Pride Pride Everyone is full of pride

On Saturday the 3rd of October 2009 over 15 000 people came out to march or support their friends and loved one in the 20th Annual Gay Pride in Joburg, which is a record topping 5000 more people that came out last year .

We arrived at Zoo Lake just after 9am and there was thumping music beating its beat into our souls, Ear-gasmic tunes making your feet just move to the music like they have a mind of their own, as we walked across the field to the clubhouse which we had pre-booked as we wanted to have running toilets. Once we were in the clubhouse we surveyed the field full of stalls, colours and people.

The March started at 11am leading the March was the 94.7 Float with Jeremy Mansfield dressed up as a sailor followed by the supporter’s then Johannesburg Fire station lent one of their fire trucks. Sadly it never sprayed anyone with some water. We joined the march, started shouting with everyone else hoot if you have pride, waving our flags and drinking our sprite we had decided we had to have, Waving at the crowds building up in and around Rosebank.

Once back at Zoo Lake the party began. Watching 15000 people move on a field like a bunch of ants running to the front of the stage like it was made of sugar to watch people like Jeremy Mansfield, Pabi Moloi, top SA DJ and a few drag acts. We danced and drank until we couldn’t anymore. I haven’t partied like that since last year’s pride. I had an absolute party.

Everyone I spoke to said it was the best so far, So I would like to thank the Pride Organisation for arranging such a successful event, To the Joburg people who came out to support us, James Small who came out to share in the festivities, To 94.7 for the advertising, the support and the music, to all the press for covering such an event and getting the message out there that it’s ok to be gay, and that no matter who you are, where you come from, what road you have travelled we are all free and have equal rights. To see pictures of this event please follow this link:

Joburg Gay Pride 2009

Thank you Joburg for the time of my life, now I’m tired and need a week to recover.

Preparing for Pride 2009

Gay pride is the biggest event in any gay, bi or Trans gender person’s

calendar. And it’s also quite big for some companies who use it to show

awareness to the masses it brings to support the gay, bi and Trans gender

nation within the Gauteng area.

So when one prepares for this big event, one has a mental to do list in their

heads and some physically write it down such as myself. I can’t trust my

memory sometimes especially when it comes to remembering things that don’t have much emotion to them.

So my mental to do list would start as follows:

1. Must find out what weather will be like

2. Must find suitable outfit (which is great as it means I get to venture through malls such as Sandton city to find my perfect attire for that day.)

3. Round up the troops ( the social groups in which I travel) to find out who is here, who isn’t, why they aren’t and arrange who will be with me on the day we March for our rights, freedom, support within South Africa and the world.

4. Book hair appointment and find a really funky style to have it cut into just for the day.

5. Decide if we are marching on foot or joining a float. If were marching find and break in the perfect walking shoes. If joining a float finding out the theme dressing accordingly and sorting out what you’re supporting on that float.

6. Ensuring that camera batteries are fully charged as you want to capture the memorable event.

7. Sunscreen if it’s hot (and usually it is) in the 12 years I have been out and proud it’s only rained once.

8. Deciding on meeting points… pre parties and after parties. It’s a more than a 24 hour event. One has to prepare and know everything before the day arrives.

There is already two weeks before so much build up, the gay and lesbian film festival was just on in Monte Casino, then there is picnics and dinners and meetings, Martina Natrivilova has sent a message to wish us gay’s a good pride parade.94.7 has little ads every now and again building us up, for the actual day, this year they are joining us to March through Rosebank in Johannesburg. I wouldn’t mind being on their float to be perfectly honest but so would everyone. One can dream I guess. Right now I have to focus on Pride though, you have seen my list of things to do before this great day and not only must I have one for me but for my sister who is coming to March with me in support of me and my friends and our life style. Last year they claimed there was 10 000 people. I hope this year we beat it.

So come on Gautengers come and support all the gay, bi, and Trans gender people you may have met or know. Come March and support us.

3rd October 2009 Zoo Lake Rosebank 09:00 till 17:00. This is an event for everyone.