JOBURG PRIDE REVEALS 20TH ANNIVERSARY THEME
Organisers of Joburg Pride, Africa’s oldest gay and lesbian event, have announced their theme for the 2009 event: YOU NEED PRIDE.
On this, the 20th anniversary of Joburg Pride, and the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the theme aims to highlight the importance of Pride – both historically and in today’s world.
“It’s a call to action for the LGBT community and all freedom-loving South Africans. It’s a reminder that we can never take our freedoms for granted and never be complacent,” said Joburg Pride Co-Chair Zak Mbhele.
“Pride is our community’s most visible day of the year – and it is one that we must treasure and ensure continues to make an impact.”
The broad board urged organisations, businesses and entertainment providers in Joburg and Gauteng to plan their gay-interest and gay-friendly events for the week preceding the Pride Day and Parade to ensure a week-long series of celebrations and cultural events which can be included in the 2009 Pride Calendar.
Co-Chair Tanya Harford emphasised that while funds were raised through last year’s highly successful event to carry the organisation through the coming months, fundraising and sponsorship for the 2009 event was an ongoing priority, made especially difficult in today’s harsh economic times.
The Board called on members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual community to play an active role in Joburg Pride, by contributing where and when they can to ensure that the event remains relevant and vibrant.
The 1990 Joburg Pride March was the first lesbian and gay pride parade to take place on the African continent. It was organised by the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand (GLOW) headed by the late legendary gay rights and anti-apartheid activist Simon Nkoli. Many of the participants wore brown paper bags over their head out of fear for their safety.
The event has taken place every year since then, making the 2009 Joburg Gay Pride Festival the 20th annual Pride event in the city. Today, Joburg Pride is organised by a Section 21 company run by a board of volunteers.
The 2009 Pride Day and Parade take place on Saturday 3rd October, once again at Zoo Lake Sports Club.
Theme. I think the theme is very weak and unintresting!! Always going backwards!!
Theme. I think the theme is appropriate; we are at a point where we need to take stock of where we have come from and not take the freedom we have achieved as a community for granted. The rights the LGBTI community in South Africa enjoys are unheard of even in what is considered first world countries. We live in an era of obscene fundamentalism and we need to show that we will protect the human rights we have come to enjoy. The threat of a reversal in sentiment is always there, and we cannot be complacent about it.
Theme. John, were you at the annual general meeting of the Pride organisers, where anyone is welcome (and that were advertised on THIS site a few weeks ago? No?
If you feel that Pride is getting weaker, why not put your money where your mouth is and actually get involved. You could have voiced your opinion on the theme there.
Why is it that the community is so very quick to criticize everything but nobody ever wants to get involved in the actual organising of things?
I’d say, if you feel that strong about something as little as the theme, then don’t attend. If you were at last year’s pride, you would have seen that it is actually getting stronger and much better than it ever was. Or perhaps, DO attend this year, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Reply…. Firstly everyone is entitled to their opinion, I don’t think majority of goers actually really care about the theme, just about the party. If you look at Mm comments. Secondly, i have tried to get involved but you have to part of clique in order to get even recognised. I think the theme should have been put to a vote to the whole gay community, talk about getting everyone involved and not just a bunch of people who think they are the gay rulers of the Gay and lesbians in JHB. You talk about myself getting involved, why not get everyone involved by putting up certian themes on different gay sites and asking the public to vote.
What is the real meaning of “Pride needs you”, if you ask me it’s the same as Kylies song your disco needs you. Not original at all! Sorry My opinion and mine alone! For most gay guys it’s just one hell of party!!
Ok. Point taken about the votes and the cliques, but you know as well as I do that even if they DID put it out for a vote, and one won, there would be just as many people bitching about the theme. What I am trying to say is, who cares about the theme, the fact that we can HAVE this day is reason enough to support it, and do recognise that there are some people that makes an effort to host and organise the thing.
K. I totally agree with you and i never put down the reason why we have pride. To me the theme is just as important. I have been to London Pride and you don’t understand how seriously people take the theme and it’s just not the theme, it’s everything. I wonder if any of the organisers have been to another pride? I do agree that there will be bitching if people had to vote but at least there will be a vote. It frustrates me that there a handful of people that sit there and actually decide what good for the community. There is no involvement and we in the community just accept it!
Anywho! Pride is there for what it is!
Yeah. The LGBT event of the year!!! Can’t wait. If it is anything like last year, it can only be great!!
Just one suggestion, how about a massive afterparty (perhaps in a tent) on the grounds afterwards?
http://www.joburgpride.co.za. Oh, why is the OFFICIAL website not updated yet?