editorial: Pride at distance

October 10, 2007: For years – previously – I always perceived Gay Pride as uncanny because of the media’s burlesque focus on appearances and renditions taking place at the event.

In fact, it’s the media [let me say the mainstream media] that misleadingly alienated this perception where one wouldn’t prefer to attend one of these popular events – or perhaps it could be the violence that used to erupt – until my first Gay Pride that I attended this year at the Johannesburg Zoo Lake over the previous weekend.

Certainly, the Gay Pride is much more than genteel and serene aesthetic parade and celebration. It’s more than even the well organised and matured events and celebrations that I attended before.

The Pride, to me, revealed some seriousness as the gay community cherished and celebrated with pride for its existence which was quite envious for anybody observing, especially when sauntering the streets of Rosebank – without any disruption at least this year.

Well, I almost yearned for it to happen in my neighbourhood far in the rural area where homosexuality is still deep taboo, which – I think – the Pride could resolve that riddle of taboo.

If I may comment, the Gay Pride is enormously growing and liberating. It also answers most of the alienations within the mainstream community that gay people in fact are human beings like anyone, and therefore they deserve anything best like celebrating their pride as a fledged community.

Pride continua!!! Let’s not observe the Pride at a distance.