Pride brightens up Soweto

Hundreds of LGBTQI+ members paraded in rainbow flags, waved in their pride colours and filled Soweto streets over the weekend.

It was the 19th annual Soweto Pride March, an occasion filled with unwavering determination to highlight gay rights.

Many in attendance said while the day was about embracing their sexuality, the urgency in their fight to be recognised especially in many parts of the continent remained paramount.

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This year’s pride march was celebrated under the theme “Creating Inclusive Communities” to promote equal access.

Crystal Hendricks of Intersex South Africa, which marked their first time at Soweto pride, told Urban News that their presence was to bring visibility to intersex people who have been considered invisible for a long time.

She said the intersex community had been silenced for many years and hoped that this would mark a new beginning.

“I think today is a monumental moment for our organisation. It’s really exciting but at the time we have to recognise the history of isolation from such events.

“Our community has really been isolated and kind of erased from the broader LGBTQI community but this year we decided to take a stand to cement ourselves that we too are part of the LGBTQI community,” said Hendricks.

“We felt 2023 is that year we take up space and hold the narrative for our stories and realities because for a long time people have been speaking about intersex people but it was never our voices.”

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Henry Wackam who originates from Cameroon and forms part of Rainbow Refuge Africa said it was necessary to give a voice to LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers within the bounds of South Africa.

“The problem we are encountering as refugees and asylum seekers in SA is that we are not seen. We tend to be mistaken for illegal immigrants, so it is time to set the record straight.

We are refugees, we are asylum seekers, we fled home due to persecution and discrimination and that is why we are here,” said Wackam.

“We are not illegal, we love this beautiful country and its progressive constitution and being here at Soweto Pride shows that South Africa upholds human rights. However, we would like laws implemented and having an impact to the LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers.”

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Dineo Mofokeng (26) who attended the March on Saturday said, “I am here as a queer woman, to represent my community.

“Soweto Pride is a celebration of our struggles. Everything we have been fighting for, to be seen, our rights, our freedom, inclusivity and access.

“As an exotic dancer and being in the sex business I feel my voice is the loudest here because no one takes us seriously as LGBT in that space and this is the only way I can get people to hear me out.”

Sylvester Kaziwe, a Transmen from Uganda said being in South Africa was a different experience from his home country, which recently passed anti-gay laws in May, where they are still persecuted and judged for their sexual orientation.

He cited that being part of the pride march afforded him a safe space where he could express his identity without being threatened with a death penalty or life imprisonment.

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Many said the LGBTI community in SA was still marginalised and there was still a long way to go for the government to implement the laws and policies to have an impact, while some like Kaziwe said they hoped the day would bring education and raise awareness.

“Our community is still marginalised and I think it begins with a social change in perspective.

“South Africa has some of the best laws but when it comes to implementing then nothing happens. There’s a lot of work that needs to happen.

This is us playing our role in creating awareness and when we march around the township, we enforce our existence and create visibility,” explained organisers, Forum for the Empowerment of Women.