The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng has been criticised for her involvement in hosting an online seminar about the LGBTQIA+ community.
The seminar titled, “What does science says about LGBTQA+” came under fire by the Gender Diversity Coalition, who claims that the seminar has caused harm to trans and intersex persons and their families who feel the “daily violence of medical and pathologised diagnosis”, that have no positive outcome on their lives, IOL reports.
Urologist, Dr Kgomotso Mathabe and a member of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s Gender clinic centered their discussions around intersex babies, gays, lesbians and transgender persons while Mathabe was reportedly quoted as saying “intersex is a condition that is potentially life-threatening”.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Phakeng has apologised, indicating that she will meet with the LGBTQIA+ community in sessions over the next few weeks in an effort to learn and understand.
The University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng on Friday released an unreserved, unqualified apology to the LGBTQIA+ community after a session she hosted on Sunday. Read more: https://t.co/o91zCLzsJf pic.twitter.com/EiXSBKEvBW
— UCT (@UCT_news) September 10, 2021
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery