Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre

ABOUT US

The Durban Lesbian & Gay Community & Health Centre (a project of the KZN Coalition for Gay & Lesbian Equality) is a Drop-In Centre, safe and secure space for lesbian, transgender, gay, bisexual, and intersex communities in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.

We are a non-government (NGO), non-profit organisation (NPO). We are a project of the KwaZulu-Natal Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality. We empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities by providing services, support and training to enable them to claim their rights to equality, dignity and freedom within the context of transformation.

We promote health and wellness in this community, whilst raising awareness of HIV. Our focus is to provide support and companionship for marginalised members of society. We run a drop-in centre providing personal counselling, legal counselling, as well as HIV counselling specifically for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

We provide a support group for gay people who are infected with HIV. We are the provincial head office. We have satellite offices in other areas of the province. We are open from 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Thursday, 08:30 to 15:00 on Friday and 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturday. Our services are mainly free of charge but we do levy a small charge for some of our services.

SERVICES

We provide Personal, HIV and AIDS Counselling and do referrals for Legal Counselling and Advise. We cover matters ranging from understanding own sexual orientation, health status, coming out (LGBT and HIV+), mitigating/fighting stigma and discrimination, homelessness, drug and alcohol use/abuse, living positively, drafting wills, same-sex marriages and divorce.

We are a HCT Clinic providing among other things HIV Counselling and Testing, STI and TB screening and treatment referrals.

Human Rights Advocacy and Campaigning are at the heart of our work. Our current work include human right education on Rights and Responsibility, Gender and Sexuality, Fighting Discrimination of LGBT Youth In Schools, and 'Hate Crimes' primarily against LGBT people. At a Policy development level, our current work is on the Sexual Offenses Bill, Domestic Partnerships and further developments of the Civil Unions Act.

We house an extensive Library, Research and Resource Centre on LGBT, women, youth, children, sex and sexuality, sexual health, human rights, reproductive rights, social, political, health, disability, and many other aspects of communities. It also houses a collection of LGBT, HIV, AIDS and related media clippings in its archives. These will, over time, be made available on this website.

Inlcuded in our Social & Political Programme are:

• Development Seminars
• Movie Screenings
• Interest and Support Group

We work with KZN Gay and Lesbian Tourism Association, hosts Durban Pride, Mr and Miss Durban Pride, Miss Gay Durban, the KZN LGBT Fashion and Hair Show, KZN LGBT Talent Show and KZN LGBTI Activism Awards.

The 2013 DURBAN LGBT COMMUNITY CENTRE TEAM

BOARD:

• Prof. Reddy
• Prof. Bennett
• Dr Tallis
• Adv Ntsele
• Dr Msibi
• Mr Zondi
• Director & Advocacy Officer: Ms Nonhlanhla Mkhize

DURBAN (eThekwini):

• AO, Bookkeeping & Resource Centre: Mr Sbongiseni Mkhwanazi OM
• Research & Mainstream Training: S. Nombande
• Sexual Health: C. Mehilal & M. Meyer (Volunteers)
• Psychosocial & HCT: M. Meyer, P. Hurdeen & S. Ngongoshe (Volunteers)
• Legal Counselling and Advice: Pro-Bono Org & Individuals Clinic & Capacity Building Within
• Health: Sr Linda, S. Khumalo & B. Buthelezi.
• Commodity: N. Malamlela (Volunteer)

RICHARD'S BAY

• Management:Q.Nxumalo, M.Malwane and K.Ngema
• Staff: M. Ngcobo, N. Mthembu, N. Mhlongo, S. Mathenjwa & S. Biyela

LADYSMITH (Mnambithi):

• N. Thungo & W. Nxasana

SOUTH COAST:

• Dr. L 'Makhosi' Bhengu (Traditional Healer)

EASTERN CAPE (Umtata):

• S. Ncanana

INTEREST AND SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATORS

• Girl Talk (Girls 12-20): A. Zulu (Volunteer)
• G-Force (Women 21-35): S. Khumalo (Volunteer)
• Ithemba Lethu (HIV+ on ARVs): S. Ngongoshe (Volunteer)
• HIV+ LGBTIs: M. Meyer (Volunteer)
• Friends For Life (16-25): S. Mkhwanazi
• Friends For Life (25-40): P. Hurdeen (Volunteer)
• WSW Seminars: C. Mehilal (Volunteer)
• MSM Seminars: S. Khumalo & Sr Luthuli (Umlazi Clinic)

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Durban Pride Team:

• S.Kruger (Law School, UKZN)
• S.Nombande (2Galz&AGuy)
• P.Kubeka (Link Events)
• J.Fidler (3rd Millenium)
• F.Melman (Business)
• T.Holtzhausen (The Lounge)
• B.Petrick (Deo Gloria Family Church)
• E. Otto (Government)

MEMBERSHIP/AFFILIATIONS

• JWG
• ILGA
• CAL
• AISA
• KZN-HTPB-TT
• KZN-VEF
• ANAC
• VEF, etc.

Projects and Services offered by the Community Centre

Personal Counselling & Support Groups:

We will be training a number of volunteers to provide individual and group counselling on all personal issues related to being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans gendered.

HIV/AIDS Education & Support:

This extensive project deals with a range of issues and services for the LGBT community including Awareness workshops; HIV+ counselling groups; HIV+ lifestyle workshops; HIV drug treatment; HIV Buddies.

Legal Advice Centre:

The Advice Centre assists LGBTs in taking up a range of issues from employment discrimination to immigration to human rights issues. Cases will be dealt with at the centre or be referred out.

Reading and Resource Centre:

A range of books, magazines, and videos are available for use at the Centre. We also plan to provide facilities for researchers.

Religious Project:

This project is currently limited to establishing a database of religious services available to the LGBT community.

Tourist Advice Project:

This will start up as a database for tourists of all LGBT friendly venues, spaces and activities in Durban. The project could grow into a tourist office for gay and lesbian visitors.

Other Projects & Activities:

Health, Sport, Social Events