Rocker Nakhane Touré says being gay in SA can get life-threatening

South African rock artist Nakhane Touré says that being gay in South Africa can get life-threatening.

“It can be a really oppressive environment,” said the openly gay singer to website Queerty.

“In some instances it can get life-threatening.”

Coming from a family that is part of chiefdom in the Eastern Cape, he said traditional masculinity and sexuality is not only expected “but preached incessantly”.

Though his family is open-minded, he said: “Other families may not be as open-minded… Which is why I think many LGBT people in the Eastern Cape have remained closeted.”

Touré said: “It’s easy to throw stones when the person is so far away, but when it’s personal, when it’s your own child, you look at things differently and you realise that maybe some things that you believed about a certain group of people are not necessarily true.”

He told the gay agenda publication that different musicians and artists in South Africa don’t have the confidence to come out.

“I know for a fact that I’m not the only one. Hopefully with this support, more will find the courage to come out.”