The LGBTI community wants to reclaim the streets of Soweto
The Soweto Pride is on this weekend and just two years after it was forced to shut down it is celebrating its biggest event yet.
For the first time ever the Soweto Pride will run over three days and feature a parade, camping and after-party.
Soweto is a township in the South African city of Johannesburg. Soweto Pride first started in 2004, but in 2016, authorities denied giving permits to organize the event. Within two years though it has managed to become a massive celebration.
Not for profit organization The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) which supports lesbian and bi women is running Soweto Pride.
This year it’s making a point of making space for black LGBTI women and other ‘sidelined minorities’ after those groups complained about feeling left out of Johannesburg Pride.
‘For years, FEW has worked on advancing and defending the rights of black lesbian women and highlighting the violations faced by this particular community in the townships due to their sexual orientation,’ FEW’s Siphokazi Nombande told Mamba Online.
‘When Soweto Pride was initiated in 2004, the idea was to bring about visibility of lesbian women in the townships and to also work towards reclaiming our voices in our communities.’
by Shannon Power
Source – Gay Star News
