MARCH DATES FOR CAPE TOWN PRIDE
The dates for the upcoming Cape Town Pride festival were confirmed at a community meeting in Green Point on Thursday, where volunteers signed up to help the troubled event.
The meeting followed fears that Pride would not take place due to most Cape Town Pride board members resigning amid claims that a significant loss was incurred by last year’s event.
Now headed by remaining board members Dominic Kessell and designer Luiz DeLaja, the event is set to place later than usual; from 2 to 11 March, with the main parade taking place on 3 March.
According to Donovan Steyl from Lunchbox Media, who is assisting Pride in securing sponsorship, the meeting was a success in confirming community support for the event. He added that Pride will this year be run on a completely volunteer basis and without a board.
Kessell said at the meeting that any money generated from the event would first go towards paying off debts of around R 110,000, before being allocated to the Pride Shelter Trust – the shelter set up by Pride to assist LGBTI people.
A significant debt is money owed to the Traffic Department, which will need to be settled before permits can be granted for a parade this year.
Venues have not been confirmed and finances are limited but Kessell said that excellent progress has been made in just a few weeks in putting together the event.
“I’m now even more positive that this will be a fabulous Pride Parade,” he commented on Facebook after the meeting.
More details will be posted on the new Cape Town Pride website, which was launched this week and which includes applications forms for floats, stalls and entry for Mr and Miss Cape Pride.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Donovan Steyl.
The parade with be the same weekend as the Argus Cycle Tour? Don’t they set up the day before for the race? Or will the parade be somewhere else?
So the city is owed R110 000 and if the money is not paid, then can i assume – No Permit = No Pride? so how can we say that pride will definitely happen?
And please tell us where exactly are we marching to again? Sea Point – The Previously White GAY suburb?
Pride needs to go back to the community organizations like Triangle Project, Inner Circle etc.. They service the greater Cape Town`s gay community and know the needs of all cape town gays, not to a handful of white men and coloured and blacks who deem it fit to do as they please.. ha ah!
Pride must endeavor to be inclusive and must go back to the City Centre where it can make a real difference.
I also noticed a change in its name, not Cape Town Pride, But Pride CT? any reason for that?
Also what is the theme? or are we just ignoring that for now?
Sea Point was the real disaster and walking down a “dead” road where no one saw us was defeating the purpose of being “seen”.
what a piece of work you are! if you have so many critical opinions why dont you put your hand up and volunteer to organise Pride.
People like you are social leaches – making no signficant contribution to anythjing otherthan global warming with the hot air and excrement that comes out of you.
A bunch a people rally together to attempt to save Cape Town Pride and all you can do is hurl racist, derogatory remarks and critise absolutely everything.
People lilke you dont deserve to attend Pride that is put on by the hard work and worry of VOLUNTEERS who do it for their sense of community responsibility.
If they do get it right and manage to put on this years Pride – and I for one sincerely hope they do and applaud their effort – then do the rest of our community a favour and STAY THE HELL AWAY with your pathetic negativity!
I think “You are pathetic” must have himself checked. I am one of those individuals who live outside in the township. And as much as it does not sound nice to say, “Interesting” has very valid points. And so we must just continue to ignore the obvious? The reason why Cape Town Pride is in such a mess is precisely because we have overlooked the problems for so long. Maybe you must go and ensure that all communities are included. It is very serious – gay cape town is very racist and elitist. It is a bitter pill to swallow for white people to admit, but please swallow – like you do most other stuff *wink*. Volunteers are only good enough to do the dirty work, while white men call the shots and direct where we must walk. it cost R5 from cape town to seapoint. And a train/bus ticket is 3 times that price. Be considerate to us who live far from cape town, now you taking it even further. But you always only think of yourselves, dont you? and why charge 3 times the price for a cooldrink or a beer, 1.5 times would be enough. We cannot afford high prices. but again – i forgot, its a money making business and you must make a profit. Why not run fundraisers throughout the year so that underprivileged gay men and woman can also enjoy the pride celebrations. I think pride is very discriminatory.
Looks like the Parade date has been moved – 3rd March is the new proposed date! Wish they would make up their minds
Seb 2/26/2012 9:54:24 AM REPLY
So everyone, last night was the Cape Town Pride Pageant, held at The Pavilion, V&A waterfront.
The event was scheduled to start at 8pm, It officially kicked off at 21:37 with a screamer of an MC that goes by the name: Oddidiva. Nothing DIVA worthy if i may add. This drag queen was rude, obnoxious, unprofessional and kept cursing. Lets just be reminded that some PROUD parents were also sitting in the audience. Imagine what they thought of the community their son/daughter is part of.
It was awful beyond words could dictate. The Oxford dictionary don’t even have words that can describe how this event proceeded throughout the night.
Now i have attended many events. When you run so terribly late, you just cannot proceed with a normal schedule as if you are on-time. Fillers, intervals and acts must be cut short to make up some time to ensure you run close to schedule. Also be reminded one normally hires the venue on an hourly rate, so it can have major financial implications.
After being greeted with racial prejudices and the like and by many “fuck you’s” and middle finger pointing by the NOT so DIVA, people already actually started walking out. True story.
Sitting in the VIP area, and paying R120 was also a waste of time when it became evident there was no division or manning of this area. Everyone just sat where they wanted.
Also when you highlight and beg people to attend the Pageant one would think you have your venue, sound system and staging area checked and sorted. Anything but that!
The DJ was just like the MC, unprofessional and awful! At one point the MC was shouting and screaming at the DJ while the show is on and live.. not only showcasing her own inability to MC properly and professionally – but a major lack of class too. Both was equally bad. if there was a better word, i would have used it. Maybe appalling would suffice.
The audience thought they were at a comedy event at the Baxter or On Broadway..
It was amateur to the core and nothing can salvage the group of organizers or committee that sits on the pride board of this one..
I was also confused as to who is hosting this event? was it Pride or Gayflag SA? Im not a big fan of GayflagSA because it does aim to divide rather than unite all Africans. In a continent where we have so many bigots is it really appropriate to create a flag just for us? so ya..
My fear is that the Pride Parade and after party, scheduled for next week Saturday, might suffer a repeat of last night. I would suggest going with caution and alternative plans for drinks and entertainment should things turn soar next week.
I am terribly embarrassed for them and hope they redeem themselves.
A refund would probably be the best way to proceed, or as compensation, make the Parade after party free, just in case your unprofessional organizational skills come to light *wink*
For years pride has bussed people from various communities for the after party into town. for many years,..they are the ones who have ended up,unrully drunk and trying to get drinks into the venue.
@interesting the city is not owed R110,000 . get your facts and stop coming up with half baked stories.
@realistic. pride has included several communities over the years,including taking events to mzolis,to the josephs stone hall even as far as ribbeck castel. people volunteer,people offer services for events etc.without a handful of people getting involved many events do not happen. all these people also have their 9-5 jobs or businesses to run,have you considered that. so when you rock up on parade day, know that several people have had sleepless nights making sure all have fun. oh and by the way @interetsing! discounted and comp tickets are usually allocated for interested NGO’s, ie some you have mentioned below. they are usually invited to be part and have events alongside pride,..alas all are called but few ever bother to show up! and that is the reality of capetonians!
@concerned perhaps you should read the article first before commenting. It clearly states R110k. Also in other news sources it was said this is owed to the coct.
Regarding bussing people to pride, I’m not sure if a handful of taxi’s qualify as busses.
Im not sure if mzoli’s is a local plae of entertainment.. When I went there, mostly foreigners and black people from other parts of south Africa go there. It’s also very expensive.. Meat is like R100 p/kg. so ya.. Never knew people were bussed in, I always see them stay till the next day.. Does this mean the busses pick them up at 4am too?