Above: South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba
Anti-LGBTIQ extremist Steven Anderson, founder of Faithful World Baptist Church, has been banned from South Africa after igniting a firestorm of opposition to his planned anti-LGBTIQ “Soul Winning” tour in the country. Anderson has a long history of homophobic and racist comments, including celebrating the LGBTQ Latinx shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando and calling religious leaders like Desmond Tutu “perverts” for their support of the LGBTIQ communities. Our partner in South Africa, Triangle Project, together with other groups from the country and region mobilized massive opposition to his visit.
Last Tuesday, South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced Anderson will not be permitted to visit the country. In a statement, Gigaba said the ban wasn’t solely because of his homophobic remarks, but also Anderson’s comments on women and Black people that worried the department. Seventeen people who planned to travel with the pastor have also been refused entry because of their association with an organization that spreads and promotes hate speech.
Victory Institute and Triangle Project welcome this step by the Minister of Home Affairs, given the physical and emotional violence that can result from such hate speech. Victory Institute and Triangle Project will continue to train leaders, conduct research and promote the political participation of LGBTIQ South Africans in the coming months.
Triangle Project is a human rights organization that works towards ensuring the full realization of constitutional and human rights of LGBTI persons, their partners and families.
