Pride Paints SOWETO Pink
6 Oct 2008
Soweto Pride aims to highlight the plight of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people living in the townships and to promote coexistence between LGBTI people and civil society.
"It's about visibility and an opportunity to celebrate ourselves and our diversity as LGBTI people", Dawn Cavanagh, Director of FEW said.
Emphasising the importance of the venue for this pride, which precedes the popular annual Johannesburg Pride, she pointed out that it is located where real challenges facing the LGBTI community ensue.
On the other hand, Mpumi Mathabela, organiser and communications officer for FEW, said Soweto Pride is "a political project aimed at celebrating activism and resilience of black lesbian women in partnership with the LGBTI community, the women's movement and feminist formations in South Africa".
Mathabela added that Soweto Pride gives space for the black LGBTI community to celebrate both politically and socially in their own backyard. "Over the years, many black LGBTI people have found it hard to attend the Annual Johannesburg Pride because it is far and expensive for them to be part of it."
In the past, Soweto Pride had created a platform for LGBTI people to voice their concerns, showcasing their existence in society despite the challenges they endure. Although some choose not to be part of proceedings in fear of what might transpire, Mathabela confirmed that safety is guaranteed.
She further elucidated "I am expecting to see a large number of people for the event, not only at the park but for the march as well. People are very reluctant to come out because they think they might get attacked but we have the support of the SAPS and the march has been safe over the past three years."
The Forum for the Empowerment of Women has been organizing this momentous event since its inception in 2005, also gaining support from other LGBTI organisations over the years.
"We've received enormous support from other LGBTI organisations in terms of solidarity and being present at our event, not forgetting our core donor, Atlantic Philanthropies.
This year we call on Human Rights organisations to come out and support the event", she said.
In spite of increasing rates of hate crimes geared towards LGBTI people in Soweto, their pride and legacy lives on and the Soweto Pride March continues to celebrate their pride and existence.
