CAPE TOWN PRIDE BACK IN THE BLACK

According to the team behind Cape Town Pride 2012 the event is back in the black with enough money having been raised to pay past debts.

Cape Town Pride 2012, which took place in February, was mired in controversy following the resignation of board members amid claims of a significant loss having been incurred by the 2011 event.

At one point there was speculation that the Mother City’s annual Pride festival would not take place at all.

After a vigorous and at times vicious debate on social media, the festival successfully went ahead thanks to the last minute intervention of Dominic Kessell, Luiz DeLaja and a group of volunteers.

In a statement on the Cape Town Pride Facebook page this week, DeLaja said that “enough money was raised from this year’s events to cover [the debts], with a surplus available to make a donation to the Pride Shelter Trust.”

He also revealed that for the first time in years there is some working capital remaining, which will allow for plans to be put in place for 2013.

DeLaja acknowledged that this healthier state of affairs was made possible by some gay venue owners who covered the costs of infrastructure of the Pride Village Fair Day following the Pride Parade in February.

He called for members of the community to offer constructive suggestions, opinions and ideas to improve the festival and increase the representativity of the event by emailing feedback2013@capetowpride.org.

DeLaja also asked for anyone who has skills in areas such as eventing, accounting, sponsorship, marketing and graphic design to volunteer to assist with next year’s festival.

Finally, he announced that members of the community can submit their designs for a theme and logo for Pride 2013 at www.capetownpride.org.