Headlines
SOWETO PREPARES FOR 8TH PRIDE MARCH
Tue, 25 September 2012
Hundreds of activists and LGBTI people will descend onto the streets of Soweto, White City Jabavu this Saturday 29 September for the 8th gay and lesbian Soweto Pride March.
The event provides LGBTI South Africans, especially those living in the townships, an opportunity to voice their frustrations over rampant homophobia and discrimination experienced by this community.
The theme for this year's march is "Enforcing our existence: Give homophobia the red card".
The organisers, the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), said that the theme was decided on "because of the context of violence in which we as minority groups of LGBTI in South Africa" live.
They pointed out that during just a two month period this year, ten LGBTI south Africans had been murdered.
The marchers will gather from 8.30 a.m. at Credo Muthwa Park, where the procession will start at 10 a.m. and also end at around 12 p.m.
"This is a day we take back our streets of Soweto as gays and lesbians who are proudly black South Africans," said FEW.
"We are past the stance of asking for our human rights, we march to demand that these murders, rapes and abuse against women and children must end," they said.
FEW called on those who support "human rights for all" to join them in the march to voice their anger against the spreading violence and discrimination; "to say enough is enough! we demand a safe country for all".
The march will be followed by a political and cultural programme, including a “battle of the lesbian DJs,” until 6 p.m.
There will also be stalls at the park, including those offering HIV testing and counselling. Participants can bring camping chairs and picnic baskets.
For more information, please contact Phindi Malaza on 011 403 1906/7, 073 240 6049 or phindim@few.org.za.
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