THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Among other things, the trans person’s neighbor, Wilna van Staden, would call her neighbor “it”, routinely tell people of the trans person’s gender change, circulated a petition to get the trans person evicted, and invited visitors to watch her trans neighbor over the bordering fence.
After complaints to the housing management and the police failed to curtail the neighbor’s harassment, the trans person’s attorney took van Staden to court.
Earlier this year South African Magistrate M J Thobela ruled van Staden’s behavior amounted to unfair discrimination and hate speech. Thobela ordered van Staden to pay damage for moving expenses, for the pain, suffering and humiliation she endured as well as counseling expenses. Thobela cited the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000 as the basis for the decision.
The trans person’s attorney Michal Johnson: “People have been allowed to say what they wanted to vulnerable groups of our society for far too long without suffering the consequences. The ruling sent out a clear message that the act afforded protection to victims of hate speech and that the courts would enforce their constitutional rights.”
[Trigger warning!] Transsexual triumphs over abusive neighbour – Crime & Courts | IOL News | IOL.co.za.
———
You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html