PRIDE COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

The Joburg Pride Community Programme aims to use the platform provided by the 2009 Joburg Pride Day, presented by 94.7 Highveld Stereo, to ensure that inclusivity and the spirit of activism are affirmed and celebrated at the event in line with this year's theme of "You Need Pride". Accordingly the following will take place on Saturday October 3rd at Zoo Lake:

Community Village:

This will be a dedicated space where LGBT community organisations and LGBT-oriented service providers can advertise and offer services, distribute literature and publicise advocacy initiatives such as the 07-07-07 Campaign to End Hate Crimes.

OUT (LGBT Wellbeing) will also provide free Voluntary Testing and Counselling. It will consist of confidential pre and post test HIV counselling and a test for HIV. There will also be risk reduction counselling for those who have a need to address substance use and HIV risk.

History of Pride and LGBT activism in South Africa exhibition:

A retrospective, interactive, exhibition will raise awareness and promote political consciousness among the LGBT community, especially the youth. Implemented in partnership with Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA), the exhibition will celebrate 20 years of Pride in South Africa and 40 years of Pride since Stonewall and also allow community members to write and post messages on why they think Pride is important.

Individuals will write their messages on cut-out hands that will be posted on a wall under the heading “past, present and future experiences of Pride and belonging to the LGBT community”. The exhibition will become part of GALA's collection for public events and road show exhibitions that travel around the country. In addition, there will be an opportunity for all children attending Pride to paint their own banner. There will also be a women's only space in the Village.

Transport

Bus transport will be provided to and from a number of townships on Saturday 3rd October to ensure access to the Pride by under-resourced LGBT people and to promote broad representation and participation by the full spectrum of the LGBT community. Three buses will depart, respectively, from Soweto (Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital), Kwa-Thema (Kwa-Thema Community Hall) and Vosloorus (Vosloorus Gold Spot) at 8am on the morning of Pride Day and will return passengers in the evening.

For more information on the Pride Community Programme contact Natasha at natasha@joburgpride.org or on 076 454 2076.