Mzanzitravel Magazine Issue 10

Discover Mzanzi
With one of the most liberal constitutions in
the world, a welcoming and open attitude
among most of its citizens, a large number
of supportive and informative organisations
and services, vibrant cities and nightlife, a
large number of festivals and parades, fine
art and theatre offerings, and the sheer
beauty of its diverse natural and holiday
options, it is little wonder that South Africa is favoured as one of the world’s top
destinations among members of the LGBT community worldwide.
South Africa’s constitution was one of the very first to recognise samesex
marriages and is still one of the few in the world that explicitly prohibits
discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. After the 1994 transition to
full democracy for the country, when attitudes became generally more relaxed,
active and openly lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) communities
have sprung up in all the major cities as well as in quite a surprising number of
smaller country towns. But the main LGBT focal areas continue to be Cape Town,
Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria, with Cape Town by far topping the list.
A top destination
In fact, Cape Town has regularly been voted as one of the top LGBT cities in the
world, and is ranked as the top gay-friendly and openly gay city in Africa. Singer/
composer Elton John is just one among the world’s gay celebrities who love to
come here on holiday.
In March this year the Spartacus World Gay Travel Index, which looks at almost
200 countries around the world and ranks them on the basis of 14 criteria, such
as marriage equality, adoption rights, anti-discrimination laws and criminalisation
of homosexuality, ranked South Africa at number 27 and as the top African
destination. This was way ahead of countries like Argentina (ranked 34), the USA
(39), Greece (45), Brazil (55) and Thailand (67).
Other factors considered by the Index include religious influence, travel restrictions
for HIV positive people, the banning of gay events, homophobia among locals, and
violent crime. This year, for the first time, the index also took into account factors
affecting transgender individuals in different countries. The aim of the index is to
provide LGBT travellers with information as to how welcome and safe they would
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