by Lesego Tlhwale

“JHBPP must be commended for taking the initiative to reclaim the Pride and taking it back to its original stance that of conscience and knowing who and what we are as people.
Dope launch on Saturday”, this is a reflection of Nancy Nkosi who was one of 200+ black LGBTIQA people who gathered at the Constitution Hill on the 17 August 2013 to witness the launch of the Johannesburg People’s Pride (JHBPP).

The Johannesburg People’s PRIDE (JHBPP) hosted a public meeting to announce its planned pride march route which will be walked on the 5 October 2013 for their first annual pride march.

L-R: Muntu Masombuka (EPOC) and Dikeledi Sibanda (FEW) outside Con Hill where the JhBPP was held.
Photos by Nqobile Zungu (17.08.2013)

The well-organized event started off with the organizing committee sharing the JHBPP manifesto and action plans for the upcoming pride event, and like any other pride; JHBPP will host a number of events weeks prior to the main event. Some of the events that will be hosted includes a discussion on ‘Race, Class, and Queerness’, a workshop on organizing protests, a film festival, an art exhibition, walking tours and a multimedia advocacy and production skills workshop.

L-R: Charmain Carrol (Gender activist and Inkanyiso – Projects co-ordinator); Gabrielle Le Roux (Independent artist & gender activist) and Phumi Mtetwa (former Equality Project Director/Writer/Activist) at the JhB People’s Pride, Con Hill. Braamfontein.

Furthermore, the JHBPP gave the attendees a taste of what to expect in the upcoming march by splitting the huge group into five (5) small groups and then assigning each group a leader from the organizing committee to lead the group to one of the five main stops along the route.
The chosen leaders lead their groups with chants to one of the following places; Simon Nkoli Corner, Hillbrow Police Station, Esselen Street Clinic, COSATU House and the Joburg Civic Centre.

When the groups got to their selected destinations a brief history about the place was shared with the group and the reasons why the place was of importance. After the brief visits to the five (5) main stops of the march, the groups came back with feedback and the group which went to the Civic Centre came back with disappointing news.

The group reported that they were told by security personnel working there that they are trespassing and not supposed to convene there. However, that didn’t discourage the group from stopping there on the 5^th, they are planning to go there in a larger group and claim their stance.

The committee said that, “We envision over 10, 000 LGBTIQA people marching the streets of Joburg.”

The pride march will take place on the 5 October 2013 from 10am to 1pm starting at Constitution Hill through Hillbrow, Braamfontein, and back to Constitution Hill where the event will carry on with other activities throughout the day.

 Previous by Lesego

2013 Aug. 6: Invisibility of black lesbians ‘From safe harbours to Equality’

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2013 July 27: African Lesbians and Transgender Facing Belgium

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2013 June 20 Inkanyiso Sees The Rainbows with Norwegians


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2013 June 5: Lesego sharing the work of Inkanyiso at the LGBT conference in Salzburg, AUSTRIA


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2013 May 18: After Mask … Hear Us Out


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2013 May 15: SA Task Team representatives fail the LGBTI community


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2013 April 28: Bleak freedom for black lesbians in South Africa


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2013 April 12: Bros B4 Ho’s at the OIA film festival opening


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2013 March 24: Recognition of LGBTI Activist should be a culture

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2013 March 16: Dangerous love


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2013 Feb. 12: A dildo is not a man; it’s a fantastic toy…


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2013 Mar.1: Definitely NOT “Gaysbian”