FUSS OVER JOBURG PRIDE SPONSOR
A kerfuffle has erupted on Facebook over issues related to the media sponsor for Joburg Pride 2009, which is set to take place in just over a week.
An e-mail from a Frik de Witt, who expresses concerns about the role of Gauteng radio station 94.7 Highveld Stereo in the event, has been widely circulated on the social networking site.
De Witt asks why it has not been made clear that Pride is a gay event in the on-air mentions promoting the parade on the station.
“This is turning into 94.7 Joburg Pride, being punted to straight people that have no idea what Pride is, and this opens us up to homophobic attacks. Uninformed people might take it that it is something similar to Joburg day, show up, and then only realise it is a gay event. I do not know how no one could foresee this as a possible risk of increasing the probability of a homophobic attack,” writes De Witt.
He accused the Joburg Pride Board of “selling out the gay community for corporate sponsorship,” noting that “this indeed is a sad day.” He further threatened to call for a boycott of the event.
The co-chairs of Joburg Pride, Zak Mbhele and Tanya Harford replied in an e-mail that the on-air announcements by 94.7’s djs are only one avenue of promotional messaging and that the other means of advertising employed, such as posters, pamphlets and online media, are quite emphatic about the fact that Joburg Pride is an event primarily for the LGBT community.
They also noted that 94.7 is directing its listeners to the Joburg Pride page on their website which clearly describes the event as an LGBT one.
“Your concerns about homophobic attacks are also duly noted however we believe that the security arrangements that have been made – in conjunction with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department – will suffice to mitigate and contain any risks to the safety of participants,” they further said.
Mbhele and Harford also noted that the two present Joburg Pride Parade days that have been organised by the current board were both advertised with similar messaging through the then-media sponsor, 5FM.
“If we give up on and boycott our own community events and spaces and are a house divided, it makes it all the more easier for Jacob Zuma and Ray McCauley to shut down and close those events and spaces,” said Mbhele and Harford.
They called on de Witt to remain involved in Joburg Pride, “from attending the Parade Day, supporting the various fundraiser initiatives such as Friends of Pride and film premiers, attending the Joburg Pride AGMs and volunteering to sit on the board’s portfolio committees.”
Craig Stadler, a columnist for gay monthly newspaper, Exit joined the fray in an e-mail:
“Is there nothing else to have a tirade about? It seems that when John Qwelane is not saying something stupid in the press we have an overwhelming need to find a new villain and it saddens me.
“I’m thrilled that someone like 94.7 wants to be a part of an event of this magnitude. For years the moffies have bitched and moaned that mainstream organisations don’t include them in their day to day life…”
He adds: “Quite frankly if [94.7 dj] Jeremy Mansfield is prepared to come out with us on Pride day with his chemo therapy ridden body and celebrate when he’s not even a poof, then dammit I’m gonna be there too.”
Joburg Pride 2009, presented by 94.7 Highveld Stereo, takes place on Saturday, 3rd October. Be at Zoo Lake Sports Club by 11:00 for the parade through Rosebank and then join Pride for an entertainment line-up featuring 94.7 Highveld Stereo DJs and MCs – back at Zoo Lake Sports Club. Soft-drink and water points will be provided for marchers and pets. Besides the entertainment, there will also be the Community Village, Pride stalls with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale, bars, food and a kiddies’ play area. The post-parade celebrations continue until 5pm.
sell Pride. Hey all,
Good points of argument and discussion. Perhaps Bath can jump in now and sell his Trade Mark rights to 94.7 Highveld stereo as the current board is clearly not interested in the TM……
The word GAY. i think it is brilliant that it is not GAY pride. it is hight time that we do not HAVE to say GAY anymore. They do not say “Come to STRAIGHT Joburg Day 2009” So why should we say Joburg GAY pride. Yes, it is a protest by the gay community, but the whole aim is to get the straight community involved in it as well. It has never been exclusively gay, people have been taking straight friends and family along for years. And the more straight people we can get to support our cause, the more awareness there is, and the more power it gives the community.
Every single year with pride you get one lonely queen throwing toys about something. Yes, debate is neccesary, but when we start threatning to boycott our OWN events because not every single thing is to our liking, and there is infighting, we are dooming ourselves.
I think it is fantastic that 94.7 does not say it is a gay event. Just think, if one poor straight homophobic sod went there and actually saw how much fun it is and not as bad as he thought, it is one more guy who becomes more accepting towards the gay community.
The point is, if you do not feel happy with how pride is organised, or you feel that it is not what you want, you have 2 choices. Either do not attend, and you do not have to be subjected to the “horrific” things, or, get involved in the organisation thereof next year, so that your voice can be heard and you can shape things to a more “acceptable” level. I think the guys of Joburg Pride is doing an excellent job, and are getting better and better at it every year, and I see joburg pride becomming as huge as Sydney Mardi Gras in a few years…
GAY PRIDE.. Hi there
I think you missing the point here.
I have been in the gay scene for years now and was at the first Gay Pride Parade.
I have run and owned a few clubs in my time and have gone through this many many a time.
We start a GAY CLUB AND we let everyone in.
In a few short years it becomes the place to be the st8 people come and slowly take over and we have to move and start a new club.
We need a place to call our own and have a day that is ours…there is mother’s day, father’s day woman’s day etc.
In a few short years this could just be another day without any meaning.
Come on people we really don’t want this day to turn into a day that we do not own.
20 years ago we wanted to fight to get our rights in the constution and we have to still fight to keep them.
Let us never forget what we have and the people that fought for those rights
We just need a day that says we are here and never forget us.
This year we have a theme and its “YOU NEED PRIDE” it’s there for all of us gay people to see what we have and what we fought for.
ZUMA and his mates can take it away anytime and where will we be NO GAY PRIDE and NO RIGHTS AT ALL.
Looking forward to see you at this year LESBIAN AND GAY PRIDE PARADE.
This year it will be bigger and better as a GAY OWNED AND RUN EVENT.
Best
Bruce
Point taken. Hey Bruce. I do hear you and I understand your point of view, and definitely respect your opinion on all the experience you have with the clubs you’ve owned. I am definitely not saying we should hand over Pride to the straights, I just hate to see how we fight and bicker amongst ourselves every single year with Pride for some reason, whether it is the theme or the date or organisers or whatever. This is the time that we really SHOULD stand together and SHOW the world that we are here and what we stand for. Yes, perhaps 94.7 should have made it clear that it is a gay parade, but is it really THAT big of a deal that they didn’t? If anything else it would make people more aware if they did turn up unsuspectingly. To say “we are scared of abuse” is a lame excuse. I have never seen outright abuse at Pride from straights, except for the bottle throwing incident in the City a few years ago, but that was obviously a coward. My point is, most homophobes are big mouth anonymously or at a straight party between friends, but absolute cowards when face to face with a gay guy, and especially won’t if there are thousands at once. Plus we have always had excellent security, so these “fears” are unfounded.
We should really not make a big thing out of this. And by this I do not mean submission. We must never let our guard down. But I am thinking of the fact that we do need well known sponsors for the event, and if we start taking 94.7 on about it, we might lose it next time. So instead of making this huge fuss and threatning to boycott the event, just because the word gay wasn’t used in a radio ad – even though all the links on the website are surely going to tell you it is a gay event, plus every time Jeremy Mansfield talked about it, it was CLEAR it was a gay event, our Pride Organisers should note the concern in the community and perhaps next year ask the sponsor (whomever it is) to include the word gay. And how does it look anyway to outsiders if we fight among ourselves the whole time, is that not doing more damage than the lack of the word “gay” in a radio spot?
I am amazed that straights actually worm themselves in and take over a club. We must never allow it to happen, we now have as much right as anyone. We need to make ourselves heard, yes, but in the right way. What they must hear is a unified voice, not the voice of bickering and making mountains out of mole heaps, or worse, our infighting.
Hope it makes sense.
Keep up the good work, I can’t wait to go to the Fireman’s Ball, already got my tickets. Your parties are always the best.
pride. Yes you are right and I will never support a boycott of pride.
I want it to be a day we all come together and celebrate who we are.
Pride was started as “South African annual lesbian and gay pride parade”
It should always be that and believe me the st8 and gays will have a day to remember.
I agree that the sponsor should know this from the start and they should work along those lines.
This year is one of the best organised event to date and will get stronger and stronger.
If the main stream media and alcohol companies want the pink rand then they should remember it is our day and they should not change us to suit what they want.
I sometimes do not take on dj’s and sponsors at Risque just for the money…We are a gay event and that the way it should stay.
I will not sell my soul just for the money.
Best
Bruce
Yea this year’s fireman’s ball will be very very good there should be over 2000 there going on the ticket sales so far.
Thanks for getting your early.
I read and feel at home. Thanks the creators for a good resource..!
Not bad post, but a lot of extra !!…