Following news that its lead organizer has been subject to a number of threats and attacks, Johannesburg Pride has been postponed and relocated.
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette reports that the event’s 24th installment, originally scheduled to take place Sept 28 at Mary Fitzgerald Square, will now be held in Sandton on Oct 26.
A press release published on Mamba Online says that the decision to change the event date and venue was motivated by concern for the queer community’s safety.
Chief organizer Kaye Ally, who has reported that she has been held at knife- and gunpoint and told to cancel Pride, says the coordinating committee held a crisis meeting and concluded that Mary Fitzgerald Square is a “high-risk highly exposed” venue and thus unsuitable to host this year’s celebrations.
Ally has also speculated that the attacks against her could be originating from within the community because of reported scheduling conflicts with other Pride celebrations, Mamba Online says.
Soweto Pride had also been scheduled for Sept 28.
“We will attend all the other Prides leading up to Johannesburg Pride and extend an invitation that they attend our event in solidarity,” Ally said in the report.
Why you can trust Xtra
