GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE NEWS
New blood for Joburg Pride
August 30, 2006
JOHANNESBURG — Following a meeting of community stakeholders in June, a decision has been taken to form a non-profit section 21 company, to be called Joburg Pride, to manage the annual Johannesburg Pride event in the future – a move which will see a revitalised event in years to come.
One of the motivating factors in forming the new company is a need to address the ongoing controversy around the credibility and success of Pride events in the city. This entity will be audited annually, and will be run by a board of representatives – from community organisations, clubs and gay media – on a voluntary basis.
Pride should not be owned by an individual
Among the reasons for this bold move was belief in the principle that Pride should not be "owned" or managed by one person as it is a community event, and to remove the stigma of some of the past financial failures and mismanagement that have dogged the gay community of Johannesburg over a number of years.
In an official statement issued by the Joint Working Group (a national conglomerate of gay community organisations), the group stated: "Pride holds immense symbolic value to the LGBT community. It should not be for the benefit of one individual. Pride should reflect issues facing the LGBT community in a dignified manner and, therefore, professional organisation and hosting of the event is very crucial."
Cape Town Pride Festival has enjoyed success over the past four years, and is being regarded as a role model for the new Joburg Pride organisation.
"Since 2001, we have had a legal Section 21 (a) registered non-profit company, are bound by corporate governance issues and produce audited financial statements annually," says Ian McMahon, Chairman of Cape Town Pride Festival.
"The fact that Joburg Pride has taken this step is exciting and the new board has our full support. We will be working closely together to ensure that the two Prides uplift the larger gay communities of South Africa in a way that will make all of us proud."
'No involvement' in Pride 2006
It was decided that there was insufficient time to establish the company before the planned date of the 2006 Joburg Pride on September 30th, and therefore the company would not be involved in this year's event. The new organization also preferred to distance itself from past events and from any events that take place this year.
The new Board
The new Joburg Pride board comprises three representatives from the Joint Working Group, namely Dawie Nel, director of Out LGBT, Thuli Madi, director of Behind the Mask, and Zakhele Mbhele, chairperson of Activate, the Johannesburg University's gay association.
Tanya Harford, former co-chair of the Gay Games bid will handle logistics, and Paulo dos Santos, also formerly involved with the bid will take on the legal portfolio. Paul Tilly, media expert for the Equality Project has accepted the Festival and Culture portfolio, and Luiz DeBarros, editor of Mambaonline will manage media and communications. Fulvio de Stefanis, owner of Legends club in Pretoria will manage the Club associations. Other board members are Bruce Walker of Queer City, Renier Coetzee and Tracey Sandilands, a former board member of Cape Town Pride Festival and current Chairperson of the new organisation.
It was also agreed that someone representing the city should be identified and invited to be on the board, as was the case with the 2010 Joburg Gay Games Bid. In addition, the board will approach a number of influential members of the community to serve as non-executive directors.
Contact: Tracey Sandilands
011 7156829
0832648905
Email tsandila@mweb.co.za. – Issued by Joburg Pride
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