STAND UP AND BE COUNTED: CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2013

The upcoming annual Cape Town Pride Festival is set to offer a plethora of activities and events to celebrate the LGBT community in the Mother City. The theme for 2013 is “stand up and be counted”.

And, Festival Director Luiz De Laja says that the festival “intends doing just that this year, across all the communities of the city” to show that “we are an inclusive community working together as a unit, crossing all races”.

He also confirms that Pride once again has the backing of The City of Cape Town.

The festival kicks off on the 16th of February with the Miss Cape Town Pride pageant, will include the Best of Gay Town Awards, various parties, Mr Cape Town Pride and the annual street parade and street fair on 2nd March, and will conclude with a Pride celebration service at the Central Methodist Mission on the 3rd of March.

In an exciting first, the event will also partner with the US based international NOH8 photographic protest campaign which highlights LGBT discrimination and bullying.

After years of requests, the NOH8 campaign will be holding two official photo shoots in Cape Town on the 1st and 2nd of March. And, anyone can take part (more details here).

“It is a great honour to be the first city and country in Africa to be recognised on such a global platform,” comments De Laja.

As in previous years, a portion of funds raised by Cape Town Pride will be donated to the Pride Shelter Trust which provides temporary accommodation and support for homeless and in-crisis LGBT people. It’s the only such facility in Africa.

De Laja points out that last year Cape Town Pride handed over a cheque to the value of R15,000 to the shelter.

A dedicated Pride call line has been set up where you can source information about Pride events. Simply call 0861 9PRIDE (0861 977433).

You’re urged to take part in Cape Town Pride 2013 to “stand up and be counted”.

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CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2013 EVENTS

• Sat 16 Feb: Miss Cape Town Pride 2013

The Joseph Stone Auditorium, Athlone

7pm. R50 / VIP R100

• Wed 20 Feb: Best of Gay Town Awards

Limnos Bakery (Next to Beefcakes), Green Point

8pm. R250

• Thurs 21 Feb: Red Party

Entru fee gets you into 12 LGBT venues. (Alexander Bar, Amsterdam bar Alfarjiri, Backroom bar, Beualah, Bubbles bar, Cafe Manhattanm, Crew Keenwa, Stargazers, Zer021 and Beefcakes)

8pm. R20

• Thurs 21 Feb: Pride & Protest Seminar

Guga Sthebe Art & Culture Centre, Washington St, Langa

6 – 8pm. Free entry

• Sat 23 Feb: Pride Pool Party

Glen Hotel, Sea Point

2pm. R100

• Sat 23 Feb: Boyztown Does Pride

Amsterdam Bar / Backroom Bar

9pm. Free entry

• Sun 24 Feb: Blighters vs Bar Boys

Hamilton’s Rugby Club

3pm. R10

• Sun 24 Feb: Pride Comedy Night

Beefcakes, Green Point

8pm. R60

• Mon 25 Feb: God Save the Queens Drag Revue

Beefcakes, Green Point

8pm. R100

• Tues 26 Feb: Hacked Off

Alexander Bar

8pm. R100

• Wed 27 Feb: Beach Picnic

Cilfton 3rd Beach

From 6pm. Free: Bring your own basket

• Thurs 28 Feb: Lush Ladies’ Party

Beaulah Bar

9pm. R30

• Thurs 28 Feb: Food Fashion Fusion

Market on the Wharf, V&A Waterfront

6pm. Guest list: Min donation R150

• Fri 1 March: Mr. Cape Town Pride

Venue TBC

8pm R75

• Fri 1 March: NOH8 Open Shoot

Protea Hotel Sea Point

3pm-6pm. R180 pp

• Sat 2 March: Pride Parade

De Waterkant Village

From 10.30am

• Sat 2 March: Pride Street Fair

Napier, Cobern and Liddle Streets, Green Point

From 2pm. R30

• Sat 2 March: NOH8 Open Shoot

Pride Street Fair, Napier, Cobern and Liddle Streets, Green Point

2 – 6pm. R180 pp

• Sun 3 March: Recovery Braai

Alfajiri Lounge, Sea Point

3pm. Free entry

• Sun 3 March: Goodhope MCC Pride Celebration Service

Central Methodist Mission, Greenmarket Square

6pm. Free entry

For more info, visit the Cape Town Pride website or the Facebook page.