26 May 2024, Mambaonline.com, Roberto Igual
Equality Court: Gqeberha Store Defends LGBTQ+ Ban as “Religious Freedom”
On 15 April, The Equality Court heard the discrimination case against Dawood Lagardien, the owner of a Gqeberha store, who banned LGBTQ+ individuals, citing “religious freedom.” In July 2023, Lagardien displayed a sign stating, “LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi – Save our Children,” and managed a WhatsApp group that spread anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech. The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) accused Lagardien of violating the Equality Act and demanded an apology and R500,000 in damages to an NGO. Lagardien defended his actions as expressions of his Islamic beliefs, claiming he was protecting children from “amoral behaviours.” The SAHRC argued that religious beliefs do not justify infringing on others’ rights and that Lagardien’s actions propagated hatred. The case, postponed to August 2024, will also involve Media Monitoring Africa and potentially the Commission for Gender Equality as amici curiae.