Ekurhuleni Pride to be hosted in Tembisa
The dialogue will chronicle gender-based violence and intimate partner violence in LGBTI relationships
The Ekurhuleni Pride Organising Committee (EPOC) will host the 10th Ekurhuleni Pride in Tembisa.
According to the director of EPOC, Ntsupe Mohapi, since its inception in 2008, the event has grown to attract lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people from across the region.
“This year the event will celebrate 10 years of activism through community voices and advocate for peace and security of LGBTI people in Ekurhuleni. The event has become the hallmark of LGBTI events and one of the big Pride events in the Gauteng province, attracting upwards of 3 000 people,” said Mohapi.
This year’s event will be hosted at Motsu Park in Tembisa on September 8 and will start at 10am until 6pm.
The theme of the event is “Traditional Wear (We are Africans)” and the slogan is “Fighting HIV, STIs, TB and Gender-based Violence”.
The event will include a dialogue that features the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) deputy chairperson, Steve Letsike, and TV host Reverend Tebo Moema.
The dialogue will chronicle gender-based violence and intimate partner violence in LGBTI relationships.
The day will end with a picnic and some performances from emerging LGBTI artists.
Mohapi added Ekurhuleni Pride was born out of a march which took place after the murders and rapes of lesbian women in Kwa Thema, Gauteng.
“Eudy Simelane and Girly Nkosi were both brutally killed in their respective sections in KwaThema and that called for an awareness campaign around the township.
“This march involved the LGBTI community, the victim’s families, the community at large and other stakeholders in KwaThema and neighbouring townships and attracted 150 people,” said Mohapi.
Ekurhuleni Pride has been hosted in various parts of the region – KwaThema, Vosloorus, Germiston and Tsakane.
