Joburg Pride to go ahead despite threats
The pride that is set to take place on Saturday, 29 October is confident that the 33rd Johannesburg Pride March and Pride of Africa Celebrations can go ahead as planned.
The Johannesburg Pride is urging everyone that had planned to attend the pride this Saturday, 29 October to remember why pride began.
On Wednesday afternoon, 26 October, an alert was issued by the U.S. embassy regarding a possible terrorist attack in the greater Sandton area.
“We have consulted with the various entities, and at this point: postponing pride is hard, proceeding with pride is hard, and deciding whether or not to attend is a hard decision,” read the released statement.
According to a released statement by the organisation, “It was a protest action. We as a continent have a very marginalised LGBTQI+ community. We live under constant attack and there is a constant fear of being arrested in 33 of 54 countries.
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The organisation says despite their constitutional rights, they are marginalised in South Africa. The threat has provided an opportunity for homophobes to emerge, inciting a series of homophobic comments directed at Pride and our LGBTQ+ community and the reason for our existence”.
“We must remember that it is critical for us to occupy the space we intend to occupy on October 29, that we take to the streets, and that we assert our visibility. We must establish our presence and demonstrate our strength as a united community. Coming together as an LGBTQ+ community in Africa, South Africa, and Johannesburg,” the organisation said.
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#wewillmarch pic.twitter.com/QXn9gFd6ix
— Johannesburg Pride (@JhbPride) October 27, 2022
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