Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies will be able to participate in the upcoming annual Pride Festival Day in Cape Town at the end of February. This is according to a press release from festival hosts Outreach Africa. Last year the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Formed in 2014, Cape Town Pride “welcomes anyone from the [LGBTQIA+] community as well as allies to march in celebration and awareness of the community,” according to a recent press release from Outreach Africa. “Our annual Parade gives us a chance to be visible and speak loudly to the rest of the city about what we have achieved, how far we have come and what is still needed.” PHOTO: MatieMedia Archive/Kirthana Pillay
“We are excited to be having it [again],” said Matthew van As, Cape Town Pride Festival director, who has been with Outreach Africa for the past 14 years. Pride will be celebrated in the Mother City on 26 February.
“It has been rusty getting back into the swing of things… [but] the buzz is there,” said Van As. “As we are under executive order […] and State of Disaster, a maximum of 2000 people will be allowed [to attend the festival].”
The Pride Festival forms part of a wider 24-day LGBTQIA+ campaign by Outreach Africa and takes place all over Cape Town. Other events taking place during the campaign include a book evening and Facebook dialogue called ‘Lunchtimes with Pride’, Van As added.
Pride festival organiser, Matthew van As, describes the importance and the many faces that Pride has for attendees.
Tshego Meko, the head of QueerUs, the queer society of Stellenbosch University (SU), has expressed similar excitement about the festival returning in 2022. “People from the [LGBTQIA+] community can see each other and gather this way,” Meko said.
“We can also bring newcomers [of SU] into the queer space of Cape Town,” they added. Meko describes Pride as a “family and community” experience for the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly those whose families are not accepting of their LGBTQIA+ identity.
The festival includes a Pride march in Alfred Street, which will take place from 12:00, a Mardis Gras and an After Party on Long Street. LGBTQIA+ paraphernalia will also be sold in a market area, according to the press release.
“[We can] be queer so assertively, loudly and proudly for one moment,” said Tshego Meko, head of QueerUs, when describing the relevance of Cape Town Pride in 2022.
3 TONS OF FUN, in written correspondence with MatieMedia,described their band as an all-female group about great fun, positive energy, big smiles and a good party. “We have been associated with Outreach Africa and Cape Town Pride for many years and are very supportive of the important work they do. It is a cause close to our hearts because the LGBTQ+ community have been incredibly supportive of us too over the years by attending our shows, booking us for events and buying our music.” PHOTO: Supplied/Leslie Wells
“It is wonderful to be playing live performances again,” wrote Lesley Wells, the manager of 3 TONS OF FUN, in written correspondence with MatieMedia. The group will perform at the Mardi Gras. “We [3 TONS OF FUN] love the crowds that attend the Mardi Gras so we will perform the music they know and love. We will always try and make our set fun and participate [in Pride],” she added.