Simon Nkoli

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Simon Tseko Nkoli (26 November 1957 – 30 November 1998) was a South African anti-apartheid, gay rights, and AIDS activist. His anti-apartheid activism as an openly gay man influenced the African National Congress (ANC) to publicly support gay rights and to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the South African constitution. He organised South Africa's first pride march and was one of the first Black South Africans to disclose that he was living with HIV/AIDS. In his activism, he utilised visibility as a tactic and spoke about the relationship between multiple forms of discrimination. His death from AIDS-related illness influenced fellow activists to establish the Treatment Action Campaign which successfully lobbied the government to expand access to HIV treatment. Born in Soweto, Nkoli lived with his grandparents in Orange Free State for several years and later moved in with his mother in Sebokeng. Nkoli first became involved in anti-apartheid activism as a high school...

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