We, an open coalition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) allied organisations working for a change in the 2009 Pride Theme, welcome the recent decision by the Cape Town Pride Board to amend this year’s theme from “Pink Ubuntu. Jou ma se Pride,” to “Pink Ubuntu.” only. We hope that this action is the harbinger of a new era of Cape Town Pride and community partnership.

During the past two months, we have worked diligently through a carefully considered collective process to lobby the Cape Town Pride Board for change based on the following principle: If we are to be called by our true names, we must have the right to claim or reclaim our own words in our own ways, especially in contested spaces.  For many in our communities, our bodies and cultures remain contested spaces.

The insensitivity of this year’s original theme, especially to women and people of colour, highlights concerns which are ongoing for our constituents. The choice of the original theme exhibited a lack of awareness of the negative impact of the  'Jou ma se...' inference still experienced in our communities, and was ill advised within a broader climate of escalating violence toward LBTQI  women. Participation with integrity in Pride 2009 would have been impossible for many under this theme.

While it is good that the theme has been amended, it is unrealistic to expect resolution without substantive consideration of the concerns which have been raised. The heart of the issue remains for us a lack of gender and cultural awareness, unhelpful official responses to the call for change, deeply held questions of accessibility, and the need for broader vision in planning an event which celebrates the Pride of all in Cape Town. We are committed to active participation and community-building around these issues, and invite Cape Town Pride to consider new ways of partnering with community-based organisations and individuals in the future. Together, we can work toward a Pride celebration that embraces the best of our political and communal values. We commend the South African Joint Working Group’s Position Paper on Pride as a guiding document for ongoing consultation and planning in Cape Town.

As a stance of critical loyalty to the ideal of a Pride celebration accessible to and aware of all Capetonians, a Pride Fringe Festival has been planned by community organizations in mutual partnership. The Pride Fringe Festival will be diverse in content and location and celebrative with political awareness. The aim is to inspire and strengthen LGBTQI community-building from within local communities. Pride Fringe Festival events will be free of charge and open for all to attend.

This statement is endorsed by the following LGBTQI allied organisations

• Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church
• Engender
• International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commision
• Triangle Project
• The Inner Circle