BE TRUE 2 ME CALLS ON TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY TO SUBMIT ISSUES AND CONCERNS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND GOVERNMENT CONSIDERATION

PRESS RELEASE

04 May 2019

BE TRUE 2 ME CALLS ON TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY TO SUBMITT ISSUES AND CONCERNS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND GOVERNMENT CONSIDERATION

Be True 2 Me, a non-profit organisation serving the Transgender and Gender Diverse community of South Africa, is calling for written or multimedia submissions on the issues and concerns of the Trans and Gender Diverse community in South Africa.

This request for submissions follows the call by former Public Protector and Advocate Thuli Madonsela, who is also the founder of the Thuma Foundation, for submissions on some of South Africa’s wide-ranging concerns, especially from vulnerable and minority groups in the country. The submissions will be gathered and submitted, through the Thuma Foundation’s Dear Presidents initiative. This initiative aims to deliver a selection of the Top 100 submissions, which will be presented to the presidents of political parties, and ultimately the President of South Africa.

The submissions will provide a platform to enable the concerns of the Trans and Gender Diverse community to be raised at the highest level, as well as help decision-makers understand issues being faced.

Be True 2 Me founder Lee-Anne Walker says, “The purpose of this is to provide a platform for your voice to be heard by raising your concerns around aspects such as social justice, protection afforded in the constitution and human rights.”

She adds: “Be True 2 Me is therefore asking for written submissions in an effort to compile a comprehensive and united response to submit to the Dear Presidents initiative.” Videos can also be submitted, however they will not be submitted in the same manner as formal written material.

“The responses should be emotive, constructive, and to-the-point; in order for us to convey an appropriate message that adequately illustrates our needs and concerns” says Walker.

Entries should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 17 May, 2019 to facilitate timeous response to the Dear Presidents initiative which will culminate in June. “Our aim is to have at least one letter make it to the Top 100 submissions,” she concludes.

Submissions can be made to:

Email:    [email protected]

WhatsApp: +27 81 455 1183

FaceBook: https://web.facebook.com/BeTrue2MeOrg