GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE NEWS
Johannesburg Gay Pride 2006 "Be Proud.... Speak Out"
August 15, 2006
Scene fom 2005's 'Sweet Sixteen' parade
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JOHANNESBURG — Joburg Pride™ South Africa's original Gay & Lesbian Pride celebration has been an annual fixture for Johannesburg for over 16 years. A week of fun and festivities parties and protests. This event occupies a unique place within the historical and tourism context of South Africa.
Johannesburg Gay Pride™ Parade & Fair Day 2006 will be organised in co-operation with Pride Communications cc and Eyethu Events, a partner since 2004 for all security, fencing, marshals, logistic planning and disaster management requirements.
Pride Communications cc has also registered the name and owns the rights of PRIDE™. Gary Bath has applied to register the trade mark South Africa Pride Foundation in South Africa under number 2004/15309, and the trade mark Johannesburg Pride Foundation under number 2004/15308 and therefore owns the rights to PRIDE™.
Pride Communications cc and Eyethu Events will organise the street Parade, Fair Day (Mardi Gras – day event) and Dance Event. This year's theme is "Be Proud.... Speak Out", chosen to signify the need for being proud to be gay and to speak out about it and also to have the same aspects about HIV and AIDS. The organisers feel that the LGBTI community has not done enough to educate and help prevent the spread of HIV.
The LGBTI community, in partnership with loveLife, along with several other LGBTI community organizations, will spread the word about safe-sex and HIV education. loveLife has become well know for its "talk about it" pay-off line and now loveLife has taken the concept of open talk about sex, HIV and gender relations to communities across the country. This year we are incorporating the AIDS Rememberance Walk into the Street Parade.
The South African Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade and Fair Day (previously Mardi Gras) is now in its 17th year. In 2003 on one single day the event grew to a staggering 20 000 people with more than 35 decorated floats vying for media attention.
For its fourth year now the event is being stretched across a whole week of activities in the form of a Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival, which will include plays, poetry, art, photography, cabaret, comedy, workshops, church service, theatre and music.
This will open up the event to a wider portion of the community and attract both local and international audiences from outside the community too. Other Southern Africa organisations that will be attending with participation are from Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It will also increase the branding opportunities, visibility and choice for our sponsors and supporters.
The Johannesburg Gay Pride Festival begins with our launch on 16th September 2006, which includes Heritage Day (24th September) and will culminate in the Parade and Fair Day on Saturday 30th September 2006 to be held at Zoo Lake, Johannesburg.
The event takes place in Johannesburg on Saturday 30 September 2006 with the Fair Day at Zoo Lake, Parkview Johannesburg and Street Parade through the streets of Rosebank covering a distance of 6.2kms as in 2004.
There will be an entrance fee of R30 per person charged for the Fair Day at Zoo Lake to cover costs incurred for security, training of marshals, fencing, toilet hire and marquees.
Negotiations are still underway regarding various dance event production companies and clubs and bars re the Official After Party.
There will be two VIP areas at the Fair Day
Moyo Restaurant (Upper deck), Zoo Lake comprising of maximum of 150 guests, cocktail style, platter menu to be served from 13h00-14h30 plus a welcome cocktail on arrival at R110.00 per person. All other foods and beverages as well as gratuity's will be available on a cash basis.
The other VIP area will be under a marquee close to the Pride Stage which will have entertainment from 13h00-18h00.
A new innovation at the Fair Day will be picnic baskets that you can order before the deadline date of 15 September 2006, details to follow.
Combo tickets will be available through the online booking system in partnership with Strictly Tickets and Bitch Tickets, details to follow.
If you would like information on how you can become involved in the Johannesburg Gay Pride™ Parade and Fair Day 2006, please don't hesitate to contact the organisers on Telephone +27 11 640 2121 during office hours or Gary Bath on mobile 082 625 0179 or via email or visit the website. – Issued by Pride Communications cc
Related
Jhb Pride 2005 gallery 1and Jhb Pride 2005 gallery 2
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