Pride rainbow colours spark queerphobia in Cape Town
The symbolic show of support for Cape Town Pride has been dubbed “disgraceful” by a religious group (Photo: Cape Town Pride/Facebook) The Western Cape Provincial Parliament building has been lit up in rainbow colours to mark the Cape Town Pride celebrations, but the move has been slammed by some small-minded and bigoted religious groups. “This is a government and province of tolerance and acceptance, which welcomes and celebrates diversity,” said Western Cape Premier Alan Winde about the lighting display. “Our LGBTQIA+ community still faces challenges.
By lighting up the Provincial Parliament we are visibly showing our support and our willingness to confront unacceptable and archaic prejudices and discrimination.” He added: “We will always support and fight for equality for all our residents.” Wentzel April, Cape Town Pride Festival Director, said the lighting of the provincial parliament building in the rainbow colours “symbolises the support, recognition and respect we need from the Western Cape Government”.
April believes that it “also serves as a reminder of those who have passed as a result of violence and hate crimes. May their light continue to shine in our hearts and memories.” What should be a symbol of affirmation and celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community has been marred by two queerphobic organisations that have denounced the Western Cape Government’s actions.
The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa (MJCSA) said in a statement that the provincial government should instead light up the building to highlight pressing challenges like “social ills, poverty, and crime”. “The MJCSA believes that the Western Cape Government should prioritise significant matters over mere frivolity,” the group asserted. “Whilst
