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The Aversion Project: Human Rights Abuses of Gays and Lesbians in The Human rights abuses of gays and lesbians in the South African Defence Force by health workers during the apartheid era Mikki van Zyl Jeanelle de Gruchy Sheila Lapinsky Simon Lewin Graeme Reid Simply Said for Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Equality Gay and Lesbian Archives Health and Human Rights Project Centre & DONE for Epidemiological Research in Southern Africa, South African Medical Research Council THE AVERSION PROJECT Human rights abuses of gays and lesbians in the South African Defence Force by health workers during the apartheid era DEDICATION We dedicate this project to all the people who shared their experiences with us— whether victims, family, friends or lovers—and those who survived in spite of having their basic human rights violated. In particular, we think of the man known as Neil in this report, who died tragically the week before the report went into print. We also think of all those who suffered abuses at the hands of health workers in the armed forces, but whose voices are not represented here. THE AVERSION PROJECT Human rights abuses of gays and lesbians in the SADF by health workers during the apartheid era. by Mikki van Zyl Jeanelle de Gruchy Sheila Lapinsky Simon Lewin Graeme Reid Funded by: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Additional support by: Simply Said and Done Gay and Lesbian Archives Health and Human Rights Project Medical Research Council Published by: Simply Said and Done on behalf of Gay and Lesbian Archives Health and Human Rights Project Medical Research Council National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality Cape Town October 1999 ISBN 0-620-24876-9 © Van Zyl, De Gruchy, Lapinsky, Lewin, Reid, 1999. Simply Said and Done. 54 Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town 8001. Email: [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our deepest thanks go to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust for funding the project. The project was also supported in different ways, financially and in kind by Simply Said and Done, the Medical Research Council, the Health and Human Rights Project and the Gay and Lesbian Archives of South Africa. Jeanelle de Gruchy, Sheila Lapinsky, Simon Lewin and Graeme Reid developed the original research question and wrote the research protocol. Mikki van Zyl undertook the fieldwork, primary data analysis and drafted the final report. All the authors participated in the interpretation of the data and editing of the report. We would further like to thank the following people for their contributions—in a variety of ways and at different stages—to the project: Merrick Zwarenstein; Jim Welsh; Judith van Heerden; Hester van der Walt; Sam Pattenden; Laurie Nathan; Ineke Meulenberg-Buskens; Tony Mbewu; Alistair Martin; Leslie London; Annie Leatt; Gerald Kraak; Charl Hattingh; Mary Hames; Jackie Cock; Gavin Cawthra; Debbie Bradshaw; Laurel Baldwin. We thank Karen Martin and S’fiso Mthembu from GALA, and Michelle Pickover from the Historical Papers at Wits; and Sylvia Louw (MRC) who helped throughout the project, but particularly in organising the workshop. Thanks also goes to Janine Rauch for giving us access to her primary research data. All the people from Triangle Project gave their enthusiastic support and helped in a number of ways to publicise the project. François Loots spent many hours helping with editing. Finally, Pauline Mitchell gave tirelessly of her time throughout the research by contributing her administrative, financial, editing and proof-reading skills, and Hali provided much needed diversions during the final writing of the report. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS ABSTRACT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction..............................................................................................i Project Aims ............................................................................................i Research Design.................................................................................... ii Homosexuality in the Context of the Times ............................................v Summary of Recommendations ............................................................ vi Conclusions..........................................................................................viii PART I : BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY How the Research Project Started .........................................................1 Subject and Scope of the Research .......................................................2 Approach................................................................................................3 CHAPTER 2. THE STUDY DESIGN The Project Team...................................................................................5 Rationale ................................................................................................6 Project Aims ...........................................................................................7 Disjunction between Research in Theory and in Practice.......................7 Limitations ..............................................................................................8 Definitions...............................................................................................9 Methods and Research Tools...............................................................10 Research Ethics: Confidentiality and Consent......................................12 Data Analysis .......................................................................................13 Methodological Issues..........................................................................17 PART II : HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARMED FORCES CHAPTER 3. CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW: HOMOSEXUALITY IN CONTEXT The Construction of Homosexuality as Deviance .................................19 Medical Discourse ................................................................................24 Militarism—Gender and Sexuality ........................................................29 The Militarisation of South Africa..........................................................31 The Indefensible Policy of Apartheid ....................................................35 Medical Policy in the SAMS..................................................................39 Struggles for Control of Conceptual Space ..........................................41 Homosexuality is Here to Stay .............................................................43 CHAPTER 4. FINDINGS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS BY HEALTH WORKERS Policy on Homosexuality in the Armed Forces .....................................45 Experiencing Homosexuality in the Armed Forces ...............................49 Psychiatry in the SADF.........................................................................60 Working in the SAMS ...........................................................................62 Conversion Therapy .............................................................................66 Consequences .....................................................................................79 Findings................................................................................................90 PART III : THE WAY FORWARD CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION: SOLUTIONS OFFERED Ethical Issues .......................................................................................93 Systems of Accountability.....................................................................98 SANDF—Appropriate Policy...............................................................101 CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY: RECOMMENDATIONS SANDF ...............................................................................................106 The SAMS..........................................................................................107 HPCSA and Health Professional Organisations.................................108 Sustaining the Momentum of the Project............................................108 Final Word ..........................................................................................109 SOURCES CONSULTED Books and Journals............................................................................110 Resister Magazine..............................................................................115 Press Cuttings ....................................................................................116 Internet ...............................................................................................117 Video Material ....................................................................................118 Archival materials ...............................................................................118 APPENDICES A. Key questions—Semi-structured Interviews...............................121 B. Information Sheet for Interviewees ...........................................123 Inligting vir Informante................................................................124 C. Consent Form ............................................................................125 Toestemming .............................................................................127 D. Workshop Agenda .....................................................................129 E. Publicity Information...................................................................130 F. Brochure Information .................................................................131 G. Resister Article Reprint ..............................................................132 TABLE Conscription for White Males................................................................37
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