I’ll be heading up to London this morning, to cast my vote in South Africa’s May 7th election - the 20th anniversary of our first democratic election, in 1994. (Saffers abroad get to vote seven days early, so that our votes may be counted along with all others on election night).

This looks to be one of the most important, and interesting, elections since, and has been commanding much of my attention recently, so I could hardly miss this statement by Helen Zille, leader of the Democratic Alliance, “Madiba taught us that freedom is a process, not an event. We have a responsibility to keep the promise of our nation’s founders”. We need to be reminded of this: it is undeniably true that in so many ways, the country is far, far better now than it was in the bad old days of apartheid and extreme inequality. On the other hand, it is also undeniable that much of the early promise and excitement of democratic equality remains unfulfilled, tainted by rampant corruption, lack of accountability, and an ANC failure to distinguish between national interest and their own. That’s why I’ll be giving up my time, and travel costs, to add my vote today. On 27th April 1994, I stood in the open under a warm Johannesburg sun for six hours, queuing to cast my vote. I’m hoping that I won’t have the same delay today, but I’ll do it if necessary. (In an English April, I’m confident there won’t be a problem with heat).

But for my readers here at QTC, for most of whom South African domestic politics is of little concern, Mandela’s statement is also of profound relevance. For LGBT people, and for queer Christians, it is equally true that freedom is a process, not an event.

There has been much to be excited about, in recent years. The advance of marriage and family equality has been breathtaking, in Europe and the America’s. Also notable, has been the advances in protection against workplace discrimination, in government legislation (in the UK), in local ordinances in many US cities, and in corporate practice by many major employers.

In church, the rise of openly gay and lesbian pastors has been remarkable, even in leadership positions. Some churches continue to fight against same - sex marriage, but others lobby for it, celebrate it when it passes, conduct gay weddings in church, or where this is not possible, conduct church blessings for same - sex couples. In the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has shifted the tone of the debate, so that in Vatican concerns about the threats to marriage, the desire of same - sex couples to tie the knot no longer features.

And yet, and yet!

The very success of equality in some regions, has provoked severe backlash in others, notably in Africa. Unable any longer to prevent gay marriage at home, some rabidly anti - gay “Christians” have taken their message of hatred to Africa, successfully stoking the flames of homophobia. Catholic bishops, and other African religious leaders, have tragically celebrated the bigots success in getting increasingly stringent legislation. In some US states, resistance to protection from anti-gay discrimination, has resulted in some politicians’ attempts to relabel such protections as discrimination against Christians - and so attempt to enshrine an alleged right to discriminate against sexual and gender minorities, into state law.

“La luta continua”, as we used to say in South Africa in the bad old days, borrowing a slogan from the liberation war in neighbouring Mozambique.

There remains a long way to go, in law and in the Church, in countries of the North, and of the global South. There will be advances, and setbacks - but progress overall, will continue to advance. With every setback, let us remember, and take comfort from the South African hero of reconciliation:

Freedom is a process, not an event.

Related articles

• Nelson Mandela’s Impact On Gay Rights Discussed By South African Journalist Mark Gevisser (huffingtonpost.com)
• Elections dominates Freedom Day (iol.co.za)