Outside in the courtyard, platters and platters of finger foods and bottles and bottles of bubbly. We all stood outside, munching away, having a glass or two of bubbly and meeting wonderful, interesting new people.
What a way to spend the first night of Cape Town pride. Where were you? Day 2 — Friday night, long day in the office The line-up for the night was the Red party. One event, eighteen 18 , yes 18 venues. Where do you go?
Answer, as many places as possible. All the clubs in the village were filled with many people. For R30 you had access to all 18 venues, there was no need to drive as there were many cabs around to take you from one venue to the next. I only managed to get to a couple, think it is my age catching up with me. Regardless, it was a Friday night and we are normally out on a Friday.
What is R30 for all the venues, the profits go to a good cause anyway.
I tracked down the event manager Fadwa Walker who said that this collaborative effort between 18 clubs and restaurants raised a substantial amount of money for a good cause that would not have been possible without a core group of passionate volunteers from all walks of life, giving 8 hours of their time in feather boas, high heels and top hats to show everyone how we love our diversity.
What an amazing evening, good music and a great party by all who attended, where were you? Day 3 — The Pool Party. A scorching hot day with the sun beating down. A pool party was just the right event to attend. All were welcome! So where was everyone? In my opinion, this needs to change. It was a fantastic afternoon, with a heated pool and good music. Overall it was a relaxing and fun afternoon, where were you? After a selection process the contestants were chosen by a panel of judges.
During the evening they had to present themselves to the public and the panel of judges. There were great performances including 3D who wowed the audience with their Beyonce moves on stage. It was great to see a spectrum of contestants rather than the usual extremely thin emaciated looking men and women in a contestant like this.
A wonderful evening to attend. Day 4. It is a Sunday; work in the morning and an event that I have been looking forward to going to all week. Many were weary of entering Guglulethu so Cape Town Pride hired a Golden Arrow bus to transport everyone to and from the venue; I wish I could have taken the bus into Juju-leteois, say Gugulethu with a limp wrist and a high pitched voice, Juju-leteois! I had a tear roll down my check at the overwhelming feeling of being welcomed as a community to the township however suspicious when there is a major issue of corrective rape that is rife country wide and known and ignored in the townships and other areas of South Africa and the world, like countries like Uganda where it is still illegal to be a homosexual.
Cape Town Pride brings an event into the townships, but where were you? I believe this was the best event of the entire festival. Cape Town Pride Day 5.
Holding down three jobs and attending all the events the tiredness was starting to catch up to me. None the less how could a person not attend the theatre especially when it is one of the trendy theatres in the City? Divas On Broadway was on offer. Jaco, a friend of mine called me to tell me he had already bought me my ticket. What a pleasant show, started recognising faces, pride followers that have been at all the other events.
A well spent R Sadly, where was I? I got caught up at work and could not make the events.
Reports from friends say that the talk was powerful and the picnic was relaxing. Day 8. The Pink Ball was the most spoken about event on the calendar. From what I heard, the year before was an absolute disaster. Why would anyone want to go I believe this year was times better than last year. Compliments to the food and beverage manager for ensuring great food, and beverage was on tap at all times.
The highlight of the evening was the Auction where you could bit for items like the San Francisco Gay flag which fetched a pretty penny. The best thing about this auction is that the proceeds go to the Gay and Lesbian Shelter trust. Day 9.
Who would make your list? Spain is a trailblazer when it comes to LGBTQ rights with an incredibly openminded society who embrace and celebrate diversity. Each chapter is book-ended with an illustrated recipe-- many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy's original inventions. Alan Ross ed. Gay Malta in a nutshell Spartacus rank : joint 1 with Canada and Sweden Gay marriage legalized : Number of Pride events : 1 The main gay villages : none, but a few gay friendly bars Best gay events : Malta Pride. By the author of The Checklist Manifesto. The intrepid crew at Out Adventures are hosting perhaps the most physically challenging gay tour we've ever seen.
Cheese and wine fundraiser was held at the pride shelter trust in Oranjezicht; 1 Molteno Road. Day Floats were built and people arrived in their thousands. I stand corrected but I believe there were over people at the parade, were did everyone go after the march? This year the route was changed and the march went through Green Point and Sea Point ending at the Cape Town Stadium, what a great venue to hold the celebration of the year. Thousands marched proudly through the streets, waving feather boas and marching in heels. But also to put a little bit of a spot light on issues such as corrective rape in South Africa and how wrong that is and why it needs to change.
Why is there a pride parade and what is the point? There is no struggle and need to be heard, seen and accepted for who we are, or is there? What about Uganda. It is strange that we feel a sense of pride to be who we are but many do not support these momentous world recognized event. Where is your support and where is your pride to be who you are.
Many said to me in passing that it was their 1st pride that they attending and it helped them realize who they are. It is a bigger picture that we need to acknowledge and contribute in any small way as we possibly can. Even if it is just to mince around Sea Point and join the celebration, yes celebration, not party at the end as there is more to it than just a party. Cape Town Pride was a massive success and I was proud to be part of it and was fortunate enough to attend many of the events.
I wish I had more time to have been able to get to the ones I missed. Hopefully, after seeing and hearing about my experience at Cape Town Pride , you feel inspired to join in the years to come for whatever reason in your own capacity to show your support. I would like to extend an invitation to the gay and lesbian society at large to attend Cape Town pride ! Lauren qualified at the University of the Witwatersrand with her Masters in Community-based Counselling.
She has been working at a high school for the past few years. If you have any questions you would like to ask Lauren, mail her on alice alicemagazine. Your mind becomes occupied with that one person, and as a lesbian you inevitably fantasise about moving in together, getting a joint bank account, promise rings and making a list of possible names for your children which in your ideal world shares both of your DNA.