Cape Town Pride kicks off its 2006 festival with an event aimed at getting business involved

November 02, 2005

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Scene from CT Pride 2005

CAPE TOWN — Cape Town Pride is holding its business launch on Thursday in an effort to bring together gay and gay-friendly business owners in a networking evening and to get them involved in the 2006 festival. The organisation has a new direction for the coming year that includes bringing together members of the various lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities in the Western Cape.

Building on its 2005 success, Pride 2006 aims to provide a comprehensive, fun-filled festival that caters for a wider audience. The focus is inclusivity, reducing homo-prejudice, creating social awareness and developing understanding between the communities. Run entirely by volunteers from the communities, Cape Town Pride has in the past received support from the City of Cape Town and Cape Town Tourism, as well as a number of local businesses.

Pride Shelter Trust
The official Cape Town Pride beneficiary is the newly-registered Pride Shelter Trust, which has been established as a Section 21 company. The purpose of the trust is to provide a safe space for LGBTIs in times of crisis, and is the first initiative of its kind in Africa. Pride 2005 was able to make a substantial donation to the trust, and it is anticipated that profits from Pride 2006 will go a long way towards making the establishment of the facility a reality.

Pride 2006 events
The ten-day festival will once again be held in February 2006, from the 17th to the 26th. A host of different events aims to offer something for everyone, with each event targeted at a different sector of the LGBTI community. The events include parties, art exhibitions, sports days, race days, videos showings and community tours.

Community involvement
Members of the public can show their support for the movement in a variety of ways. Sponsorship offers companies media exposure in the gay communities, which to date are an untapped and growing market. Various sponsorship packages and options are available, from R250 to R15000. Sponsorship of prizes and other options is another way of obtaining valuable exposure, and involvement in the festival provides direct access to the 5000-strong crowd that is expected to participate in the festival.

To attend the launch or to find out more about Cape Town Pride 2006, visit the website at www.capetownpride.co.za or call 082 789 7104. – Issued by Cape Town Pride Festival

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Related
Cape Town Pride 2005 gallery