Activism and Policy 

 

With consistent foreign involvment, the international community often forgets about the grassroots African activism that drives policy change. Although African LGBT organizations often must rely on foreign aid for financial support, they provide the direct involvement pushing for changing the stigma and attitudes of their countries.

 

"In the 1980s, gay activists were among the first to draw attention to the HIV epidemic in South Africa, to mobulize support for people living iwth HIV and to introduce HIV prevention programmes"  (Rispel 136). 

 

Joint Working Group

• "A national network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trandgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations, has commissioned a number of studies in an attempt to address the needs of its constituency" (Rispel 136)

• South African National Blood Transfusion Services policy review and revised screening tool for blood donors, at the hands of gay activists 

 

"As elsewhere, the LGBTI community will need to continue its efforts to lobby for involvement in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programmes directed at its constituency. However, if social movements and community participation are to fulfill their potential, then national governments must create and maintain the conditions necessary for geniuine participation."

(Rispel 136)