CAPE TOWN PRIDE TAKES TO CITY STREETS

Parts of Cape Town’s city centre came to a standstill on Saturday afternoon as hundreds of gays and lesbians took to the streets for the city’s seventh annual Pride Parade.

Participants were a diverse mix of people; from marchers wearing everyday casual clothes to extravagant drag queens. A number of floats promoted clubs and gay-service organisations.

The festive crowd was met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction by passers-by and motorists as traffic was bought to halt. Less than a handful of lone protesters were visible along the parade’s route.

Led by traffic authority vehicles, the parade moved from the De Waterkant area shortly after midday into the city centre and back to the trendy gay area. Roads around Napier Street were blocked off for a street party, which went on into the evening.

Unusually, the Parade this year was held towards the beginning of the week of the Pride celebrations. A number of events, including seminars, a golf day, an art exhibition, parties and more are set to take place over the following week.

For more information, visit www.capetownpride.co.za.