Joburg Pride has given its official support for the gay flag of South Africa (GFSA), which will feature at this year’s event on the 1st of October.
According to Eugene Brockman, who together with Henry Bantjez created the flag, “Joburg pride will be a sea of little gay flags of South Africa.”
“It will mean that the design will finally be a flying across all provinces of South Africa’s national pink community, uniting us all,” said Brockman.
Joburg Pride will use the GFA design on merchandising and all profits from its sale will go directly to Pride.
“It’s no secret that gay and lesbian communities throughout the world are known for their flair, with massive creative contribution to everything from food, fashion, media and design to film, music, politics and sport,” said Tanya Harford, chairperson of Joburg Pride.
“The recent GFSA initiative only reinforces this and we welcome the extra energy they’ve injected into the largest gay and lesbian event on the African continent.”
The flag was launched at the Mother City Queer Project party in December last year and, despite some initial scepticism and debate about its merit, has gained momentum in the past six months.
It was adopted by a few clubs in De Waterkant, Cape Town’s gay village, then Cape Town Pride, followed by events along the Garden Route up to Port Elizabeth. It was also flown at the recent London Pride parade.
“Our spokesperson Ms. Lola Fine will take the Gay Flag of South Africa to Durban Pride next week. We will then tour to Nelson Mandela Bay Pride, culminating in Joburg Pride as the final piece of the puzzle,” said Brockman.
The GFSA initiate has actively backed the Luleki Sizwe corrective rape group in the Western Cape, including supporting its ground-breaking discussions with government on combating hate crimes.
0 Comments
Nicely steamrolled. :-/. Why was the Pride committee approached about endorsing the flag?
When were the people supposedly being represented by this flag ever approached and asked whether they would like it or not? I even did a quick search in the past Mamba polls and there’s nothing there.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the design nor do I have any negative feelings about it but I do for oligarchies and it looks like one’s formed already.
Given the choice of flying the new design or the SA flag alongside the international rainbow flag, I think I’d do the latter.
I could never understand the need for a SA gay flag. The whole point of having an international one is to show solidarity with lgbti all over the world, especially as we all experience discrimination and homophobia no matter what our nationality might be.
FANTASTIC!!. OMG! Re a leboha! Thank you so much. This flag means so much to me and my lgbti family in the township. We are proud today!!
Finally *smiley* Love it. Hapy to finally see the flag at a JHB event!! Saw it all over CT, and was a bit jealous that JHB was left out. Cheers!! Love the flag
Kylie, London, JHB!. I saw the flag at LONDON Pride as well as on stage at the KYLIE MINOGUE Concert! Love it. Very proud!!! Go go go SA GFSA!!!
BIG SUPPORTER!!!!. I was at CT Pride, and will be at JHB Pride WEARING my flag AGAIN!!!!! Love it!! Thank you so much for all the work the flag has done accross SA, uniting us and for being a pillar putting pressure on government with regards to corrective rape. WE LOVE YOU
AMANDLA MAZANSI GAY FLAG!!. Love it
AWESOME!!!!!!!
I Saw the GFSA at Amsterdam Pride!!!!!!
This site is like a classorom, except I don’t hate it. lol
AMAZING!!!!