JOBURG PRIDE ACCUSED OF SIDELINING TRANS PEOPLE
Two groups have accused Joburg Pride of sidelining the transgender and intersex community through its 2011 theme, “Born this Gay”, which is inspired by Lady Gaga’s hit song Born This Way.
Robert Hamblin from Gender DynamiX told Mambaonline that the organisation “strongly opposes” the theme.
He said that by only including the word ‘gay’ the theme “seems to aggressively demean the spirit of Lady Gaga’s efforts which definitely includes all people in the LGBTI spectrum”.
Tebogo Nkoana from Transgender and Intersex Africa also slammed the theme, complaining of the dominance of “South African gay men” and saying that the “transgender and intersex community has become a minority within a minority community”.
“It feels like we are not recognised in the bigger LGBTI community to such an extent that even Pride excludes trans identity,” said Nkoana.
While the two groups were not prepared to say if they would boycott Pride over the issue, Nkoana insisted that the Pride theme must be “re-considered”.
LGBTI does not spell ‘gay’…
Mambaonline contacted Joburg Pride, which has a majority of women on its board but no trans representatives, about the issue.
In a statement sent to Mambaonline, Joburg Pride denied that the theme was exclusionary and insisted that the word ‘gay’ was used “as an all-inclusive word, meaning not just gay men – but all gay, bisexual, lesbian, transsexual, transgendered, queer and curious people”.
It said that it is difficult to include all these categories when creating a “catchy theme or logo” in order “to promote the event, get media attention and highlight the message behind our theme for 2011”.
Pride also quoted an earlier press release that explained that the theme aimed “to creatively, without fail and without shame, encourage society to speak out and take action against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hate crime”.
Hamblin compared the issue to the struggle lesbian women had in the eighties and nineties to be recognised at the time by the organisers of Joburg Pride who, he said, “simply treated women as some sub-sector of same-sex love.”
“Off course in that time there was not even a consideration of trans and intersex people. And now in a new millennium? Have we not learned anything? LGBTI does not spell ‘gay,’” he said.
Joburg Pride, however, warned “of further dividing ourselves into smaller segregated communities (homosexual, lesbian, transgender, transsexual, intersex etc)”.
“We are all fighting the same fight as well as being able to celebrate together our freedoms and rights. ‘Born this Gay’ means we are one large community. We are happy, we are gay and we are here to stay,” it said.
Hamblin claimed that a Gender DynamiX board member had written to Joburg Pride about the issue but “received deafening silence as a response”. [Update: Joburg Pride has since insisted that it received no correspondence from Gender DynamiX.]
Do you think that the Joburg Pride theme is exclusionary towards transgender and intersex people?
Born this WAY. yes i think the term ‘Born this Gay’ is quite exclusionary, not only for the reasons outlined by Gender Dynamix but also because I don’t believe it does much for lesbian identity nor Bisexual identity. It also lends itself to the inference that sexual orientation is an either/or dichotomy (i.e. you’re either straight or gay, no real inbetween). I personally believe that Born this Way would have been a more apt slogan, as for me it would have spoken more generally to the beauty of sexual diversity rather than simply male homosexuality…
Ditto. Ditto
yes is excludes!. It does not appear that much thought was put into this years theme it seems. After so much experience surely the board of Joburg Pride should know better than to use one reference of the LGBTI and not include everyone, lesbians have also felt excluded, feeling that the “reference” to gay only includes men.
If all they are after is a “catchy” theme to get sponsors and media attention to bring awareness to Pride, then surely this is a monetary marketing stratergy and not really for the good of the community as a whole?
The Pride Board is not inclusive and pretty much has members that for a clique and let’s face it, see how may good people have left the board and you wonder maybe they did not conform to what superior “minded” members wanted.
Pride is just a party in SA, with top NGO’s even shunning the theme. What an embarrassment to the rest of the world, to Prides such as Toronto, London, SF that actually are for their communities.i
yes is excludes!. It does not appear that much thought was put into this years theme it seems. After so much experience surely the board of Joburg Pride should know better than to use one reference of the LGBTI and not include everyone, lesbians have also felt excluded, feeling that the “reference” to gay only includes men.
If all they are after is a “catchy” theme to get sponsors and media attention to bring awareness to Pride, then surely this is a monetary marketing stratergy and not really for the good of the community as a whole?
The Pride Board is not inclusive and pretty much has members that for a clique and let’s face it, see how may good people have left the board and you wonder maybe they did not conform to what superior “minded” members wanted.
Pride is just a party in SA, with top NGO’s even shunning the theme. What an embarrassment to the rest of the world, to Prides such as Toronto, London, SF that actually are for their communities.i
Oh please we all stand together. I cant see why everything is always made into an issue.
Do we all stand together? Really? Transphobia is rampant within LGBTI communities, so is racism, so is sexism. Should we just stay quiet. Why should trans people be silenced by some perceived need for unity which requires them to turn a blind eye to their own discrimination at the hands of the very people they are supposed to find community from? Terrible theme, terrible response from Pride…
Neutral?. Thi sopinion is not exactly neutral!
Trans Not Gay!. It is time that gay people understand that blanketing other people within the lgbti spectrum with the word GAY does not free us, it puts many of us in the dark and muffles our voices.
Thank you for this article and thank you Joburg pride for your efforts to clear the issues. However as much as Joburg Pride probably has the best intentions their response is just a further display of of ignorance of the issues.
I am a transgender man and I am not gay. I am not in a gay relationship. I am not ins a same sex relationship. Many transpeople are but just as many are not. Gay people who have the power to represent lgbti people need to educate themselves about their constituents. It would be the responsible thing to do……with power comes responsibility.
There was a time when women were in reference to men, just some sub-sector to MANkind. That is not ok anymore. We don’t think of humanity that way anymore.
Gaga said born this way. Born this gay, very cute Joburg Pride.But you are making SA look ignorant and backward. International movements dont fall in that trap. Why do you?
read the press release. as far a i can make out:
the theme is to highlight hate crime against lesbian woman
the board of pride is made up of 5 lesbian woman and 2 men – i don’t think they would drive a male homosexual agenda
our community really has a very sad side
Let’s just go back to aparthied. Excuse me but being told to turn the blind eye is the same as going back to a system of segregation. I am a transsexual man- that has to do with my GENDER IDENTITY and NOTHING to do with my SEXUALITY. By the way I am HETEROSEXUAL. Letting this theme go ahead would be letting the ignorance perpetuate and we can’t go for that.
The press release states: to encourage society to speak out and take action against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hate crime”.
In the news recently – there has been lots of press regarding the hate crimes and rapes against openly lesbian women – that is what was quoted in the press release.
We know that men and women are both raped – because of their sexual identity.
The board currently includes 4 women and 3 men.
The pride board is open to suggestions and for help from the broader community. Unfortunately – the sad side is that very few people put their hands up to volunteer to help during the course of the year or on Pride Day.
We actively support Soweto Pride and help in funding this day. We also run a community village for other ngo’s, organisations and so on, on the day of Pride. In effect – we provide the platform for LGBTI organisations and activists to get their message out to the greater community.
We did have problems with accessing our info@joburgpride.org email address. Unfortunately we did not receive communication from Robert Hamblin or Tebogo Nkoana ? whether this was sent to this address or not.
In plain English. Your answer still doesn’t address the Trans and Intersex communities concerns?!?!?!?!
great. wow! been to pride for 2 years and have had such a great time but never knew about the idea of the community village. Brillilant – every part of LGBTI community has the opportunity of a free platform at pride.
Matter of fact. Maybe this theme debacle is a blessing in disguise, we as the Trans and Intersex community are tired of organizations that claim to serve the LGBTI community but only go as far as the L and G. These people are raking up donar funds and doing nothing for us- currently there should be way more organizations objecting to this than GDX and TIA , but they stay quiet because they know the truth.Just like JHB Pride which lists itself as LGBTI serving, they are ignorant about their so called constituents. I hope donars have taken note of this gross discrimination.
Dear Transman
Thank you for your comments.
I assume you are a member of GDX and TIA and support the organisations, help them ,volunteer and are possibly donating of your time and money?
Joburg Pride is an organisation that puts on Joburg Pride – the event, once a year. As mentioned in previous comment – we provide a platform for all – LGBTI – to attend, to showcase their own organisations and to connect with possibly new members or supporters.
We not have donor funds – so there would be a drying up of nothing. We put Joburg Pride on each year through media support, in kind sponsors who help us with logisitics, equipment and the likes. We are gaining more sponsors each year of it’s success – sponsors who are putting their money into the LGBTI community. It is through them that we can host this event every day for the last 5 years – and once again – provide a platform for all groups to showcase their own agenda’s.
Sometimes – it is not about someone else doing something for you. Stand up and start doing something for yourself and your community. Join your local group and support their functions. Help them spread the word or fundraise. Joburg Pride can not be everything to everyone – what we do provide, once again, is the platform for organisations to reach out to the attendee’s on the day (roughly 18 000 pax last year).
If you would like to volunteer of your time to Joburg Pride, please contact us on email: info@joburgpride.org
PC gone mad again. How tired I am of political correctness. Personaly I detest the LGBTI moniker and like gay. Interestingly, some of the trans people making comments here say they are not gay so what is actually their concern?
You just can’t please all the people all the time.
Personally I think the theme is clever & witty and maybe some people should try and develop a sense of humour. It is what has helped us survive & thrive
is it PC gone mad to question why such an overtly discriminatory theme was picked. You don’t like LGBTI fine, Pride don’t like LGBTI fine, then don’t use it. But you cannot claim to be working in the interests of the LGBTI community and then come up with a theme that excludes four of the five letters in that accronym. That is not PC gone mad, it is basic common sense.
… sigh – a twit talking about common sense! have you even bothered to inform yourself what the theme is trying to highlight? all you worried about is the letters whereas there are woman being correctly raped and murdered in our country. as a community – do you not think we have more serious issues to bring to south africa’s attention. pathetic.
can anyone who uses the phrase “women are being correctly raped” call anyone else stupid. I believe the phrase you are looking for is correctively raped, think for a moment about what correctly raped means! And no its not about an obsession with letters its about what it means when you claim to represent someone and then don’t…
Trans people should be thankful. that they are included in gay Pride. They seem so eager to point out that they are not gay, then yell that they are excluded. No one is stopping you from having your own pride. And yes, guys and girls you ARE a minority within a minority. Get used to it and be thankful that the rest of the larger minority are prepared to be a part of your struggle. And, while you are at it – all those indignant and holier than thou trans and intersex people – why don’t you volunteer for the pride board instead of complaining from the sidelines… boo hoo…
You arrogant asshole. You arrogant asshole. As a member of a minority (I’m gay) of a minority (I’m caucasian) I find your argument not only disingenuous but also offensive. If we, as members of marginalised communities, do not look to be inclusive to all, then we have ENTIRELY missed the point of Pride.
I am, frankly, stunned by the idiocy and lack of creativity and foresight displayed by the Pride committee: the same committee that many have tried to volunteer for in the past and that they have not bothered to dignify such efforts even by a response.
I’ll attend Pride, because I am proud of who and what I am, but I will avoid idiots like ‘StevO’ who seems to think he can dole out ‘privilege’ like sweets from a lucky packet.
Barney. Tsk tsk… no need to use such language Barney or take things so personally. The point is that trans people need to take part in these organisations and not criticise from the sidelines – the favourite pastime of the LGBTIQA community…
The board should be removed. Hi
This proble would not happen if this board just asked for input from the whole gay community.
There was no agm ,no adds asking what people would like the theame to be and no open books to see where the money went from the last few years.
crazy. the facts –
6 years ago, the organziners then of pride ran the event into the ground having the least amount of people attending and owing every supplier money.
since this board has been in place:
the event has grown to epic, record numbers with huge sponsorships coming and at the end, every account paid.
this has been done BECAUSE OF THIS BOARD!
not because of people like you Mike who only want to see what they haven’t done.
what is your real reason for this post? what is your agenda?
because if you consider what this board has achieved for Joburg Pride – you really wouldn’t bitch. but then again – people lilke you who hide behind sinister motives – cannot see the positive – only bitch bitch bitch.
joke. years ago the board started just like this.
They did a fantastic job.. And this board is doing a fantastic job as well..
They must be complimented for what they HAVE done.
BUT if they carry on like the old board we will be back at the same place we were 4 years ago.
They started out all holy and did things as they said they would BUT in the last 2 years there was a compleate change around
They are doing the same things they said they wanted to change.
To Be there and TO be acountable to the WHOLE GAY COMMUNITY.
They are not doing this now… No finacials and not bringing in all the community they just thought up a theame and did not ask for any inputt(they are there for all so let people have a say)
No AGM to say what they intend to do and where they think pride should go.
If they did this then I am sure the mojority of the community would back them all the time.
Let us not go down the same old road again
crazy. the facts –
6 years ago, the organziners then of pride ran the event into the ground having the least amount of people attending and owing every supplier money.
since this board has been in place:
the event has grown to epic, record numbers with huge sponsorships coming and at the end, every account paid.
this has been done BECAUSE OF THIS BOARD!
not because of people like you Mike who only want to see what they haven’t done.
what is your real reason for this post? what is your agenda?
because if you consider what this board has achieved for Joburg Pride – you really wouldn’t bitch. but then again – people lilke you who hide behind sinister motives – cannot see the positive – only bitch bitch bitch.
Agree with Barney. Your view towards other minorities is shocking and ill-informed. We as gays and lesbians should know first-hand what it is like to be subjugated by a majority, yet you seem to revel in the idea of subjugation, prejudice and marginalisation.
Your views demonstrate that we as LGBTIQ have a long way to go towards tolerance and acceptance of our own brothers and sisters.
NO AGM?. Why no AGM? Why no financial statements for 3 years? What are you hiding?
What a stuipid, shallow theme! Have people forgotten that brave gay community leaders fought and risked their lives to get us gay rights in this country? And now we choose a Lady Kaka theme? This is not just meant to be a silly party – but a statement about human freedom. No wonder so many straight people don’t see gay rights as a serious issue! WE DON’T EVEN TAKE OURSELVES SERIOUSLY! For heavens sake Lady Gaga has to be the worst pop music I have heard in decades – and now her theme tune is representing our most important annual gay day! NOW I KNOW WHY I PREFER PLAYING IN STRAIGHT CLUBS! Uuuurrggghhh