WE’RE ALL AFRICANS: JOBURG PRIDE 2010
Joburg is set to celebrate diversity and promote equality for all Africans! Joburg Pride, the largest and oldest gay and lesbian event on the African continent, will be celebrating its 21st birthday on Saturday 2nd October 2010 at Zoo Lake Sports Club, supported by Tang Sour Apple, Power Play, OUT and 94.7.
The Joburg Pride Board calls on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and supporters of the community to take part. Bring your family, friends and pets to celebrate our sexual diversity and freedoms in a fabulous and memorable day of celebration.
The 2010 Pride Parade, featuring a host of colourful floats and thousands of revellers, will kick off from Zoo Lake Sports Club at 10am through the streets of Rosebank. Participants should note that this is an hour earlier than in previous years – so make sure you get there on time!
Refreshment points for marchers will be provided along the route. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed in the Parade and participants are reminded to wear sunscreen and a hat or cap.
Marchers return back to Zoo Lake Sports Club at around 11.30am for the rest of the Pride Day festivities until 5pm. Revellers will be entertained by local artists and DJS as well as a teaser performance and appearance by British pop-star and DJ Sonique, who will perform with her dancers at the Official Joburg Pride After-party later that night at the Standard Bank Arena.
Besides the entertainment there will also be Pride stalls – with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale – bars, food and a kiddies’ play area. LGBT organisations such as OUT will be informing the public about their work and will provide services such as free on-the-spot HIV testing.
Attendees should note that no drink, food or related containers will be allowed into the venue. Joburg Pride, which is a not-for-profit organisation and generates income to put on the free event in large part through the sale of food and drinks on the day, requests the understanding of the public in this regard.
Special VIP Clubhouse tickets, giving guests exclusive access to a dedicated bar area and toilet facilities are on sale for R75 per person. To book contact natasha@joburgpride.org. Tickets are selling fast!
The gates at Zoo Lake Sports Club open at 8am. Entrance is free and everyone is invited! Joburg Pride 2010 is supported by Tang Sour Apple, Power Play, OUT and 94.7. For more info visit www.joburgpride.org.
We’re all African…
Highlighting the deteriorating human rights landscape for LGBT people across Africa, Joburg Pride 2010 will be reminding the continent’s people, politicians and religious leaders that: We’re ALL African.
The ‘We’re ALL African’ theme is a call for LGBT Africans to affirm and assert their African-ness. Sexual diversity is a normal aspect of the human spectrum and Joburg Pride wants this to be accepted on the continent as part of its rich tapestry of cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity.
“No longer should we allow certain leaders to use sexual diversity as a scapegoat to obscure their failings or for religious fundamentalists to impose their beliefs on others. Defending and upholding the human rights of LGBT people in Africa is and should be a cornerstone of practising the philosophy of ubuntu/botho,” says Joburg Pride Co Chair Zak Mbhele.
“A wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent” wrote Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in The Washington Post in March, a state of affairs which he described as “terrible backward steps for human rights in Africa.”
Adds Mbhele: “We intend to dispel the absurd and false notion that homosexuality is ‘un-African’ or is somehow ‘imported’ from Europe, when in fact it is most anti-gay laws in Africa that are colonial creations.”
The Official Joburg Pride After-party
British pop-star and DJ Sonique, powered by Cintron Liquid Energy, will perform at the world-class Standard Bank Arena on Saturday October 2nd for the Joburg Pride Official After-party, taking place on the night of the 21st Annual Joburg Pride Parade and Day.
The after-party will see the chart-topping Sonique not only performing some of her hit tracks, but also delivering a two-hour DJ set that is guaranteed to set the dance-floor alight. Sonique – who won the 2001 BRIT Award for British female solo artist – is brought to Joburg Pride by new energy drink Cintron Liquid Energy.
An all-gay line-up of DJs is set to support Sonique at the Official Joburg Pride After-party! These include: DJ Shawn (Q-Bar), a live PA by Zed, DJ Herman (Legends, Ramp Divas), DJ Ari (Navigation, Cape Town) and DJs Twisted Sistas (Diva’s on Deck). Plus 94.7’s Vin Deysel will introduce Sonique!
The Official Joburg Pride After-party will include a luxurious and exclusive Cintron VIP Lounge overlooking the stunning dance-floor and stage, with dedicated bar and toilet facilities, a women-only room and bar, as well as a men-only section dubbed “The Locker Rooms”. Click here for information on buying tickets.
Joburg Pride Week
The days ahead of the annual Joburg Pride Parade will see a number of independent Pride themed events organised by gay-friendly and gay-owned businesses and venues. There will also be various events at gay bars and clubs – all culminating in the parade and a variety of post-parade after-parties around Gauteng, including the Official Joburg Pride After-party. A schedule of Pride Week events will be available on www.joburgpride.org in the coming days.
YEAH!!!. I love Pride time of year, think its going to be great this year!
I just wish there where more things like this inbetween. SEE YALL THERE!!!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo!. Agree with Gizmo, Pride time is definitely one of my highlights of the year! Can’t wait.
Woohoo!. Agree with Gizmo, Pride time is definitely one of my highlights of the year! Can’t wait.
Woohoo!. Agree with Gizmo, Pride time is definitely one of my highlights of the year! Can’t wait.
Woohoo!. Agree with Gizmo, Pride time is definitely one of my highlights of the year! Can’t wait.
BAD VENUE. I don’t mean to be negative, but who wants to go dancing in ellis park?
Shhhttt…. Hi dude, Please not haters on Pride…
*wink* lol
Construction. Well, the Factory’s right around the corner… They’ll probably do a ROARING business that night
LOL. Well there is the silver lining then. hahahahaah
Pride 21 After Party. To the committee members, Chairpersons and Board Members,
Surely by now you should have selected the venue with great expertise for partygoers and knowing the diverse critical community we have, a tried and tested venue for this annual event would have had at least the attendance numbers there .
My expertise say that the venue may be too large for small numbers, decor layout, sound may be a major problem and the image of being down town with the fear of anticipated crime. It may have worked if all the other so called mini after parties and clubs were brought onboard for early planning and buy in by all was made to participate in making it a success and also financially viability. It has got to do with a business model for participation of shareholding for the main party with their club members to create a high standard that we are so all wanting to have. After all we are always trying to benchmark ourselves against New York, Sydney and Mexico Prides. There are at least five after parties at various venues and clubs and in order for a OFFICIAL GAY PRIDE PARTY to host say average of 6-7 thousand participants to attend one party, it would be imperative that all the other clubs support this event. After all this could be seen by the community and committee as the party to pay for those HUGE operating expenses bills at Pride Day at Zoo Lake. In going forward for 2011 I trust the Chairperson with the committee would set about an early participation scheme, say Ramp Divas, Fire Ball, Lemon8, Simply Blue and all other parties to support an OFFICIAL YEAR END PARTY to have a Barnum effect for the diversity of our community both black and white, various taste entertainment, dance floors and to actively seek in getting any current star quality celebrity. This is a task that could be defined as getting the Arab Tribes to sit down and talk.
The financial success, sponsorship increasing the numbers and quality of the event will definitely be seen as an Annual event marked on the calender.
Note that the South African Tourism and Local Tourism Johannesburg office and Corporate sponsors would be gladly supportive if we got a united community to celebrate one day of social political economic and diversity issues and our proud constitution.
Striving for an Africanization of a Pride going forward to another 21 years.
Regards
Yusoof Abdullah
Agreed. Funny enough. I agree with what you say. It would be lovely if all the clubs could stand together once a year and all the fairies to have a huge party together.
I hope this could be acheaved next time!
unity is the objective?. Yusoof I agree with you on every point, and I do also remember the days when the pride committee tried to make the after party as inclusive as possible.
While there were huge problems in those days – and I have been very supportive of the current pride board,
i think this year has been the most divisive i have ever seen.
The pride board on an all out competition with the existing gay clubbing industry!
You are also correct in saying with proper planning this situation could have been avoided.
So the community is completely split into small factions – is that accomplishing anything?
Very disappointed , but working on creating a fab safe event at The Warehouse Complex with Firemans Ball and Discotec..
Maybe things will be less political next year – hope so..
Love to you always Yusoof , Stuart..x
Too big. I am entitled to my opinion I would love to support the non profit pride party but the venue will make the party feel lost – because it is simply too huge, and corporate – to create a party atmosphere..
Load of bull. Excuse me, the only people I see having a problem with the party are the club owners – hardly dividing the entire gay community. Dudes – you do not represent the gay community – just a small subsection. Check your egos at the door. And stop trying to confuse your financial concerns with the concerns of the community. You make money all year long off the gay community. On Pride you should close your clubs for the one night and give back by supporting Pride. Shame on all of you for trying to confuse the public when all you are worried about is how much money you can make or lose on Pride! Shame, shame, shame!
a-greed. There will always be those who find fault. (venue too big, not safe etc – but is it really?)But why not take the opportunity to enjoy an alternative to the usual Saturday night sameness? Sonique is a fabulous DJ and great performer. What if anything special are the clubs offering for Pride? The Firemans Ball last year was a shambles with crappy bar service and bad attitude. Time to give THAT concept a break. Stop bitching, bitches
Bullshite. You sound like one of these Pride board members!
Judgement day awaits you, and the truth shall be revealed!
Pride 21 After Party. If only Rupert could read with insight comprehension . Re mt article .
Yusoof
what makes the pride comittee so exceptional at deciding on peoples tastes and choices – who died and made them God – Who decide that Sonique would be the perfect choice – who did they consult about this afterparty – After all look at the DJ line up who is the entertainment directed to – so I think that whilst inclusivity of all the clubs would not have been a bad idea but it would even then at the end of it all only been entertainment for a specific gay rather than for all gays – so Freedom of choice is the bottom line with less bickering.
STRAIGHT WOMAN. They just sommer decided!
I hear that a certain member on the board instigated this whole thing with a well known promoter from UK/Greece.
Sonique has no connection to ‘Gay culture’..
I had a good giggle when they started advertising that she would be supported by an ‘all gay dj line up’
Even her back up dancers are straight, as i researched them on google.
Good luck to them if they think they will fill that venue…. more research showed that police make an average of 60 arrests per day in that vicinity!
I hope it flops and certain members of the board are held accountable, and brought to book for the lack of transparency with the pride boards affairs!
These board members think they are the godfathers of the LGBTI community! well they have some surprises coming there way!
DISAPPOINTED. Well what can I say, history repeats itself over and over and over here in Joburg. A situation of Jack of all trades and Masters of none, interpreted “every party will be watered down” with the split. The public are confused. In a nutshell, the hideous DISCOTEC (what a seedy venue) will be swamped with drugs again, and hideous underground music. Don’t these DJs travel abroad and see what gay partygoers like. Stuart this will probably be your last busy night. The Official Pride party is not in a great area but I will be supporting this event. How embarrassing it’s going to be for Sonique if 40 people turn up. Then there are all the satelite clubs trying to cash in on it. Why can’t we just have one big party in one venue. How awesome would that be. Every year I hold my breath and think, maybe this year will be the turning point, but alas I am repeatedly disappointed. No wonder we have a shocking gay scene, embarrassing at that, here in Joburg. A nightmare when recieving overseas visitors and wanting to show them our amazing nightlife. Anyway all the best PRIDE committee and thanks for trying to do something substantial.
inspired. oh boy george you sure sound like someone who is not your average joe bloggs – fyi we have lots of exciting events planned at Discotec – lots of international dj’s (latest sounds) – as well as huge plans for the venue.
So I guess if you find Discotec so hideous – you will always be partying at the events that have no support.
Enjoy Sonique – pls keep your venom away from Discotec!
Why are you disappointed. You know as well as anyone that it is absolutely impossible to please every single queen. Every single year, no matter what has been organised or done, there are always a bunch of people that do not like this or that and want it done this or that way. Everyone think that they have the answer. It is bad in joburg, but I believe it is an international gay trend. We all have that extra bitch gene. I also think you seriously misjudge the gay community in Joburg. With the addition of the Official Gay Pride party, all the clubs are making a good living the rest of the year, each has their own faithful patrons. So it will be no more empty or split up than it already is. In fact, a LOT more non-clubbers go clubbing only on Pride day. And because we are so difficult to please, I think the diversity and different choices is absolutely the best thing. So if you think the Sonique party is going to suck, you actually have alternatives, and if you hate Discotec (which I think is fabulous) you go somewhere else.
Yes, in a way I agree that on Pride day there really should be a huge party. With that said, don’t you think this year with the Sonique event, the Pride organisations have taken a step in the right direction? I have been to Sydney Mardi Gras a few years ago, and all the major Pride events work like that. They have one HUGE official party (when I was there they sold 22000 tickets to the party). But every single club in the city had their very own party too. And that is the way it should be, so that people actually have choices.
Okay, so a lot of people do not like Sonique or the venue or this or that. But how about actually stopping bitching, and starting to see what they are trying to accomplish here. Who knows, the venue might turn out great, or not, but how else would you know if you do not attempt it. At least it offers a good alternative for those people in our community that could not in the past perhaps have afforded a R120 ticket to the Fireman’s Ball, and to pay R30 for a bottle of water or R50 for a drink, to also celebrate Pride. And eventually in a few years it could actually grow into a party that can sell thousands of tickets. And it i just right that the money that are collected is used to make OUR Pride events even better in future. No one expects everybody to like it, but do not diss it just because you don’t. that is why you have OPTIONS. And if you are still unhappy, then get involved next year, and actually have a say in the organisation of the events.
Personally, and ideally for me, I would like to see a huge venue like Zoo lake (or bigger) that have perhaps a bunch of HUGE tents erected after the day activities, hired and paid for by each of the clubs that would normally have their own party, and just continue with the festivities of the day all in one space. That way, one would be able to move from the one to the other, and have an even better time. I also feel that every clubowner should at the very least donate a few percentage of their income on Pride night to the Pride fund, because they also profit BIG TIME from the event.
Thanks. U sound like a particular person on the pride board!
A dictator, tying to convince everyone that your way is better!
WELL IT”S NOT! you DO NOT speak for everyone in the community!
Sorry to burst your bubble… You are quite wrong. I have absolutely nothing to do with Pride or the board or anything or anybody to do with the organising. (If I were, by the way, why would I endorse Discotec). I am just a frequent visitor to this site, and a big fan of the yearly Pride event, and like many others, tired of all the bitching and moaning on this site. You again completely missed the point here, read it again, slowly. Not once did I say “go to the Sonique party”, in fact, I said, be glad you have options and go where you want to go. Just stop finding fault in every single effort someone tries to do for the community, and give credit where it is due, for people that actually attempts to satisfy the nagging queens.
Oh, and by the way, if you know this particular dictator board member, that you think I am, then you have more power than me to actually “get your way”, so why not approach him and get him to see things your way?
Really, I do not see how anyone is forced to go to any particular party… But as usual the queens thrive on drama… as I can see you do
What nightlife?. You talk about an “amazing nightlife”. I have yet to discover where it hides in this hideous city of ours. You will find what you can call an amazing nightlife in Barcelona, or Tel-Aviv, or even in run down old Lisbon, but Jo’burg has nothing amazing about it for gay people. Just trying to keep track of which venues haven’t closed down is a mission in itself. There is also nothing for the over 40 gay crowd. AMAZING!!!
Cesspool. This site has become a cesspool of bitter venomous old queens!
It’s pathetic!
I am going to spread the news, and boycott this site, some of these queens are very brave to post this crap anonymously! lets see if they have the balls to come out of from behind their pseudonym’s and stand up like men, if that is even what they are!
DISCO what?. Stuart H – Believe it or not I speak for a lot of people. I am in no way venomous, I give credit when due, but I also know when I am delivered second rate shite. Your opening night was dismal.
You promised hot barmen……..what did we get? Ex waiters/runners trying to run a bar. Nothing hot about that. No Eye candy there.
A karaoke act, what? how embarrasing?
International sounds, you need to start investing in the latest sounds, and do some research as to what gay people like to party to. Not everybody takes drugs, imagine arriving at a club at about 11pm starting your evening and walking into heavy hard music, hardly a vocal in ear range. You kill the mood so many times, gay boys want uplifting stuff. All too much hype and not enough delivery.
Any club or dj should know, that if you get the music right you are halfway there. It’s really not rocket science.
Good luck, I do hope you get the mix right, but you keep making the same mistakes.
HAPPY PRIDE BOYS!!!!!!
Stand up like a man. Boy George, stand up like a man!
if you are going to make outrageous accusations like the ones you have mentioned, at least have the balls to use your real name!
YOU ARE PATHETIC!
What? Do you want to play Boy George?. I am amazed at how you believe that you “speak for many gay guys (what, you and your friends?) when 98% of ALL the comments I read on different sites and facebook, etc etc about the opening night was positive. You see, it is all about your attitude when you do go to a club. I was there as well, and for me it was really great, music and all – the only negative was that dismal live act. As for the problems raised, nobody is perfect and I recall Stuart taking note of those and promising to work on it and get it better. At least he is TRYING to do something for us, but I guess you are one of those queens that will just NEVER be satisfied, no matter what, but are too lazy to actually DO anything else but bitch about how bad everything is…
Geez girlfriend! R u feeling guilty about something?? Im not referring to the operation, hats off u u lot that make the effort to provide something to distract the queens!
I’m talking about the attitude of queers these days!! Just as u have demonstrated with your unnecessary tantrum!
Vote with your feet. Power to the People … they will vote with their feet. I predict that there will be equal numbers roughly at both parties … with a lot of people opting to check out both. So peeps, vote with your feet and we shall see.
PS – It’s great that there are choices!
Whateva!!!!. We are all entitled to our opinion, so because you lot don’t like hearing the truth don’t get defensive.
Discotec can hardly be referred to as an inspiring night out on the town. First impressions count and it was a dismal attempt at winning over gay partygoers. We are not fools and know when money is being made and money is not being spent. I say if you are going to do something, do it properly and get it right the first time.
So bored with all of it.
Byeeee
And just there you got it wrong again.. In your very OWN words, everybody is entitled to their opinion, and because it is YOUR opinion it is also YOUR truth. So it is not about getting defensive when you hear the “truth”, it is that your truth is not necessarily everyone else’s truth.
Point taken though. Answer, if you don’t like it, and think it is crap, then don’t go. Many others DO like it and find it exciting, so do not diss them for that. It is THEIR opinion, THEIR choice
Gay Pride. So, after all the bitching has been done about who is better than who, which board member is out to get the gay community perhaps we could focus more on what we are “family” and support each other like a family should.
Right now it’s just a bunch of queers and club owners making a mountain out of a mole hill!
I’m curious, did any of the club owners try and approach Joburg Pride and ask if they could be involved / assist with the Official After-Party? I doubt they would have been turned down, Joburg Pride encourages the community to be involved with Joburg Pride.
Perhaps before we get our knickers in a twist we should stop, check ourselves, see where maybe we could have been of assistance, get involved rather than an all out mud slinging match?
As a community we certainly are the same old same old .. no progression here!
PRIDE. Did Joburg Pride approach any of the clubs?
NO…….
Wotz 2 b proud of?!
Wotz 2b ‘proud’ of these dayz?
Hell. Geez your bitter life must be hell…
I’ll be waiting in the Steam baths!!!. Every year I skip the after-parties and go straight to the local steam-baths. I’ve always had the best sex on Pride weekend at the baths. I do vote with my feet! See?
Cashing In…. Yusoof’s comments are marvellous. Everyone seems to miss the points under discussion. these are:
1. The venue. It is not as appealling as everyone might think and if truth be told, will probably have a 60% straight attendance.
2. Sonnique – ja right! She had a couple of crossover hits a while back. Why not a gay artist?
3. The music will be techno, house and all the other crap and will not cater for all tastes.
4. At that price – again, ja right!
All the clubs should have been invited to take part. They could have maybe each run their own bars, and played their own music.
A main floor could have been managed by the organisers, and 1 cover charge could have defrayed expenses.
I for one, will go to Simply Blue, where I always feel welcome!!!
Pride before Fall. or in this case fall asleep. Surely even on a very banal level the street posters should be representative of the wonderfully eclectic and talented people they are aimed at. Well shame Pride Committee, your posters have done nothing to entice me to attend, purely because they are so boring I fall asleep before finishing reading the puerile copy. When after a long period of them being up, their message penetrated and I realized they weren’t advertising furniture polish, i had already been totally seduced by the exciting and informative Firemans Ball posters. Maybe next year united we will stand if the committee decides to tell us where.
Oh no! Cathy Specific. Just found out that the horrendous Cathy Specific is once again going to hi- jack the pride after party with yet another attention seeking performance to elevate herself. We are so tired darling and you are so tired.
Yawn, I think it’s going to have to be Babylon for me.
Toodles
Gay Pride. NIce see you all there!
I’ll be taping the event for you tube 😛
Slave_jed
nifocweb.com