GALA Mission Statement
The advancement, development and rights of LGBTI people depend on an accurate record and representation of their struggles. GALA mobilises memory by documenting and popularizing the lives and histories of LGBTI South Africans. In so doing it contributes to the development of pride, challenges homophobia and entrenches the rights of LGBTI people.
GALA Office and Archive Hours
Monday to Friday
9 am - 5 pm
Community Library Hours
Tuesday 1 – 4
Saturday 2 – 4:30
Contact Us
+27 11 717 4239
Fax: +27 11 717 1783
info@gala.co.za
GALA is a member of the Joint Working Group (JWG), a national network of LGTBI focused organisations in South Africa.
Arts
Coming Out Again
Coming Out Again tells the story of 7 individuals getting ready for Thuli's Pride Party. Among all the usual worries – what will I wear? will I meet someone? - are a few bigger ones – if I meet someone special, how, and when, will we talk about HIV? Created by LGBTI people telling their own stories and experiences in a world with HIV, it is about relationships, staying negative, disclosure, living with HIV and the pain of losing someone close. Beyond all it is about the strength of everyday heroes who reach out to others, raise awareness, and help to reduce stigma by living positively and telling their stories. <<Full Story... >>
Your Loving Simon
A South African play devised and directed by Robert Colman.
Your Loving Simon was produced at the Market Laager Theatre from 15 April - 18 May 2003. With Fourie Nyamande as Simon Nkoli and Bheki Vilakazi as Madoda Mvelazi. Production Design: Nadya Cohen. Lighting Design: Nomvula Mnguni.
The choices we make in our lives shape our destiny. Sometimes our choices are destined to change history.
Your Loving Simon tells the story of Simon Nkoli and is based on his love letters sent from prison - it is a story of courage, loyalty, betrayal and reconciliation. Through the recreation of this exceptional man and his friendship with a fictionalised cellmate, Madoda Mvelazi, audiences will experience an inspiring and moving evening of finely wrought South African theatre.
In 1984 Simon Tseko Nkoli, a gay man, was arrested for alleged terrorist activities against the State. He was one of the Delmas 22 - so called because the now infamous case, one of the longest running political trials of the 1980's, was heard in Delmas. Among his co-accused were Mosiuoa Lekotha and Popo Molefe.
During his imprisonment Simon was confronted with a choice - secrecy and fear about his sexuality versus honesty and courage. He knew that an openly gay man was considered a threat to the liberation movement - an easy target for manipulation, who could be used as a weapon against the struggle, his undisclosed sexuality exploited by the regime to force him to turn State witness against his comrades.
Simon had to make a choice that would put him on two trials - for terrorism and for the right to be himself. A choice that would confront his comrades with the reality of a "homosexual terrorist". Would they still trust him and support him? A choice that would test the limits of the struggle for human rights and prove a turning point in Simon's life and in the lives of all South African gays and lesbians.
Your Loving Simon is a unique story that came out of the liberation struggle: when the fight for homosexual rights found its rightful place in the larger fight for human rights.
The Sunday Times has published an excellent article about the play .
After Nines!
After Nines! is a community theatre production, based on life histories, testimonies, anecdotes and folklore, about the history of black lesbian and gay communities in South Africa. After Nines! was initiated by the Gay and Lesbian Archives and based on stories collected by the cast as well as records already housed in the archives.
The production was supported by the Civic Theatre, the National Arts Council, and the Netherlands based development agency HIVOS. After Nines! toured community venues and township halls in and around Guateng, appeared at the Gay Games in Amsterdam in 1998, in Sydney in 2000, and was performed at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and the South African National Festival of the Arts. It was devised and directed by Robert Colman, with the original cast members Zodwa Shongwe, Zakhi Radebe, Mpumi Njinga, Wewe Ngidi and Paul Mokgethi.
A selection of photographs from After Nine's! is available online at the Behind the Mask website (www.mask.org.za - look up Sections and follow Gallery link).
