EFF commemorates the first pride parade in SA and pride month
13 October 2022
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) commemorates the first pride parade which took place on the 13th of October 1990. This was a monumental occasion, as it was attended by hundreds of people at a time where South Africa was facing its worst uprising in terms of fighting against the oppressive system of apartheid. This was also time for gay and lesbian rights to be recognised, expressed, and advanced.
The first Pride March was pivotal in conscientising the people of South Africa as to the plight of gay and lesbian people. It was a key time to be honest about the victimisation, and stigmas attached to being gay and lesbian. To this day we still live by the words of the late Simon Nkoli, Donne Rundle, Edwin Cameron and Dr Beverly Dietsie.
The queer community has endured decades of oppression, much more so black people who identify as queer. They have had to endure oppression based on their colour, and sexual orientation. As a country we have come a long way in addressing the unfounded hate and stigma surrounding queer bodies. From hate crimes and the brutal attacks the queer community endures on a daily basis, to the lack of will from the police and justice system in acting swiftly against these crimes.
In the words of Simon Nkoli "l cannot be free as a black man if I am not free as a gay man". Unfortunately, the black man is not yet free, neither is the gay man. Black queer people of this country are more oppressed now than ever, because of petty vultures with low self-esteem, who seek to prey on those they deem weak and vulnerable.
What the queer community of 1990 fought for still stands today, the fight for a right to freedom of sexual and gender expression. The right marry and create a family with whomever they so wish, freely. The right to participate in school governing bodies without the glaring eye of bigots who place themselves as masters of the universe.
South Africa has some of the most advanced laws and policies when it comes to gender and queer rights. The right to marry, to love and be loved by whomsoever.
However how do those laws impact the ordinary queer child growing up, if they do not have easy access to gender reassignment surgery? What impact do the laws have if queer people are continuously discriminated against in clinics, when they walk in to receive medical help? What value do these South African laws have if we as a country are still fighting for the lives of queer bodies, when we wake up each and every day to the inactivity of the so called Police Minister and Minister of Justice?
We however seek celebrate this month as it speaks volumes to the work and sacrifices made by those who came before us. We will take this baton and continue fighting.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 13 October 2022
