Feather in cops' caps

30 September 2016 - 08:39 By GABI MBELE

What do Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Caster Semenya and the police's community safety officers have in common? They are all involved in the Feather Awards, which this year are part-activism and part-celebration of all things diva-esque.Announcing the nominees for the eighth annual event at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg yesterday, event co-founder Thami Kotlolo introduced Feather activists' involvement in the LGBTI community who have partnered with the Gauteng department of community safety to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people do not face discrimination at the province's 142 police stations.Gauteng community safety head Yoliswa Makhasi said her department was aware of the safety issues facing the LGBTI community, including young lesbian women being killed in some communities."It is important that our police are able to service everybody, including LGBTI, and that whoever comes to the police station gets quality service," said Makhasi."We have trained individuals in up to 40 police stations to deal with LGBTI."But there's also a lighter side to the awards. They will pay homage to some of the biggest drama queens and divas this side of the Limpopo.Struggle stalwart Madikizela-Mandela's timeless look at her recent 80th birthday celebration has earned her a nomination in the diva extraordinaire category, alongside news journalists Redi Tlhabi and Iman Rapetti...

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