| Abstract |
Triangle Project is a non-profit human rights organisation offering professional services to ensure the full realisation of constitutional and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, their partners and families. Triangle's three core services centre around Health & Support, Community Engagement & Empowerment and Research and Advocacy. They offer a wide range of services to the LGBTI community. These include a variety of health services, such as sexual health clinics, counselling, support groups, a helpline, public education and training services, community outreach and a library. The Triangle Project has its origins in an organization called GASA 6010, which was established in 1981 by a small group of gay men. In 1982, the organization set up a counselling and medical service site as well as a telephone helpline. In 1984, GASA 6010 began a service on HIV and AIDS related issues. GASA 6010 was one of the first organizations in the country to respond to the HIV and AIDS crisis, and assisted with prevention initiatives in gay bars and clubs. In 1985, the organization produced literature on HIV and AIDS which it distributed to all communities throughout South Africa. In 1989, a fundraising arm called ASET (Aids Support and Education Trust) was established. In 1994, ASET and the counselling service became independent from GASA 6010. ASET moved premises to a community centre, which was closer to public transport and could thus serve a potentially wider clientele. In that same year a meeting hosted by the Gay, Lesbian and Cross-dresser Forum brought together a diverse group of people from the Western Cape. At this two day meeting it was decided that ASET would be the forum to carry forward work on HIV and AIDS in the gay and lesbian communities of the Western Cape. From 1995, the organization focused on organizational processes and the objective of empowering gay and lesbian communities through health and development programmes. In 1996, the organization changed its name to Triangle Project to reflect the multi-faceted nature of its services. Triangle Project then established the first gay and lesbian health project in an African township in Cape Town. Today, Triangle Project is one of the largest LGBTI organizations in South Africa, offering a wide range of services. |
