Soweto Pride marked its 17th year on Saturday with a scaled-down edition held under the theme of “safety, justice, freedom are our rights”. Dozens of rainbow-bedecked LGBTIQ+ and allied people proudly walked through the streets, chanting and cheering for equality and dignity.
A marching band added to the festivities with the sound of horns and drums. The march saw activists pause at significant spots along the route – a police station, a college and a clinic – to highlight the discrimination that queer people face in these spheres of life.
The march included a contingent of parents and family members of LGBTIQ+ individuals. They marked a powerful moment of silence to remember those queer people who have been lost to violence and hate.