Pink Pride

Johannesburg’s annual gay pride parade, Joburg Pride, happened today. I wrote a long post about Joburg Pride last year, so I won’t torture you with another one. I marched more as a participant than a blogger this year, and besides, it was just too damn hot to take lots of photos.

Dressed and ready for Joburg Pride. Although it’s not visible in the photo, I wore my mini-kilt. Unfortunately my kilt is not pink, but otherwise it was the perfect attire for a hot day of gay pride marching.

I did snap a few shots though, so I’ll share them with you and leave it at that.

The crowd.

My pink-clad marching partners, Henrike and Ruth, rock out to “It’s Raining Men” amidst a sea of pink umbrellas.

I don’t know how he walked five kilometres in those shoes. But he looked fabulous doing it.

These activists staged a “disturbance” in the middle of the parade to protest the commercialization of Joburg Pride, and also to remind everyone that South Africa still has a long way to go in protecting the rights of the LGBT community. They have a good point: Gay, lesbian, and transgender people are frequently raped, tortured and killed in South Africa for no other reason than because they’re gay. 

I have to hand it to these guys — they communicated a powerful message.

Back to the fun, celebratory side of Joburg Pride: angel wings and penis balloons.

Another shot of the feather angel.

Bad-ass rainbow chicks.

My friend Tom, creator of the stellar Jozi blog Urban Joburg, prepares to drink a free shot of some pink alcoholic beverage. I love how it perfectly matches his shirt.

Down the hatch.

Ruth accosts me as I grip the beer belonging to the crazy kilted rugby fan shooting the photo. Henrike tries to pretend she doesn’t know us. Anything goes at Joburg Pride. (Photo: Jahn, the kilted rugby guy)

Best sign of the day.

We nearly melted in the 90-degree heat, but it was worth it. Gay and proud in Jozi.