By: Wakhe Sebenza

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community members left the comfort of their homes too … oh wait, there’s no comfort with most of these individuals. Discrimination and violence against the LGBTI community is still a huge problem. Scratch comfort, the point I’m trying to make is that they left their homes, cities or provinces to march down the streets of Cape Town with their colourful flags and placards, to be seen and to be heard. Cape Town Pride took place on Saturday the 4th of March 2023.

As Candice Nkosi, a Brave Beauties participant and one of the Pride attendees puts it; _“There is a reason for Pride, we are marching for equality, we are claiming our existence.”_ Although she feels Pride has lost that significance it had when it started. She reckons people are now just using Pride for money gains, business and entertainment. People deserve all the fun they have at Pride, LGBTI members go through so much, hate crimes, unequal healthcare, acceptance etc, a time to unwind and escape these daily struggles is much needed. That’s what happens with all the entertainment provided at the pride event after the parade, but let’s not forget the parade and how important it is to show up and be part of it. 

Dimpho Tsotetsi who was also there encourages people to be part of the Parade, otherwise Pride will be just another beer festival. The theme this year was *“Own Your Truth”* and oh yes, Pride goers did own their truth, showing up as who they are. If only the world could be a safe space as Pride, for everyone to freely represent themselves and fight intolerance. 

Owning your truth came at a price this year, R50 could get you inside the Pride event after the parade and that didn’t sit well with the community members. _“Sorry, is this the queue for tickets?”_ I think that was the mostly asked question at the event this year, _“What are your pronouns”_ comes far behind. The answer to the ticket question was not a yes or no case, it was more complicated than that, one of the members on the queue responded “No, we are the hopefuls hoping tickets will be made available again.” Now imagine leaving your province only to be told you need a ticket to get to Pride and those tickets are no longer available, bummer! 

Wentzel April, Cape Town Pride Festival Director, mentioned in one of the interviews that they had a few glitches which he regards as a learning curve for them and hopes to go bigger next year, and maybe get a bigger venue also. One could only hope this doesn’t mean selling more tickets, freedom must be free. 

In a conversation with Leticia Sishi who is also part of Brave Beauties, she sees growth in Pride and she wishes the experience she had for everyone, especially for those who can’t travel to big cities where Pride events are usually held. This gives her an idea and inspiration to take pride to her own township, uMlazi in KwaZulu Natal, which is one of the biggest townships in South Africa, soon we will be heading to UMlazi Pride, added Leticia.