South Africa is widely regarded as the most LGBTQ-friendly country in Africa. It legalized same-sex sexual activity 23 years ago and same-sex marriage 11 years ago.
The country’s biggest city is Cape Town, which held its annual Pride parade and Mard Gras festival on Saturday in the suburb of Green Point. It was the culmination of a ten-day Pride festival. The theme for 2020 was “True To You – Be Who You Are.”
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The event is estimated to attract an additional 6,000 visitors to the region throughout its week-long run and receives a portion of its financial support from the City of Cape Town.
Keith Eros Mlilo (@eros_km) said he found Pride a “beautiful experience. Even more people came out to celebrate than the year before. Being amongst like-minded individuals who understood that Pride was not born out of a need to flaunt our sexuality but rather as a day for us to live truly and in acceptance of ourselves, was an amazing experience itself.”
His sentiments were echoed by Justin Davids (@justindee94).
“My favorite thing about Pride is the spirit of togetherness that it brings,” he said. “You really feel a sense of community. You get to meet people you normally only see online. And above all, we proudly fly our pride flag high and take up our space and let everyone know that we won’t be pushed aside and silenced: Our lives matter.”
Another attendee, Caron Isaacs (@mizzcaron) said she and friends (above) “had a really great time”, but wasn’t without some criticism. She said she’d have welcomed bigger stage acts and thought the bar service could have been quicker, among other things.
“I guarantee us in the community would support the cause and pay a bit more if that is what it takes.”
Neil Ryan (@neilryan_za) told Gay Cities, “Although the event is celebrated as inclusionary by some, the struggle for equality and transformation is not over. Many LGBTI+ located outside of the city are forced to the fringes of society.”
He recommended people also check out Khumbulani Pride, which takes place annually in the nearby township of Khayelitsha. “This year it will take place toward the end of April, in an iconic yet poorly serviced suburb outside the city centre.”
Check out more images below.
