Durban - Hundreds of euphoric celebrants gathered at the amphitheatre on the Durban beachfront on Saturday to join the annual Pride march, celebrating 20 years of equal rights for members of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) community.
This year’s event was given an extra injection of energy by the announcement, on Friday, that the US Supreme Court had declared bias against LGBTI people to be unconstitutional, paving the way for same sex marriage in all 50 US states.
“Now they are free, just like us South Africans!” said an excited 22-year-old Thandiswa Kunene who was attending Pride for the first time with her girlfriend.
“We have the most beautiful constitution in the world, and now the US has followed our lead in recognising sexual freedom and equality.”
In contrast to last year’s event, which saw attendees hidden from view on a sports ground near the Moses Mabhida Stadium, this year the LGBTI community was louder, prouder, and more visible than ever, on the lawns in front of the amphitheatre.
Musicians and DJs belted out catchy tunes and whipped the crowd into a froth of excitement as the countdown to the march began.
The energy reached fever pitch as a version of Flo Rida’s Good Feeling was belted out, prompting the large crowd to chorus: “Sometimes, I get a feeling that I never, never, never had before.”
And then they were off! The local chapter of the DA led the procession in a (gaily?) decorated van, followed by a bakkie draped in what looked like pink latex, atop which, perched a half-naked man wearing feathered angel’s wings.
A massive, 30m-long, rainbow-hued gay flag was next, held aloft by visitors from as far away as the UK and Amsterdam, and others from Joburg and Cape Town. Even good old Bloem was represented.
Displaying enviable curves in a fire engine red, slinky catsuit and a bejewelled dress with rainbow-coloured ostrich feather headdress respectively, former Miss Gay SA “Shifa” and willowy Monique Walker, both well-known on the Gauteng beauty pageant circuit, elicited wolf whistles from men and women alike.
“Let’s go and show our pride!” shouted the event’s convener, prominent member of the local LBGTI community Jason Fiddler, and passing motorists caught the refrain hooting for all they were worth.
The clouds rolled in, the rain threatened, but no one could rain on this glorious parade.
“Being here is a reminder of who we are. It is the happiest day on Durban’s events calendar; a day when all of us stand taller, smile wider and feel even prouder,” said Maria Du Plooy.
“In South Africa we know we may express ourselves differently, but we are the same under the skin.”
Sunday Tribune