Company Announcement - This Saturday, cwill be marching through the streets of Soweto in solidarity with the Forum for the Empowerment of Women, the Rainbow Activist Alliance and all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual and queer people of South Africa and those across the globe. Soweto Pride is a political project which was initiated by FEW in 2004 with the aim of creating and entrenching a political and social space for black lesbian women— together with the broader community.

“It is aimed at publicly expressing and celebrating our identities, activism and resilience as black lesbian women. It is also a space to express our outrage at the violations that we still face in South Africa because of our sexuality. It is an act of courage and resistance, an open public display and a key moment in the year for increasing the visibility of all the identities of this community,” reads FEW’s statement. Michelle Festus— AASA’s Women’s Rights Coordinator reiterated the importance of continuing the fight for equality because prejudice on the basis of race, class, gender and sexuality continue to intersect and oppress people in South Africa and beyond. “We act in solidarity with FEW and RAA to ensure the rights of all LGBTIAQ people can live a life of dignity, free from violence and discrimination.”

Under the theme #OurLivesMatter – Safety, Justice and Freedom are our Rights, this year’s Soweto Pride, which returns to one of its former venues - Meadowlands Zone 2 Park, will also pay tribute to Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa who were murdered there in 2007 because of their sexuality. “Their murder remains unsolved. Until today we do not know who killed Sizakele and Salome,” explained Siphokazi Nombande, Advocacy Coordinator at FEW. “We will have a moment of silence to remember them and all the other lesbians who are victims of hate crimes.” FEW and AASA have drawn up an important petition which will be available for signing on Saturday. The petition calls on the local municipality and City Parks to replace the memorial bench dedicated to Sizakele and Salome, which was removed when the park was renovated. The original plaque was cemented into one of the pathways, where it is hardly noticeable and where it has been walked over so much that it is no longer legible.

AASA’s Head of Programmes— Emily Craven said she encourages everyone attending Soweto Pride to sign the petition in solidarity with the message that #OurLivesMatter. “It is particularly poignant that this year’s venue is back at Meadowlands so we never forget Sizakele and Salome.” “Last year we celebrated the 10th year of Soweto Pride, this year is the 11th— the start of the second decade and it has been great to see it going from strength to strength. We hope to see even more people out on the streets this year,” said Craven.

AASA will also be marching in support of the international Safe Cities for Women Campaign, while ActionAid’s young Activistas will have a powerful and colourful message in store for all those attending. For more information contact ActionAid South Africa’s Katherine V Robinson on 072 576 5297 or FEW’s Siphokazi Nombande on 083 304 8910.