Pride for the people
BRAAMFONTEIN - A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, queer pride event unlike any Johannesburg has seen in many a year has been planned for September and October.
Johannesburg People’s Pride was launched at Constitution Hill in August, with the aim of building solidarity, social cohesion and partnerships among individuals, socio-economic classes, racial/ethnic groups, civil society and government, movements and social issues.
According to Carrie Shelver, one of the forces behind Johannesburg People’s Pride, “Among those invested in changing Pride to reflect the concerns and demands of the disempowered majority, there is a conviction that only by working together can we all move forward.”
Shelver said the key objectives were to build solidarity with other Prides, to “educate communities about the struggles that shape a range of experiences of being queer in South Africa”, to honour queer Africans’ contributions and resilience, to celebrate legislative freedoms, and to “articulate demands for furthering social justice for all.”
The activities planned for this year included discussion forums, skills building sessions, public art installations and a march for freedom and justice.
“Discussion forums will explore different themes and issues confronting LGBTIAQ communities, their families and allies. All the sessions will use visual and performing arts and other interactive methodologies,” said Shelver.
The skills building sessions will focus on the law and knowing one’s rights.
Shelver said the temporary and permanent art installations planned were developed through “inclusive and collective exchanges between artists and individuals… depict the struggles, resistance, celebration and victories that make up LGBTIAQ people’s lives in Johannesburg.”
The 5 October march will start and end at Constitution Hill, with stops at various key sites en route.
“We believe the march should take place in those places where visibility is most needed, and in spaces that black lesbians and other marginalised LGBTIAQ individuals have to negotiate on a daily basis, not in relatively safe areas such as Rosebank,” said Shelver.
A series of day tours of Constitution Hill have been planned for the first week of September. On 15 September, “Go back to your lokshin”, a panel discussion, will take place at Pimville Library, and from 16 September until 4 October, a series of multimedia print workshops will be held in Ekurhuleni, Soweto and Johannesburg.
From 1 until 4 October, queer activists from around Africa will share their experiences of organising LGBTIAQ movements and Pride events.
Details: 082-817-0097; jhbpeoplespride@gmail.com
