ALEXANDRA SMIT-STACHOWSKI
Johannesburg - The mood on Saturday in Sandton was festive, laced with an undercurrent of unease– as this year’s Pride March went ahead.
A 3 000-strong crowd braved the streets, in spite of the terror warning to avoid large gatherings in Sandton issued by the US embassy and echoed by the French, Canadian, UK and Australian embassies.
When the news broke of the threat, the LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Other) community was on high alert. The first Pride March since the pandemic, was at threat due to an alert by a foreign government.
A community of parents of transgender and non-binary children (supported by the non- governmental groups, Iranti and Matimba) had planned to march in a show support at event.
Messages poured in via WhatsApp that parents were scared and that their children would not be attending. The youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ already face emotional obstacles, when having to simply leave the house, hoping to avoid bullying or awkward situations– while hating what they see, when they look in the mirror.
This threat, while deemed as unsubstantiated by the South African security forces, was however, very real for the queer community.
In June, a 42-year old man with links to Islamic extremist network Arfan Bhatti, killed two people and injured 21 others at a Pride March in Oslo, Norway. In the US, the Proud Boys and other extremist groups have threatened numerous LGBTQIA+ marches.
Further afield, in Istanbul, Turkey, the Pride March was subject to heavy-handed tactics by the police, who beat and detaining marchers.
Besides intimidating and terrifying potential marchers, the terror threat has had serious economic implications. Sandton lost money as members of the community stayed away.
The buying power of the LGBTQI+ community (the “pink rand”) was estimated five years ago to be valued at an impressive 3.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) or R152 billion. Sandton City and nearby hot spots lost valuable income, as Bolt drivers complained on Saturday that business was down.
I was meant to walk with a group of at least 20 people from Pretoria, but they stayed away. Those who did attend had booked flights and hotel rooms to attend the function, or like me, felt they had to make a stand to show bullies that South Africans will not be intimidated.
While many think that Pride is donning a tutu and bright colours, it is still a political event. Among the issues, of primary importance is the proposed Hate Crimes Bill. This will hold accountable racists and those who hurt the queer community, but the bill has been waiting four years to be passed by Parliament.
For the trans community wishing to receive treatment but are without medical aid, gender-conforming surgery offered at public hospitals and clinics has a waiting list of several years. The youth and those who have suffered gay bashing identify Home Affairs, the police and the Education Department as the institutions that urgently need to offer training to staff to help those in the LGBTQIA community.
The crowd on Saturday marched as one – activists standing up for the rights of a community, who according to 2021 Statista figures make up 8% of the population.
Activist Steve Letsike spoke for the crowd when he said: “We are here, we are going nowhere.”
Smit-Stachowski is a former Saturday Star journalist
The Star