Keep calm and make friends 2
The question I hear the most is "how can I make friendships with other gay people?" Unfortunately, the so-called 'dating' and 'people-meeting' websites and apps are filled with people who are interested in nothing but sex. Here are some better suggestions that may help you to make friends with other gay people.

7 easy ways make gay friends and meet people

Picture with guy not knowing what to do
Here is what one of my readers wrote... I was married for 4 years and have an 18 year old daughter. I came out at 30 when I met an amazing guy. We have been together now for almost 18 years and the relationship has started to become, well... sort of boring.

Confused gay boy

The Other Me book cover 2
"The Other Me" by Suzanne van Rooyen. As I read this book, I realised that it is a book like no other. The book is truly South African, and captures the culture of South African teenagers very well. But the thing I found so fascinating was how it deals with real human issues so well. Not just drama issues such as crime and violence that we hear about all the time in South Africa, but real human emotions - the ones we don't easily share with others.

Review: The Other Me (Suzanne van Rooyen)

Blood donation 7
Gay men in South Africa are now allowed to donate blood. Previously, men who had sex with men in the previous 6 months were banned from blood donation. The new rules align gay and straight people, and require only that blood donors are in a monogamous relationship.

Ban on ‘gay blood donation’ lifted

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A guest post from a reader: A gay guy who comes from a family where homosexuality is forbidden, raised only by his mum, aunties and a grandma, causing an effeminate mannerism.

My other side – an effeminate gay man

Anti-gay Uganda flag
The Ugandan anti-gay laws are an embarrassment to Africa. We are trying to put Africa forward as an innovative, developing continent. But yet our neighbours keep pulling us a few steps backward.

Ugandan anti-gay laws

South Africa Flag 4
On paper, South Africa is one of the best places to be if you are gay. South Africa's constitution outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation (we were the first in the world to do so in constitution), and gay people in South Africa are legally allowed to marry (we were the fifth country in the world to allow this). Those are two things to be very proud of.

What it means to be gay in South Africa

Heart in Milky Way
Valentine's Day is the highlight of the year for some, a commercial waste of time for others, and a very lonely day for a few. You really should try to do something nice - it will make you feel great. There's nothing wrong with spicing up your life a bit.

Valentine’s day ideas

Parent and child 1
So you have just found that your son (daughter) is gay. Perhaps he was brave enough to come out and tell you, or perhaps you found out by some other means. These are my views on the top 10 questions or thoughts you might have as a parent to a gay child.

Top 10 thoughts of a parent of a gay child

Coming out 3
As a young coloured South African, I grew up in a relatively small community where homosexuality was often stereotyped and often "spat" on. I was always teased about being the skinny gay boy and I ended up being shy and it was a nightmare just to come out of the house at times.

Gay thoughts: Why me?

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My friend came out to his parents and they want to write him off... we want to know if there are any laws that state that they should pay his university studies and living costs... he is a 1st year student at North west university... please help us with any info and acts.

Homophobia: Parents cutting you off

Tribute to the South African gay Icon Simon Nkoli 1
Simon Tseko Nkoli was an anti-apartheid, gay rights and AIDS activist in South Africa. Nkoli was born in Soweto in a seSotho-speaking family. He grew up on a farm in the Free State and his family later moved to Sebokeng.

Tribute to Simon Nkoli

Wentworth Miller of "Prison Break" gives a heartfelt message about his coming out. This was a speech at the Human Rights Campaign. He reminds people what it is like to be a gay kid, and talks about how he really tried to kill himself.

Wentworth Miller’s Coming Out Story