PWR Project Promenade Pride Protest

Image via Pixabay.

Cape Town LGBTQI activists plan Promenade pride protest

PWR Project plan to take over Sea Point Promenade, in Cape Town, to protest for better queer visibility.

PWR Project Promenade Pride Protest

Image via Pixabay.

A group of LGBTQI activists from Cape Town are planning to stage a Sea Point Promenade pride protest to ‘make important statements to create awareness’ around issues affecting marginalised communities and individuals.

Founder and Chairperson of anti-bullying NGO PWR Project, Karl Hildebrandt, has issued a call to the LGBTQI+ community and allies to show support for this initiative on Saturday 31 October 2020. 

Pride protest

The group intends to meet at 10:30 near Mandela Sunglasses installation on the Promenade in Sea Point, Cape Town.

Organisers wish to make it clear that this event is intended to be a protest and not a parade or party.

“South Africa is known to have one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. Its focus on human rights benefits all its citizen, however the conservative mindset, of certain communities, and diverse wealth inequality has created a vast culture of rejection,” Hildebrandt says.

“Since 1990, there have been pride parades in South Africa. Many South African’s do not know that our first Pride protest, to advocate against discrimination of LGBT people was hosted in October 1990, in Johannesburg.

“To commemorate, what is known as, South African Pride Month, PWR Project plan to take over Sea Point Promenade, in Cape Town, to protest for better queer visibility. It is up to us to continue establishing a voice within society and although Cape Town is extremely progressive with acceptance, South Africa, as a whole, still lacks queer youth safe spaces, affirmation, education and visibility.

“We know that Cape Town hosts an annual Pride Parade, but we would like to establish that this event is a protest and not a parade or party.”

PWR Project aim to open Youth Safe-Centre

PWR Project, who have carried out an extensive programme to feed less fortunate communities during lockdown, hope to expand their philanthropic efforts with a Youth Safe-Centre.

“This protest aims to disrupt those enjoying their leisurely time at the Promenade with important statements to create awareness. It will also give our team an opportunity to hand out leaflets on the fundraising for the opening of our Youth Safe-Centre, as many communities in South Africa are still under extremely, often radical, conservative influences, but as time progresses, so does the world and the mentality of youth. Thus, adolescents who know that they are ‘different’, who are brought up in unaccepting environments, are susceptible to discrimination, isolation, depression and in dire circumstances, suicide.

“We will also be throwing colour powder in the air during this protest, making a brighter statement. The powder represents self-affirmation, freedom, expression, acceptance and additional visibility. We are bright and meant to shine! We cannot fit into any box formed by society.

“Standing together, with us, to make this protest successful means so much to us. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you require any additional information,” Hildebrandt adds.

For more information, visit the PWR Project website.