ABSTRACT
Mixed methodologies were used to get a deeper understanding of the opportunities for and barriers to increasing political participation amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual, Trans, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) persons. This chapter provides an overview of LGBTIQ human rights in South Africa and follows with a summary of the research findings to conclude with some lessons and key recommendations pertaining to the mechanisms needed to promote LGBTIQ political participation in the country and perhaps in Africa. Interviews with civil society and political parties reflected the changing political landscape of South Africa since it became a democracy. The chapter shows the active participation of LGBTIQ individuals and organizations in South Africa’s democratic culture and the influence that they wield in the future with more political leadership within Democratic Party system. The respondents identified that political participation can have downsides, however, there was also a sense that these downsides could be mitigated through partnering, planning, and understanding political cycles.
