ANGER OVER JOBURG AND SOWETO PRIDE CLASH
The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) has accused the new organisers of one of the Johannesburg Pride events planned this year of callously setting its event’s date on the same day as Soweto Pride.
FEW has held Soweto Pride for the past seven years on the weekend before Johannesburg Pride, which in turn has, for the last few years, taken place on the first Saturday in October.
Last week, the new planning committee announced that the 24th annual Johannesburg Pride would take place on 28 September, reverting back to an earlier tradition of holding the city’s Pride event on the last Saturday of September.
FEW, however, says that the 28th is also the date it’s set for this year’s Soweto Pride.
While the Joburg Pride committee insists that FEW had not publicised the Soweto Pride date before it chose its date, FEW argues that the last Saturday in September is the date on which the event has always taken place and that the organisers of Johannesburg Pride should have known this.
On its Facebook page, FEW members and supporters vented their anger at the news that the two events are set to take place on the same day.
Mpho Kubjane wrote: “Does it not defeat the purpose of pride in general? because basically what we’re dealing with here is a black pride and a white pride…I don’t care whose fault it is or what caused the rift, the fact that the organisers as a collective can’t even come together and find common ground means to me that the spirit and purpose of pride is none-existent…”
Celia Engelbrecht commented: “Soweto Pride should NOT move their date… Also, having to ‘choose’ one pride to attend that day is about what we value more. Do we go to Soweto and protest against rape and murder or do we go to Joburg to party? The pride we attend that day will say what we as a community value more. I just have one thing to say about Joburg ‘pride’ HELL NO, I WONT GO! Soweto is a true PRIDE.”
Dikeledi Deekay Sibanda from FEW claimed on the Facebook page that the issue was discussed with the Johannesburg Pride organisers, but that “they don’t want to engage with our issues as black queer people who are affected by hate crimes and other social issues”.
Mambaonline asked FEW for official comment on the matter but has not yet received a response.
According to the Johannesburg Pride Planning Committee, having this year’s event on the last Saturday of September is in keeping with its 2013 theme, “back to our roots”.
In a statement, the committee told Mambaonline: “Johannesburg Pride has a 24 year history since inception, of which 18 prides occurred on the last Saturday of September.
“The [Soweto Pride] organisers should have respected the LGBTAQ history and avoided scheduling a newer event such as Soweto Pride on a date and day that has a deep rooted legacy and attachment with Johannesburg Pride.”
The committee also said that “our target markets differ. We aim for mainstream inclusiveness and open to all LGBTIAQ as well as PFLAG [parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays]. Soweto Pride targets a specific group within the LGTBIAQ community and they are welcome to their event on that day”.
Finally, the committee called on Sibanda to publicly provide evidence verifying her statement that there had been discussions between it and FEW, “as to date no one from FEW or One in Nine has contacted the 24th Johannesburg Pride Planning Committee”.
In addition to the 28 September Johannesburg Pride event in Newtown, another group backed by FEW and One in Nine, which believes that Pride has not been sufficiently representative, accessible and political in nature, is planning to hold the Johannesburg “People’s Pride” event the following Saturday (5 October). Details of this event have yet to be announced by that organising committee.
What do you think? Should either Soweto Pride or Johannesburg Pride move their dates to accommodate the other?
I cant understand why they cant do the pride in Soweto. we had the world cup hosted in soweto. I dont understnad why people are still scared of soweto????Im honestly not going to Zoo Lake this year.It is too boring
Tony it is Johanesburg Pride! That should be in Johannesburg, Soweto is only a suburb of The greater city. If Pride is so mortar, tha why doesn’t FEW cancel Soweto Pride. They are also have a Peopl’s Pride on the 05th Oct. why many Prides does FEW want to arrange? And why are the militant black lesbians that hide behind the banner of FEW not ne’er stand that we all have different views. We don’t all want to march in Protest, we’d rather celebrate the blessings we have. Well done To the individual who took the bull by its horns and started Plannng the 24th Pride in Jhannesburg
Right on my brother! Johannesburg Pride must stay where it is and we will be in Newtown to celebrate and party but first parade in Johannesburg.
28 September in Newtown is gong to be great! I am so excited. people pride must se gat
I can’t understand why you don’t leave your suburb and move to Soweto?
If that is your township than talk, if you talking for the sake of saying something about a places don’t even go to, than shut up.
Today the only lack people that go to Soweto are the ones that can’t get out.
Black lesbian like me in don’t know Soweto live in four ways party in four ways
Just do one pride and do it in soweto. why always Zoo Lake….Orlando or Soccer City is the place…..
Vuyo you silly boy it is Johannesburg Prideand Johanesburg like London, new York, Paris is a big city. Why do you want to take a big city thing like pride to a township? Why you don’t ask the president to move to Soweto because tourist visit their. Everything has a place. Johannesburg Pride in Johannesburg is right.
SOWETO PRIDE MUST SHUT DOWN!
PEOPLE PRIDE MUST SHUT DOWN BEFORE THEY STARTED
Get away from that stupid thinking or you will be tramped in that stupid mind forever. Because you and me are black, we don’t have to rush everything to Soweto?
I don’t even know Soweto! Do you? Not all black people know Soweto my brother.
VIVA JOHANNESBURG PRIDE
VIVAJOHANNESBURG PRIDE
VIVA
Please note that personal attacks against individuals will be removed. Please discuss the issues without insulting, name-calling or using racist, sexist, homophobic or trans slurs.
I think it’s appalling that these Joburg Pride organoisers did not consult with FEW. They are just doing what the old board did. Ignoring the rest of the community and just going ahead…
Who did FEW and One In Nine consult whe they announced a People’s pride on the 5th Oct. they should close up who before they embarrass themselves
If I remember correctly the first soweto pride also too place on the same day that Jo’burg pride happened. Then Jo’burg moved its date… Am I right?
Soweto Pride was always the week before Johannesburg Pride, when Pride moved to the first weekend in October, Soweto followed by moving a week later as well. Honestly can you imagine that the previous board would ever have moved Joburg Pride to accomodate Soweto lol…
OMFG this is entirely ridiculous. We are on the same mother*()%$ing side here! It’s NOT a question of when to hold one or the other, it’s a question of coming together to address the real issues facing real LGBTQ South Africans. If we can’t even work together how are we supposed to stave off the onslaught coming from all directions? LGBTQ bullying in school is killing gay kids, corrective rape, job discrimination, walking down the road with dignity without having insults hurled at you or bottles flying from passing cars, when will we have dignity and respect in this country? THAT is what Pride is supposed to be about, not about clamouring to the “mainstream” goddamnit.
Mainstream to me in this article would mprefer to LGBTIAQ ie the whole community, in opposed to FEW Black Lesbian Forum. Few’s partner in the People’s Pride – One in Nine which is a feminist movement not even an LGBTIAQ. Follow the saga dude! GO Jihannesburg Pride 24 years
With all this negativity surrounding Pride (or whatever they decide to call it), I just don’t want to be associated with it. My friends and I have decided to just be ourselves: we will have a braai with our friends in the afternoon, and then go clubbing at night. None of us want to be at a march/parade/protest where there are tensions between black and white, gay and lesbian, feminist and ???, socialists and liberalists, capitalists and poor people who have to be bussed in to take part. There are many sub-groups under the LGBTI umbrella. Some of us just don’t get along. Some of us hate each other with a passion, as is evident by the organizers’ constant whining and complaining about each other. We want no part of it.
Boycott the FEW and one in nine Soweto And People’s Pride
to suggest that FEW did not show respect for the history of Pride when they picked the last Saturday in September, back in the old days (just a few years ago) there used to be a thing called Pride Week, where there would be political and social activities each evening for a week running up to Joburg Pride. Soweto Pride was delberately set so that the two pride parades would be on either side of Pride Week. It was an act of solidarity with Joburg Pride to link the two events. The new organisers show a total ignorance of the history they are appealing to if they don’t know this. It was silly and spiteful to pick this date and if forced to choose I will also be in Soweto that day…
That’s not right. Originally Soweto Pride was set up in protest again Joburg Pride and was held on the same day. It was only when Joburg Pride moved to October that they started happening a week apart.
Rico – get your facts straight. Joburg Pride helped FUND the 1st few Soweto Prides. They ALWAYS worked together. I’m sure the editor of this site will verify this as he was part of the 1st board of Joburg Pride.
Spot on Rico, Soweto Pride is a waste of time, has not managed to gain support. Look at how FEW behavior. I would never attend anything staged by them. Blind fools
Nope wrong again, there was a protest in 2007 at Joburg Pride by participants from Soweto Pride but that was some years into Soweto Pride and the relationship between the two as being a week apart was already established by then. And as has been said the relationship was initially good and involved funding.
BULLSHIT FEW never gave a damn about Pride dates. Case in point today, they decided on People’s Pride, so that’s what they planning. They have a Pride in Soweto for black lesbians. They should close up shop all together, they are creating a divide. They are creating racial issues. They are creating 2 more Prides in Joburg. Look around no one is going to attend
What the hell is wrong with you people, check out http://www.gaypridebrazil.org infact check out pride around the world and learn something WTF. This is worse than a day time soap
FEW and One in Nine are creating issues where there is non. no one is going to go to the People’s Pride, like the Soweto Pride this too will not develop. These idiots are not getting it, no one wants to protest. We are happy to celebrate
No one wants to protest??? I can promise you that who ever you think you speak for, you really really don’t!
Just another reality that cuts very deep into our South African fabric of who we really are. Just like the political and racial divisions the same aplies to the gay community. I have seen extreme racial hatred among gays, hatred for Transgenders, Drag Queens, Butch Lesbians, Fems, fats, can I go on?
Cowards that hide behind Annon names to get disgusting messages across, FEW and One in Nine People Pride must be banned or boycotted by the LGBTAQ community
Boycott Soweto Pride and People’s Pride! They are excluding the GBTIAQ, FEW are a woman’s forcused NGO. They are Inconsiderate of the GBTIAQ
Everyone should boycott the Soweto Pride, if has never managed to gain support because Of FEW ‘narrow minded views. Why have a Pride for less than 1000 people, SHUT IT DOWN!
SHUT IT DOWN
SHUT IT DOWN
SHUT IT DOWN
I will never attend the Soweto Pride and People’s Pride these dykes are insane, we are not re entering the freedom fight…
SHUT IT DOWN!
I agree! Soweto Pride and Peoples Pride Shut the both dwn!
In fact I am writing a letter to the mayor and police not to grant FEW acceptance to our roads. We don’t want the stupid pride re entering the struggle.
SHUT SOWETO PRIDE DOWN
SHUT PEOPLE’S PRIDE DOWN
SHUT IT DOWN
these organisations have one job, to represent me. To defend my rights.
This fight is not about heritage, its about showing face by the organizers.
As a gay man, I must say I AM DISGUSTED!!!!!!! AND DISSAPPOINTED!!!!!
It’s not a job, read the news silly boy, it’s volunteers that are not sitting in their ass waiting like you for someone to represent them. You are disgusting with you stupid thinking. At last for Johannesburg pride to happen some people are doing something positive. Keep your disgust and disappointment to your lazy ass at hoe dong nothing but giving side line comments to making things worse.
You a gay man FEW don’t want you represented at pride, they partner with a feminist group 1 in 9 they don’t care about your gay boy bump taking stupid
Get it together… work together and engage… this is an OUTcry! and outrageous! WTF! Stop all the political bullshit and the meglamaniac behaviour! Work together and all it means is that there is dialogue and communication at the end of the day… try make it the BEST PRIDE in the workld… rather than the segregation of a White Pride and a Black Pride! We are bigger than that… and over all that shit! STOP fucking it up!
Mark you don’t know the truth for few this is a way to make money. They get dollars and euros and say they hosting Pride. Fotsek few will neva work with anyone main black and white divide is how few make money.
The so called lesbian murders? are trans phobia. All have been butch man looking lesbians. Nothing to do with woman. few took it to Europeans sold it for money.
The same way they took our Pride and sold it or money.
For long as few and other stupid companies are alive they will make sure it’s about a black and white.
I am happy with my white lover! I want nothing to do with few and the issues they create.
Boycott few and Soweto pride
Who is FEW kidding, they don’t have even the support of the black lesbians. They are upset over a date. We will not support FEW in Soweto and people’s pride. They must cancel both prides. 1 in 9 is the reason we in this mess. Fotsek
True black lesbians say
SHUT DOWN FEW
SHUT DOWN SOWETO PRIDE
SHUT DOWN PEOPLE PRIDE
We all support Johannesburg pride! In Newtown!
Fuck Soweto pride! Fuck few! We want a beautiful pride. Newtown
Congrats guys.
Standing up for your rights. We went through this 25 years ago but to as bad as this.
Here is South Africa we have gay right and all we can go is fight among each other.
See what is happening in Russia now.
NOW WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN lose if we don’t stand together.
I feel ashamed to be gay in South Africa now when other Gay People don’t have the same rights as us and we behave like this.
Come on and start to work together.
Few is created a divided in the community by making so many Prides. Soweto should be cancelled, if it s the same day as Johannesburg Pride. Who attends Pride in Soweto? Who is gong to attend People’s Pride? No one! We don’t want to march. We not re entering the struggle.
Few must close down, they make to much trouble.
JHB Pride should move their date… all they are trying to do here is ruffle feathers… All i hear is how everyone is trying to “take back” Pride, however all that is happening is there is an even bigger divide in the community. This entire thing is becoming more of an effort than anything else. May as well not even have a Pride. What are we proud of? the fact that we cant even get along in our own community?!?! Pathetic! No wonder the community receives such harsh criticism, we cant even agree on one Pride.
Who announced the date first? Joburg Pride, few must move the date. If 18 pride took place on the last Saturday of September, than few is clearly wrong for start 7 years ago to use that date. Few can hold Pride on 24 sep.
We black people must stop looking at issues at jump in because it’s black vs white. We must be clever in our thinking and see right from wrong. Few must cancel people’s pride too. How many prides do they want to host? What is few get out of this?
Joburg pride here I come?
Few must fuck off.
Joburg pride stays on 28 sep.
Be in Newtown people.
Few must fuck off.
Joburg pride stays on 28 sep.
Be in Newtown people.
Why have so many prides ??????????????
This is Johannesburg people, I know lets have a Boksburg , benoni, kempton park, krugersdorp, Tembisa, Roodepoort, Randburg,Germiston and Protea Glen pride and all you stupid hamsters can be happy
and just for good mesuare have a Diepsloot one as well
I’m not attending any pride this year! Pride no longer runs for the right reason! It’s a matter of having a piss up on a field and fight about who’s sharing the profit and who’s not!
Gays in South Africa lost the purpose of gay pride as a whole!!
My 5c!
FEW lost the plot they must put the ego away and leave Joburg Pride alone.
We want Pride in Newtown.
No support for FEW, we don’t want your damn Soweto Pride. No one attends you stupid pride. if it dont happen no one will know. We want Joburg Pride, we attend joburg Pride, we love joburg pride, we love joburg now more for coming to Newtown.
Few must stop. They are spoiling everything for the everyone. We don’t need a Soweto pride. Move that small 2 people toi toi to 24 sep
Linde, Thuli, Nkale, Tumi, Nobi, Moho it is really, really obvious you are one person, where did you get these names from (some black people do have names longer than 5 letters you know!). Is that you Truth 🙂
Coming from a nameless fool? This is rich! I was at the meeting and I don’t support you! I won’t come to your pride’s. Fotsekkkkkkkkkkk
My name is Mpitseng, it is a pleasure you meet you whatever your name is. By the way the use of the work Fotsek by your multiple personalities gives you away somewhat. I don’t know which pride you think is mine, but if I had one I would be very glad that you were not at it 🙂
if you not a mischief maker than why not comment under your own name?
I suppose becuase (as you have shown) on a forum like this a name is no more or less reliable an indicator or ones personhood than any other moniker, is it?
Why do you hate FEW so much? I have no real horse in this pride race, I try to go to all the events I can, if Joburg Pride had set itself in the first week of October as usual I would go, if i have to choose I will choose Soweto but only because I think it is politically more important not because I hate the organisers of Joburg Pride, I don’t really know them, as I imagine you don’t really know FEW. Your anger seems very out of proportion with the situation at hand…
My anger is not outta place, when you have FEW railing road what they think the Community want. They not even representing the community. If they spoke less and listened more FEW would realise that no one wants a union march. We want to celebrate our rights and that does not mean we forgetting the issues we have. Screaming and shouting is not going to win people over. FEW can dissolve its obvious they don’t have support!
the guy n the red hat I attended the meeting at Wits as an observer. I said it than and say it again the pride that few and one in nine are trying to host scares me. It is ruining Pride for all of us. Thank you to the people that are brave enough to go ahead and create pride in Newtown. We will support you! Few and one in nine should leave Pride alone and carry on with running the NGOs
I don’t know why I’m so shocked at the vitriol in these discussions. It seems that we ought to talk more and listen more to each other, not get personal and insulting. We cannot always agree with one another, but we should at least respect others’ opinions without getting nasty.. What happened to our sense of community, if ever there was one in the first place? The clash of events is most unfortunate, but in the end people will decide which event they want to attend
Guys let the both organizing commitee sit down and agree on different dates, all this pulling back and forth will not take anyone anywhere, we suppose to be one thing since we are a minority, so if we fighting against each other for the simple thing as shifting dates, then the issue here is more than the prides dates, I am sure the heterosexual community is on stitches loving every moment, when we busy chewing each other for dates, please guys go back to the boardroom and find a common ground, for the sake of celebrating our diversity please……………..
I couldn’t have put it better myself Sthe’. Make every moment of this fabulous pride count!
I think Soweto pride is and has been relevent. However, it does perpetuate division by being a ‘black’ and ‘lesbian’ pride. Perhaps the pride in Newtown this year can bring everyone together. It is back in the city and they have mentioned a bunch of protest actions. It sounds like they are trying to accomodate 1in9 and FEW without giving in to them completely.