Stand Tall and be proud! Constitution Hill raise the rainbow flag!

Photo Cred: The Drum

A colourful group of the South African LGBTIQ+ community today gathered at Constitution Hill to raise the rainbow PRIDE flag in celebration of Pride Month.

Johannesburg, South Africa (03 October 2020) – Commemorating the begin of Pride Month in October in Johannesburg, the flag-raising at Constitution Hill is a deeply symbolic gesture in the LGBTIQ+ community, especially during the month of Pride.

Gay pride or LGBTQI+ pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQI+) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBTQI+ rights movements. Pride has lent its name to LGBTQI+ themed organisations, institutes, foundations, book titles, periodicals, a cable TV station, and the Pride Library.

Ranging from solemn to carnivalesque, pride events are typically held during LGBTQI+ Pride Month or some other period that commemorates a turning point in a country’s LGBTQI+ history,

And Gay Pride has come a long way since the first event of its kind, the South African Lesbian and Gay Pride March, took place on 10 October 1990, with about 800 marchers. It was billed as a protest march, but even then the relatively small event had the feel of a carnival.

Stand Tall and be proud! Constitution Hill raise the rainbow flag! — Photo Cred: Constitution Hill

The annual event not only symbolises a celebration of the rights of the South African LGBTIQ+ community which are enshrined in our constitution but is also a reminder of the journey the community had to face to gain their basic human rights in this country.

Raised at Constitution Hill, home of the Constitutional Court, the PRIDE flag alongside the South African flag will be flown for the entire month of October in celebration of the LGBTQI+ community.

“Personally, for me, raising this flag symbolises that we are here, proudly, to celebrate LGBTIQ+ rights as part of South African society. Many of our community face abuse and homophobia daily, and this flag reminds everyone that our constitution demands more … our constitution demands inclusion, dignity, respect and equality for everyone,” stated Thami Dish Foundation founder Thami Kotlolo.