Cape Town Pride 2022 comes “together again”
28.02.2022 - 21:03
/ mambaonline.com
Hundreds of revellers came out to celebrate Cape Town’s LGBTIQ+ community on Saturday (Photo: MambaOnline/Ramsey Lewis)
After a two year hiatus due to Covid-19, Cape Town Pride finally returned to the city’s streets for its 2022 parade on Saturday afternoon.
Hundreds took advantage of the sunny day to come out for the event, which was held under the theme of “together again,” and to celebrate the city’s LGBTIQ+ community.
Starting at noon, participants dressed in colourful attire and waving rainbow flags marched from Alfred Street in De Waterkant to Green Point Track.
The procession was led by Mr Cape Town Pride 2022 Ashwin Williams and Miss Cape Town Pride 2022 Laylah Zokufa. Some, however, chose to motorbike and rollerblade the route instead.
DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen and Helen Zille, Chairperson of DA Federal Council, were among those who marched alongside the crowd.
At Green Point Track, a Covid-limited gathering of around 2,000 people were treated to food and vendor stalls, speeches, and entertainment from the likes of Manila von Teez and Yahto Kraft.
Speaking to the crowd, Steenhuisen said that while the day was one of celebration, those who were killed in Cape Town last year for being LGBTIQ – like Lonwabo Jack and Lulama Mvandaba – must not be forgotten.
“These were the victims of the most brutal and evil hate crime, and the fact that this can still happen today, here in this modern and liberal city, should be a wake-up call to all of us,” said Steenhuisen.
He also noted that “over 30 countries on this continent still have some form of anti-gay legislation. In many places being openly gay can still – and does – get you killed.”
Steenhuisen called on the South African government to speak out against