka Mlisana of the National Health Laboratory Service made this inflammatory statement at a press conference that was meant to be about publicising the first confirmed case of Monkeypox in South Africa. Instead of giving the public facts and preventative measures for the virus, Prof Mlisana decided to use this opportunity to spew homophobia. 

Her statement is rooted in homophobia, it is irresponsible and it is dangerous. South Africa is a violently homophobic country, where LGBTQIA+ people are killed every day in hate crimes, it is wrong for officials to spread such ignorant opinions to public. This is the same harmful propaganda that fuelled the stigmatisation of gay men during the 80s with HIV & AIDS.

Prof Mlisana must publicly apologise and correct her statement. She is spreading misinformation to the public. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is mostly spread through close physical skin-to-skin contact, which is why it can be spread to sexual partners regardless of their sexuality, not just “men who have sex with men”.

Sign this petition to demand a public apology and correction! #MlisanaMonkeypox

Video of Prof Mlisana’s inflammatory statement here