MCQP REVEALS 2011 THEME
The organisers of the highly-anticipated Mother City Queer Project (MCQP) costume bash revealed the theme for the 17 December party on Friday at Crew bar in Cape Town.
The 2011 theme – “Maid in China” – will see partygoers taking their inspiration for costumes, which at past events have often been outrageous, witty and sometimes downright scandalous, from the East.
“This year, think marvellous moffie maids meets Kung Fu Panda, think sultry sexy dragon girls versus plastic fantastic. I’m expecting a large numbers of ‘boy gayshas’ and girls in ‘ki-homos’,” said MCQP’s Ian McMahon.
While the venue was expected to also be announced on Friday, organisers said that details were still being ironed out and that the party will be held at a “mystery venue” that will be revealed in a few weeks’ time.
“We could not hold back the theme announcement while venue negotiations and necessary City permits are being organised,” said McMahon.
He explained that he decided to announce the theme before the venue was confirmed to allow local and international tourists to start planning their visit to Cape Town for MCQP.
“Our loyal MCQP partygoers need a decent amount of time to select their team-mates, shop around for costumes and plan their evening out.”
McMahon added: “What we can say at this stage is that the venue will be within an easy taxi ride from most favourite tourist hotels and guest houses in the greater CBD.”
MCQP started in 1994 as a themed costume party to celebrate the birth of South Africa’s new constitution and its acknowledgment of gay rights.
The annual event attracts up to 5,000 gay and straight partygoers – many of them from out of town – and is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading gay parties.
For more information visit www.mcqp.co.za.
Not at all disrespectful to the Chinese!!!!
I am really disappointed with the concept and satire around the theme. It portrays people of Asian desent in a negative light. Our homosexual “community” in South Africa has thousands of people with Asian heritage. Everyone I’ve spoken to since the announcement are opposed to this and feels the theme is a bit derogatory. Personally I am disapppointed that homosexuals, who have been victim of negative satire and stereotypes for millenia, can publicly do the same to another social group perceived to be “different” to Western norms
I agree largely with what you say. While I don’t think it is extremely offensive, it’s certainly dodge. The theme isn’t clever, it instead sounds like the title of a Leon Schuster movie. What’s more is it doesn’t speak about any issues facing the LGBTI community. While others found the “Jou ma se pride” offensive, I thought it was clever and at least was true to the meaning of pride, making the community unashamedly visible to the rest of society.
I realize that it’s difficult to please everyone, but if you’re going to get people’s panties in a twist, do it for something worthwhile and at least show the wit the gays are meant to be so famous for.
I think it’s really clever – especially in relation to the whole China/Dalai Lama visa debacle. Get over yourselves – this is NOT offensive!
The China/Dalai Lama is a whole different issue unrelated to LGBTIA problems facing South Africa. A huge event such as MCQP should be used to support our homosexual community, as well as to educate the general public on issues of tolerence, hate crimes such as corrective rape, social equality, parenting gay teens etc. I’m not trying to bash the organisers of the event. They do a good job. I just feel they missed an excellent opportunity to address homosexual issues on a public platform, both locally and internationally
Love it!!! So many ideas and not enough time!
Awful theme. The LGBT community is having a terrible time having to endure oppression from the Chinese government. Personally, the MCQP, unlike the Pride March (linked to our struggle) is a medium of celebration. To have anything Chinese associated with it just lessens the experience.
MCQP is not Pride, it’s a party. It’s not a platform for social justice, it’s a party, it’s not a non-profit org, it’s a party, it’s theme changes every year x 18 years – what other event do you know of is 18 years iold? Lasy year was flower power, it had nothing to do with supporting the USA’s stance on the Vietnam War – it was a party. You CANNOT take everything so literally and frankly, if you want EVERYTHING to be political – then stay at home, I’m glad I won’t be standing next to to you at the bar – when I am at a PARTY! What’s wrong with you ppl??
Hi all, WOW a lot of comments on the theme. Each year the theme is chosen on it’s ability for people to have fun, it is not a cause nor a platform to list issues in the gay community. There are movements for that. MCQP is what this person below has said, it is just a party and to give people a reason to dress up in some or other theme.
We have had the Kitsch Kitchen Theme, which had no bearing on the quality of the materials used to build a kitchen nor the people whom work in one – it was a reason to think up some fun costume idea around kitchens, nothing more, nothing less.
In 2008, my theme was Lights, Camera, Action! Was it a plight to highlight the working conditions of the movie undustry – no, it was to be able to dress up in a theme around the TV, movies and ass. industry.
MCQP has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama and in fact – we rely on non profit organisations like CT Pride to educate as mentioned below.
Ian McMahon – Owner
Expect teams of marvelous moffie maids, dustpan dykes, hao kan heteros, sexy sequined straights, kung fu pandas, Bruce Lee Barbie’s, or plastic fantastics. Creativity is the name of the game, and the more spectacular the outfit, the greater the fun. Some teams can be 20 people or more we expect many Gayshas and boys in kihomos!
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