South Africa Drag Queens Still Threatened With Arrest
by Mark Levy, 365Gay.com Newscenter, Cape Town, South Africa Bureau.
Originally published: 21 September 2004.
(Johannesburg, South Africa) A rightwing gay organization Tuesday admitted it was behind pressure on Johannesburg police to arrest anyone in drag at this Saturday's gay Pride parade.
Last week the Johannesburg Metro police warned Pride organizers that they would arrest drag queens under a law which states, "No person shall at any gathering or demonstration wear a disguise or mask or any other apparel or item which obscures his facial features and prevents his identification".
Monday, after a meeting between police and Pride parade organizers police officials said that drag would be permitted. But, Tuesday, the conservative Gay and Lesbian Alliance said it would make sure drag queens are arrested for contravening the apartheid-era act.
"We are the ones who brought the Regulation of Gatherings Act to the attention of the police - it is like they didn't study it well," David Baxter, spokesperson for the conservative Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GLA).
Baxter said that the GLA would immediately lay charges when the first drag queens hit the streets, and make sure they were arrested.
"We are totally against such parades because they are unlawful and harm the image of lesbians and gays. They incorrectly imply that being gay and lesbian means jumping into the clothing of the opposite sex," he said.
But, Metro police spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said he doubted any charges or arrests would be made for wearing drag.
"The GLA cannot dictate terms for us - we use our discretion ... We don't want to interfere with what they will be wearing as long as the procession is decent."
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