Pride gears up for second Sandton event

Johannesburg Pride spokesperson Simone Heradien spoke to this reporter about how the committee’s plans for the event were coming along.

“Organising [this year’s event] has become more streamlined [because of] lessons learned from Pride 2013, including a respected, reciprocal working relationship with the city council and in particular its City Parks division which came through with incredible support,” she said.

While last year’s event attracted several thousand people, it was a smaller event than previous Prides in Joburg, but Heradien said the response to this year’s event had, thus far, been “phenomenal”.

“The spike to thousands of followers on the Johannesburg Pride Facebook page is just one clear indication [of this]. More sponsors are always welcome,” she said.

For Heradien, the biggest highlight of this year’s event will be its inclusivity.

“[It] is a pride for all – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and queer [LGBTIAQ], as well as straight significant others, friends, family, and acquaintances [Soffas],” she said.

“A pivotal highlight [is] the parade; a short 4km walk through Sandton, highlighting our celebration of freedom while drawing attention to respective LGBTIAQ challenges [and celebrating] support from Soffas.”

Last year, the committee received some criticism about holding the event in ‘elitist, inaccessible’ Sandton; criticisms Heradien was quick to counter.

“The opposite is, indeed, the truth. It has mushroomed into a pivotal public transport node of Gauteng, accessible to all,” she said.

“Apart from the Gautrain, it hosts a bustling taxi rank, while public buses [used by the historically disadvantaged] traverse the node. [It] remains a pivotal node for the residents of Alexandra.”

She said she hoped that the event’s new location of Mushroom Farm Park would provide even greater visibility and accessibility.

This year’s entertainment line-up includes Ibiza-based DJ, Ian Credible, and local DJs The Duchess, DJ Skye, and DJ Karma.

The crowd will also be entertained by comedian and programme director Kellyn Coetzee.

Heradien said she hoped that if people took away one message from this year’s event, it would be the event’s theme, I am human.

“We all belong to the species of homosapiens,” she said.

“We are one, whether LGBTIAQ or straight. We all remain human.”

Johannesburg Pride will take place on 25 October at Mushroom Farm Park, 8 Royal Ascot Lane, Sandton, from 10am.

Details: www.johannesburgpride.co.za; simone@johannesburgpride.co.za