gays parade in mafikeng

By Lesego Masike (BTM Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – November 16, 2007: A new gay organisation – Gay Umbrella – celebrates its first ever Pride March on 24 November this year.

Gay Umbrella, which fights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights, was founded on 5 May this year in the North West province.

Secretary of the organisation, Hendrik Baird, lauded the Joburg Pride for inspiration. “We were inspired by Joburg Pride, and we are excited since it is the first time it will be taking place in here,” said Baird.

The Pride parade is intended to be an annual event like the ones taking place in Johannesburg and Cape Town., which according to the leaders will encourage participation from the community to engage in LGBTI issues.

“We organised this event to draw attention to hate crimes in particular [and] show people that we exist, and also speak against discrimination towards those infected with HIV”, said Chairperson Mildred Maropefela.

The march is scheduled to start at 11:00am at Mmabana Mafikeng Park through Mega City passing Star Shop and back at the park for entertainment by Lyv Promotions and some dancers.

Maropefela emphasised that Gay Umbrella was established to show the Mafikeng community that “homosexuality is not something that you apply for.”

“We established the organisation to do away with the myth that people change when they get to Gauteng, so we want to make them aware that we exist in the rural areas as well”, attested her.

Although Maropefela admits that there wasn’t any case of homophobia that was reported before to the organisation, she feels that it is important to make a statement on this issue during the parade.

“We want to start talking about this so that people can start reporting, hence we started the organisation. And we would appreciate any assistance from other LGBTI organisations”, she appealed.

OUT LGBT Well-being in Tshwane will be on site to provide HIV/Aids testing and counseling as well as information on health.

For more details, contact Mildred Maropefela on 073 157 1791