Premium Content:

South Africa Appoints Lesbian Cabinet Minister

south-africa-flag

Lynne Brown has been appointed the position of South Africa’s Minister of Public Enterprises, making her the country’s first openly gay cabinet minister.

- Advertisement -

The role is the highest-profile held by an openly gay person in Africa.

Last week, South Africa gained its first openly gay black member of parliament when Zakhele Mbhele was elected.

Gay political author Eusebius McKaiser made these comments to the Guardian:

“It is, sadly, probably newsworthy, I guess, insofar as the social impact of openly gay people in high-profile public leadership positions cannot be discounted in a country like South Africa where levels of homophobia, including violence against black lesbian women, remain rife.”

Steven Friedman, director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy told the Guardian he thought that Brown’s appointment as South Africa’s first openly gay cabinet minister was “worth drawing attention to.”

“She’s not a gay rights campaigner – it’s not recognition in that sense – but the fact that under the most socially conservative president since 1994 there is the first openly gay minister in such a position is significant.”

Latest

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Bibliophile | ‘The Warrumbar’ tells a story of Australia’s haves and have-nots

The year was 1969 when thirteen year-old Robbie rode three miles to high school, with one sister sitting on the handle bars.

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.