The panelists highlighted the importance of allies in the fight for change
Highlighting Pride events as drivers for tourism and change, travel event Africa Travel Week‘s (ATW) recently hosted a webinar where Lo Ann Halden, Vice President of Communications for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, moderated an Equal Africa event on 20 June.
In a press statement, the organisers say that the webinar was meant to highlight the importance of Pride events as drivers of tourism and change, especially in the African context.
The panelists discussed a number of important issues pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community, such as how Pride celebrations give nations the push they need to fully embrace the idea of inclusivity rather than just ‘pinkwashing’ it once a year in June. The jury comprised Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir, queer activist, cultural producer and Founder of queer travel company Moonlight Experiences, Michael Gladwin, Founder of travel agency Afrigay Travel and AllStay LGBTQ+ Education, Rodney Otieno, Co-Founder and Director of Policy Development and Membership for the Queer and Allied Chamber of Commerce Africa and Nonhlanhla ‘MC’ Mkhize Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre.
“Pride events, like Durban Pride, are selling the concept of pride as not just a one-day activity, but a year-long campaign and investment,” said Mkhize.
“It’s really important to think beyond the concept of ‘we welcome everyone’. We need to understand why we need to be inclusive and how we need to be inclusive – what we need to do in order to become truly inclusive. We can’t just say we are. We need to take action on it,” added Gladwin.
The panelists also highlighted the importance of allies in the fight for change, addressing how there’s often a ‘fear factor’ at play amongst many individuals, organisations, and business owners who wish to support the community.
“LGBTQ is a very complex community, and sometimes people get scared. ‘What if I say something wrong? What if I mess up the acronym? Or what if I say something that offends you?’ That fear, again, goes back to education. We need to have open conversations with people who are open to being our allies but don’t understand how to come into our world,” said Otieno.
“We need to create a global conversation, find the gaps, and find the solutions. Let the conversation begin in Cape Town,” he said.
Shaibu-Lenoir concluded the webinar by reminding everyone of the foundation of these Pride events. “Anyone who wants to be an authentic ally must understand that queerness has always been political. Pride, in its foundation, is a protest. That needs to lead the way in Africa like it has in so many other countries. Pride is also a wondrous celebration, but we mustn’t forget that, at its core, it’s about change. Things can get better,” he said.
Despite the many concerns in countries like Uganda at the moment, Africa has taken strides towards inclusivity and each panelist is hopeful for continued progress across the continent in the future. Gladwin noted how much work is being done to bring the World Pride 2028 event and InterPride 2024 Annual General Meeting & World Conference to Cape Town, often seen as Africa’s LGBTQ+ beacon of hope.
