Pride around the World
by Hilary Brueck
As Pride festivities commemorating the Stonewall riots of 1969 draw to a close this month, let’s take a peek into some pride celebrations from four corners of the globe. From marches through the Ides of March to celebrations in the golden days of August, people around the world celebrate pride in ways and days to fit their own lives and unique histories. Here’s a glimpse of how some are celebrating Pride in 2010.
Mumbai, India
Pride organizers in Mumbai are crafting a brand new celebration of Pride for 2010, to take place on July 2, the anniversary of the 2009 Delhi High Court verdict that decriminalized homosexual relations in the territory.
The verdict has been appealed to the Supreme Court, which will be responsible for decriminalizing LGBT relationships nationwide—or not.
“We need to do this event to celebrate the verdict [in New Delhi], but even more to send a message to the Supreme Court,” said Vikram Doctor, a Pride organizer in Mumbai.
In the past, Mumbai has played host to Pride festivities in August, typically on August 16—the day after India celebrates its independence. The parades were conceived as a not-so-subtle nudge to the Indian government for equal rights and equality in the LGBT community. Doctor said it was also important for India to move the date of their Pride celebration for logistical reasons: Holding Pride celebrations in India to coincide with other celebrations around the world could result in a “Pride swim,” as the Stonewall anniversary comes at the apex of India’s monsoon season.
Cape Town, South Africa
South of the equator, when Pride 2010 was just a twinkle in the Northern Hemisphere’s eye, a fortnight of Pride festivities was wrapping up in the opening days of March 2010.
Cape Town Pride Chair Glenn De Swardt estimated that up to 8,000 people took part in the event, possibly South Africa’s biggest Pride turnout since its inception in 2001. Though there is an active Pride community in South Africa, it remains predominantly white and is unique to this African nation, as homosexuality is illegal in 38 of Africa’s 53 states.
De Swardt said this year’s parade focused particularly on some of these most pressing political issues, especially the deteriorating human rights of LGBT people across Africa, including the “corrective” rape and murder of lesbians in South Africa.
The AFP reported: “They held up banners saying ‘Your hate won’t make me straight,’ ‘I was born gay,’ ‘Jesus says “love your neighbour,”’ and ‘Hate is un-African.’”
Marchers in Cape Town condemned a Malawi court verdict in which two men celebrating their engagement were sentenced to 14 years in prison. The men, one of whom actually identifies as a transwoman (see the story reported on TransGriot) have since been released after rising international pressure from aid donors and human rights organizations. Marchers also denounced a proposed anti-gay law in Uganda calling for tough penalties against homosexuality, including the death penalty.
Same-sex unions have been legal in South Africa since 2006.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Generally considered the biggest Pride event in the world (according to the 2006 Guinness World Records), Pride in Sao Paulo was held on June 6, 2010.
It has grown from a crowd of 2,000 participants in 1997 to an estimated 3 million-plus revelers last year, 400,000 of whom are tourists. It is strongly supported by the Brazilian and Sao Paulo governments, as well as the federal bank and oil company.
The parade not only has grown in numbers, but has also forged new themes every year to meet the changing needs of the LGBT community in Brazil. The parade’s first slogan, “We are many and in all professions,” promoted visibility and equal rights. This year the parade thrust forward with “Vote against homophobia, defend citizenship!” Organizers aim to promote political debate in a year Brazil is electing a president, senators, and congressional representatives.
Toronto, Canada
Demonstrations following Operation Soap, a raid by the Toronto police of four gay bathhouses on February 5, 1981, gave birth to formal pride celebrations in Toronto. This year Pride will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary in the city.
But Pride Toronto will have to do without federal funding this year. Last year it garnered $400,000 in support from the federal government, but this year’s funds were cut, as Industry Minister Tony Clement said the parade is successful enough to stand on its own.
In an interview with Xtra! (Canada’s Gay and Lesbian News), Rob Oliphant, a gay Liberal member of Parliament representing Toronto, protested the government’s decision: “We have a million people celebrating Pride for a week. They estimated that $6 million was generated from that $400,000 grant—that’s good business for this government.”
The city’s winning bid for WorldPride in 2014 will make it the first city in North America to host the event.
