Cape Town Pride burst back into life last week, with the first full-scale queer Pride celebration in the city since the beginning of the pandemic. The busy ten-day schedule of events included the Pride Party, Mr & Ms Cape Town Pageants, movie nights, book nights and poetry readings, and culminated in the colourful Pride Parade through Cape Town’s downtown Central Business District and the Pride Festival Mardi Gras last Saturday.
Cape Town Pride is proud to focus on the local community, with nearly all stage acts and DJs from the local areas, including townships. This creates an intimacy around the event which was enhanced by the super-friendly, diverse crowd of thousands in attendance. In fact, I’d say I’ve never been to a more diverse event. All queer groups were out in force, particularly Cape Town’s queer female community who made up the majority of the crowd. Another refreshing point of difference is the lack of in-your-face corporate sponsorship. This made the event feel far more community-led. This year’s event even broke a world record by having the most drag queens/kings on a stage at the same time – 97 queens joyously singing the Sister Sledge classic ‘We are Family’.
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South Africa is a beacon of queer rights on the African continent. Following the end of Apartheid, Nelson Mandela made South Africa the first country in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. South Africa was also the fifth country in the world to introduce gay marriage, so it’s no surprise that Pride events in the country are confident celebratory occasions. A shining example for other African countries to follow.
Cape Town offers a stunning urban setting, nestled around the iconic Table Mountain. With two main gay beaches, Clifton’s Third beach, and the nudist Sandy Bay, great hotels, world-class restaurants, super-friendly locals, great nightlife and a bustling downtown, Cape Town Pride offers a great opportunity to escape Winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Add it to your list of trips!
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Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
P.S. You may also like to check out https://queerguru.com/queerguru-goes-to-rio-and-the-mother-of-all-carnivals/
Labels: 2023, Cape Town Pride, Ris Fatah, South Africa
