The Mother City, labelled as the Gay Capital of Africa, will host the 2010 Cape Town Pride Festival over the period Friday, 26 February to Sunday, 7 March, featuring a richly diverse programme of events. Themed 'Uniting the cultures of Cape Town', the Festival will serve as a celebration of our diversity, while also focusing attention on lesbian; gay; bisexual; transgender; and intersex issues, with an emphasis on human rights throughout Africa, especially in Uganda.

Cape Town Pride is a non-profit, section 21 organisation managed and coordinated by a group of dedicated volunteers. The official beneficiary of the organisation is the Pride Shelter Trust, an independently-registered non-profit section 21 entity establishing a shelter that offers safe short-term sanctuary and accommodation during crisis periods for Cape Town’s lesbian; gay; and transgender community.

Cape Town Pride website:
Was it due to excessive traffic, was it hacked into? The gremlins have been at play – the official Pride website is temporarily down and volunteers are working round the clock to remedy this.

Cape Town Pride hotline:
Call 0861 9 PRIDE for up-to-date information on developments around the Cape Town Pride 2010 Festival. Operators are available 24-hours per day.

Cape Town Pride protest action:
Cape Town Pride is coordinating a protest action outside Parliament at 13:00 on Friday, 12 February, to protest against the deployment of homophobe, Jon Qwelane, as South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda.

Cape Town Pride office:
Visit the Cape Town Pride office at 14A Dixon Street, De Waterkant – kindly donated by the Cape Quarter.

Cape Town Pride Festival programme:
The Festival programme has been finalised. It includes movies; great parties; several topical seminars; a hike and a book event; competitions and awards; the LeapFrog Pink Ball; shows and even more parties; events for girls and events for the boys; and of course the Cape Town Pride Parade and Fair.

Regular updates on diverse events will be issues from the Pride News Desk, but following are details regarding only four key Pride events in the programme:

1. Cape Town Pride Pageant

The ever-popular Pride Pageant will take place at 20:00 on Saturday, 20 February at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, where contestants will compete for the Mr Cape Town Pride and Miss Cape Town Pride pageant. The title-holders will represent Cape Town Pride and be present at several events, with the winner of the Mr Cape Town Pride title automatically qualifying as a regional finalist in the next Mr Gay South Africa contest. Tickets will cost R30 and R80 (VIP) and can be purchased at the door. For more info, contact Luiz on 072 950 7454 or Dominic on 082 725 9963.

2. The Cape Town Pride Divas present 'The Gurly Show'

For the past three years, the Pride Divas have played to a packed house making this unique event a highlight of the annual Cape Town Pride Festival. Featuring showbiz favourites from the Roaring Twenties to the present day, this year’s multi-media extravaganza will set the stage alight on Monday, 22 February at On Broadway. A deliciously decadent dragathon including almost 100 years of drag classics performed by some of Cape Town’s best loved and most infamous Drag Divas, from Dietrich to Gaga; from Marilyn to Madonna, anything can and will happen. There is only one show in town that could get all these Divas to share a stage! Miss this one-night only show at your peril. Show commences at 20:30 but be there by 19:00 if you also want dinner. Tickets cost R95. For info or bookings, see www.onbroadway.co.za or email [email protected], or call the producer, Liam, on 079 877 4402.

3. The Red Party

The 2010 Cape Town Pride Festival officially kicks off with the kick-ass Red Party on Friday, 26 February. The colour red serves as a reminder to each of us to be mindful of our health and to embrace everyone living with HIV. In keeping with the Festival theme of 'Uniting the cultures of Cape Town', a donation of R20 to Cape Town Pride will get you a magical bracelet allowing access to several great parties at participating venues, including:
• Beaulah Bar
• Crew Bar
• Bronx
• Stargayzer
• Amsterdam Bar (men only)
• Rosies
• Uncle Jacks
• Adam & Eve Lounge Bar
For more info, contact Luiz on 072 950 7454 or Myrna on 082 565 6174.

4. Cape Town Pride Parade and Fair

The Pride Parade, taking place on Saturday, 6 March, and after-parade Fair will be HUGE – approximately fifteen floats will be on parade. The MAGI Fund has allocated sponsorship for the provision of public transport to make this day truly accessible for all. Contact Maureen for more info regarding public transport: [email protected]. The route for the Pride Parade will be as follows: Depart from Green Point Traffic Department at 12:00; proceed along Somerset Road to march up Long Street; into Wale Street and down Adderly Street; to return to Green Point. The venue for the after-parade Fair is Prestwich Primary School, in Napier Street, De Waterkant. A kick-ass line-up of performers has been organised to keep the crowd entertained, and for the first time, a children’s corner is being organised. In addition to the five bars and regular stalls selling food and merchandise, this year’s event will also include a separate adult-only stall area. The Fair will be wheelchair-friendly, including the provision of accessible toilet facilities. Application forms for floats and stalls at the Fair are available from the Pride Office located at 4A Dixon Street, De Waterkant.