CTCommunityPride

Cape Town Community Pride was an inspiring, emotional, intellectual, and yes, spiritual affair. A dozen Queer people from beyond the Boereworsgordyn (pun intended), dressed to impress, came to help us re-imagine a meaningful Pride, conscious of the ongoing challenges constraining Queer existence, the dearth of safe spaces to manifest who you are, and the continued lack of access to equity and fair engagement for especially Queer youth. Charlton Petersen spoke beautifully of the need for a caring, supportive mindset and an acknowledgement of the vital conversations Queer people need to have amongst themselves, especially with regard to the violence embedded in society when challenging or confronting bias and discrimination, and often just for existing. And how we need to be there for one another Craig Lucas just inspires and motivates when he opens his mouth, whether it be to sing or talk, and again he didn't disappoint. His testimony about the power of loving yourself had the room transfixed. With great sincerity and vulnerability he spoke about how Queer People reflect our journeys for each other and how that can be a powerful tool for change. How it all means little though if you haven't yet come to love who you are. And how it all is essentially about love. Wonderful, difficult-to-explain things happen at these events. Extraordinary moments casually marked or expressly pointed. The 2 Eves holds it all in such beautiful fashion. We - Nicole, Richard, Craig - sang to hearts inspired. They - our guests - sang and spoke inspiration into ours. Ms D Blogging and Ina Propriette brought the fine art of drag. The vibrational levels in the room was off the charts. Passersby gathered at the window to catch some of the spill. The energy and palpable intensity of the occasion fizzed and popped, prodded and provoked, gurgled and gushed, and mostly leaking love, burst into abandon and grand appreciation for the entertainment. It was a Pride to note, note It was Cape Town Community Pride

SP