JOBURG CITY SUPPORTS PRIDE

The route for the Johannesburg Lesbian and Gay Pride March has been approved by the Metro Police Department and the City of Joburg has confirmed its support in supplying essential services for the March to be staged.

The Pride March will take place on Saturday 24th September, commencing at Constitution Hill and ending at the New Heartlands for the Mardi Gras. The March, which is traditionally the pivot around which all the other activities revolve, will be a culmination of a week’s long schedule of activities primarily centred at the Hill which is being facilitated by Forum for the Empowerment for Women, OUT from Pretoria, and Behind the Mask.

“It was essential for us to achieve the permission from the Joburg Metro Police Department for the route in terms of road closures and demarcation,” said Paul Tilly, Joburg Pride Co-ordinator. “The City of Joburg has demonstrated its support for the bid to host the Gay Games here in 2010 and acknowledges that Pride’s continuity and role are essential to illustrate the ongoing participation between public entities and the LGBTI community.”

“Johannesburg Lesbian and Gay Pride is essential to demonstrate that Johannesburg can host the 2010 Federation of Gay Games,” said James Mathias, Co-Chair of the Johannesburg Gay Games 2010 Bid Committee.

“Johannesburg Pride is the largest gathering of LGBTI people at any one time on the African continent, and by virtue of this it is a platform for variety of other LGBTI organisations, human rights based organisations and gender-based organisations to dialogue and communicate issues surrounding and affecting our sector,” said Paul Tilly.