DURBAN Pride week kicks off today with a host of events planned for the annual occasion.
Running alongside the official programme is an array of entertainment events, including film screenings, a sundowner cruise, a book fair and more.
Siphokazi Nombande, community and youth wellbeing officer at the Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre, said Durban Pride Week was one week in the year that city communities celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people for the many roles they have played and continue to play in our society.
“During this week, we bring to the fore the realities of being LGBTI within our communities,” she said.
“Through workshops, a seminar, movie night, the book fair, Mr and Miss Durban Pride and the parade itself on Saturday, we engage with human rights, identity and expression issues.
“We address access to a home, education, employment and safety matters, but also create spaces to unwind and relax and have some fun. To this end, the locations for the week-long programme are great for this. We also have the cruise, parties and the picnic on Sunday.
“There is also a bit of a spiritual element (the Pride Service at Diamond Guest House on Sunday).”
Tomorrow, Durban Pride will screen the most popular films that played at the recent Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Some of these include Milind Soman Made Me Gay, Rites of Passage, You Can’t Curry Love and I Want To Know What It’s Like. Screenings take place at the KZNSA Gallery, and tickets are R30 a screening. On Wednesday, there is a two-hour African Sundowner Cruise with the theme “Wet & Wild” on the catamaran My Girl Too. The cover charge is R120.
“We will have two ladies and three guys dressed in Tarzan and Jane costumes as our eye candy for the evening, but people coming to the cruise are more than welcome to dress according to the theme,” said Nombande.
On Saturday, the Durban Pride Parade kicks off at King’s Park Stadium, and will be followed by an after-party.
“We will be showcasing the best of Durban 2011/12 divas, DJs… Miss Gay Durban 2011 will also perform and a number of other acts that are pretty hot on the local clubbing scene,” said Nombande.
• For the full programme visit www.durbanpride.org, Facebook: Durban Pride or e-mail [email protected]