My letter to the Pink Tonque, Cape Towns Gay Community Paper..

To the Editor of Pink Tongue

As Cape Town Celebrates its Gay Pride, I’m saddened by the attitudes of the LGBTI community and its racial agenda’s. As a coloured gay man I have experienced all types of “racial” tension in places that ought to be “gay” friendly, a place where one would think you will be treated equally irrespective of race or colour.

Bronx, Beulah and loft are great places to socialize, have a drink and dance, but there’s more to it than meets the eye where patrons are concerned. I have a relatively mix group of friends, and my partner being white, ads to the fuel – where “white gays” are concerned. We either get treated with disrespect, crude comments gets passed or a discussion group forms close to us – to discuss how a white guy could possibly date a coloured guy, and make no mistake – these groups make their concerns known.

Being a South African, brought up during the late years of apartheid, entering freedom together with all other South Africans was indeed a milestone reached for all South Africans alike. Gays in the apartheid years have suffered similar, if not the same way as blacks for being and living out who they are – being human.

The Rainbow flag is associated as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning. It is interesting to see how many organizations will try to captivate the black and coloureds as a form of unity and inclusiveness during the pride events, one now ask the question, how many of them speak out against these racist actions on the account of the minority. Does these “gay” venues advertise “diversity and inclusiveness” when flagging the pride flag? We hear of Bronx, denying access to a black man and now claims it was because a neighbouring shop-owner had pointed him out as "someone who brought in the wrong element" and who resembled a "problem client". - What utter nonsense and lies.

Whenever the black/coloured LGBTI community enters these places, we go there in the hope that we enjoy ourselves and mingle with people who shares in our sexual diversity – being our gay brothers and sisters, this is for us, a far fetched idea of gaily love, and seriously needs to be addressed by organizations who’s so prominent in identifying other issues of interest.
I think for us to move on and accept one another for who we truly are, irrespective of race and colour, needs a total mindset change as required once to abolish slavery many years ago, maybe then will we be able to celebrate Cape Town Pride in a true spirit of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning.