So I went to Joburg Pride this year - yay me! Is there anything better than thousands of queers all together? Alright, that probably sounds a bit separatist, but hey, it's really nice not to be outnumbered for once. The sun was out and so were we - most of the boys looking fabulous and most of us lesbians looking ... well, wearing jeans and t-shirts really; myself included. I contemplated a pink grim reaper outfit, but just didn't get it together. Anyway, my girlfriend I scored QueerLife "EISH I C STR8 PPL" shirts and I think we got stopped and photographed as much as any glitzy drag queen - not to mention one complaint from a straight woman. It's OK though, my girlfriend hugged her, so she's gay now.
My favourite corner of Pride is always the bit where all the right-on organizations like GALA and FEW and Behind the Mask and Out hang out. I do my shopping there too, because I am a firm fan of the causes they work for. Also, I am a right-on sort of a dyke and I like to stick to stereotype.
The march itself seemed to be completely devoid of protestors - either we're now completely acceptable and can give up fighting for our rights ... or maybe the fundamentalists couldn't be bothered to join the other few spectators along the route, which was primarily a construction site - er, I mean, central Rosebank. Eudy Simelane's murder would suggest that the answer does not lie in the former suggestion. Are people ever going to learn tolerance? It seems not.
Doing a pride march with a camera is interesting too - it's fascinating to see
who poses and who hides when the zoom lens appears. I started blatantly taking
a series of shots of spectators along the way and even some of those people ducked and ran when The Lens approached. It was a fun little twist on things though - the spectacle photographing the spectators. You know how heterosexuals often say, "We don't mind you being queer, but do you have to dress like that in public?" - well, Saturday night's TV news made it clear yet again that when presented by an incredibly diverse queer crowd, all the mainstream media is interested in is pink and sparkly. Not that there is anything wrong with that at all, but the tannies in their lounges never get to see what a very mixed bunch we are.
Another thing I love about Pride is running into old friends - it makes for a pretty awesome sense of community. Queer is not my only identifying mark, but it's a significant one and I love seeing my tribe smiling. We should take absolutely every opportunity we can to throng together; protests, parties and whatever other reasons we can find. We should bitch less and unite more. Our voice will be louder that way.
Words: Ulla Kelly
Photo: GLK
