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Pride flags are used to celebrate Pride Month at the Stonewall National Monument at Christopher Park adjacent to The Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.
The first Northern Cape Pride parade took to the streets of Galeshewe in Kimberley to acknowledge the LGBTQI+ community and the challenges they face.
The event under the theme “Pride with a Purpose,” provided a platform to celebrate diversity and promote understanding among all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The streets of Galeshewe were painted in different colours when queer people paraded and showcased their unity and spirit. Creating what they described as a safe and welcoming space where everyone could express themselves and celebrate who they are.
The organisers say the event is not just about pride, it’s also about building a community of people who support one another and stand together against discrimination.
Organiser of Northern Cape Pride Tebogo Makwati says they are still faced with many challenges
“Community organisers came together and organised a first Northern Cape Pride that showed a significant interest from organisations because this is our first ever. As you would know, the Northern Cape is always sidelined. A province that is deeply rural and a lot of discrimination that is hidden, so, for the first time we came out and say we are here and we exist as queer people.”
Queer people who attended the event say a lack of education sometimes causes the community to discriminate against them.
“We are celebrating pride but we are also celebrating the intersexuality of our struggle in terms of race, in terms of gender and identity in itself. So, it cements us to say we are here and us walking in these streets where we grew up and some of us have been victimized,” says Kabelo Moratwe
Letlhogonolo Moncho explained the importance of this event, “It is a celebration of life, acceptance and being who truly you are”.
One of the attendees, Sybil Barry also added, “I am happy that we get to be open and I am also happy that we get to school other people who don’t know so that they can have a clue and maybe tag along. When these people leave here, they will leave different people. Some people love gays and lesbians from a distance but when it hits home, it is a different story. They start to have attitude. We just need to sit people down and explain to them that we are just normal people.”
Northern Cape Gay Pride featured a spectacular setting, inspiring speakers and live performances.
Organisers say the event was a huge success and they are hoping to host an even bigger one next year.
🌈 Happy Pride, Northern Cape! 🌈 Celebrate Northern Cape Pride 2024 this Sat, 30 Nov, at the Galeshewe Open Air Arena in Kimberley!
Bring friends, family, neighbors, allies—anyone who stands for love, equality, and inclusion. Here are all the details!— Mambaonline (@Mambaonline) November 29, 2024
