By: Noxolo Miya
Johannesburg - The LGBTQIA+ community says had the event organisers not stood firm and pushed through last weekend’s event, all the planning and preparations for the much anticipated gathering would have been in vain.
Thousands took part in the first Pride parade post the Covid-19 pandemic despite the US embassy’s warning of a possible terrorist attack in Sandton last weekend.
In their Pride colours, the marchers sang, cheered, waved pride flags and paraded through Sandton Drive and 5th Street amid a heavy police presence.
One of the event's organisers, Kaye Alley said: “It was a very hard decision for us to make but at the end of the day, postponing Pride would have reduced and diluted the essence of why we march. Pride began essentially as a defiance campaign and we feel that in this instance, defiance is still key.”
Neo Tlholo, a member of the LGBTQIA + community, who wanted to attend the Pride march but was advised against it by his parents, said: “I was hurt when my parents told me not to go because they feared for my safety. And as you know, generally our community at large is not even built on safety, so when the news of the (alleged planned) attack surfaced. I understood why my parents didn't want me to go.
“After hearing from my friends who attended, and seeing on social media that the march was a success, I felt I missed had out on a lot. And it’s a space where for once, we let go of our insecurities. You let go of everything that you fear and you just enjoy the moment of being surrounded by people who are like you. I’m really sad that I missed out on all of that.”
Alex Smit-Stachowski, an ally in the ANC LGBTQIA subcommittee said: “If Kaya Ally who organised the Pride march had not met with representatives of the community and the police to deliberate about going ahead, Pride would not have taken place at all. It went ahead because the this community will not be bullied.
“Pride marches have been targeted by homophobic, right-wing extremists - in Oslo, two were killed and 21 injured by an Islamic terrorist.
“The threat could not be ignored. It was likely and this is why so many in the LGBTQIA community stayed away, despite the go-ahead from Pride organisers.”
According to State Security Deputy Minister Zizi Kodwa, the US issued the terror attack warning was premature.
Kodwa reassured South Africans that the country’s security was intact.
The Star