Soweto Pride: LGBTQI+ community to highlight queer hate crimes

Soweto Pride: LGBTQI community to highlight queer hate crimesOrganisers are using this year's Soweto Pride event to highlight the importance of ending hate crimes in South Africa.

by Naledi de Wee

22-08-2022 17:53

in LGBTQIA

The Soweto Pride march is set to take place on Saturday 24 September. Image via Twitter @CityofJoburgZA

The 18th annual Soweto Pride is set to take place on Saturday 24 September at the Dorothy Nyembe Park in Dobsonville. Over the years, it has grown to become one of South Africa's most-attended LGBTQI events. The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) told MambaOnline that the event highlights the importance of ending hate crimes in South Africa.

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ABOUT SOWETO PRIDE Soweto Pride was founded by the FEW who aimed to create a platform to amplify the voices of black lesbian women. As per the FEW website, Soweto Pride has grown in numbers with LGBTQI people from across the country attending the event.

Every year, the event kicks off on Heritage Day (which is celebrated on 24 September) and is followed by various political and cultural events to commemorate the day.

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In 2021, Soweto Pride was one of the few LGBTQI events that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOWETO PRIDE 2022 As per MambaOnline, the theme for Soweto Pride 2022 is born from the rise in LGBTQI hate crimes that spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FEW highlighted that the event will be a space for the LGBTQI community to express their outrage.

The theme serves as a reminder to the community within which we as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community (LGBTI) exist.

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The Soweto Pride march highlights the importance of solidarity in ending hate crimes in South Africa and brings attention to the ongoing increase of murder and violence happening within the townships toward the LGBTI community.

#SowetoPride2021 in pictures. #JoburgCares #ExploreJoburg ^LM pic.twitter.com/uOZRUXEkUn

City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) September 25, 2021

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW The Soweto Pride march will take place on 24 September at Dorothy Nyembe Park. Organisers have asked the LGBTQI community who will be attending to send a 30-second video about why they will be attending the event.

Organisers are yet to announce a music lineup for the event.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/lgbtqia/soweto-pride-lgbtqi-do...
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