The Individuality aspect in Pride

As the month draws to an end, one cannot stop to marvel at the events that made June an amazing month. This month has definitely united scores of people. These people shared different backgrounds, different ethnic groups and different sexual orientations.

This past weekend the Rock of Hope Eswatini, through funding and sponsorship from both local and international organisations; was able to successfully host its 2^nd Pride event. This event was marked with joy, an aura of jubilance and that of embracing sexual and cultural diversity and ethnicity. Throngs of people came out to participate in the event, but what made it worthwhile was how people dressed and embraced the rainbow flag colours in their outfits.  

Although the actual day was met with an atmosphere of elation, what many do not understand was the doubt that lingered over the whole event; in the previous weeks. This can be attributed to the delays in securing a street.  Delays In my view can be ascribed to dilatory tactics which were employed in the form numerous procedural requests during the application process. Thousands of people waited in anticipation to get the go-ahead that a street had been approved for a public parade. The calls were endless, messages flooded in until at-last, the street was granted. This was the first of many achievements The Rock of Hope hurdled across in-order to successfully host pride. Perseverance has and continues to be the core attitude in our work.

The essence of Pride day is in-fact the parade itself. Ever noticed how as humans we always parade our achievements? How we show it off to our counterparts? How each achievement brings joy to our hearts; now that is the essence of pride.  Each stride has meaning, each step embracing the whole concept of being Proud.  As queer identifying individuals and queer supporters joined in song together to celebrate their diversity, it no-longer became an individual affair but more of a communal affair; with individual significance. 

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have engagements with Waterford Kamhlaba college pupils and staff during their pride week. One of the, discussions on the day were about sexual diversity and how it infiltrates into the livelihoods of individuals.  The diverse culture present in the school tends to remind one of how as a society we live in a communal setting but we are diverse and specific individuals. At the end of the day; it is all about that one particular individual who is queer and is nervous to come out. That one particular individual who just came out yesterday and just got shunned and rejected for being gay. That one queer person who just came to terms with being queer and is ready to share it with the world. Pride is all about that particular individual; to give assurance that in as much as they may be queer, they are still a part of a community that promotes love and diversity.

In health promotion, it is always said that programs are designed for the individual but pioneered on the larger scale; community. The methods of administering such health programmes and services vary from being merely negotiated or enforced. On Saturday the 22ndof June, people took to the streets to negotiate for their rights. These are their human rights which generally tap into their livelihoods and overall wellbeing.

In Eswatini, the cultural and judicial systems are used to govern the country; binary system of law.  The current status quoi alludes that, in the country LGBTIQ+ identifying people continue to be stigmatised and discriminated for their sexual orientation. This can be attributed to cultural beliefs which tend to label homosexuality as being a taboo. Cohesively, laws such as the 1907 Dutch Common Law tend to propagate the stigma and discrimination. These laws deny LGBTIQ+ citizens the right to full expression of their sexual identities. Although, the law is not enforced, it still serves as a barrier towards freedom of expression. It merely, says; we shall lock you up in a cage, carry the keys and we shall decide when to lock it.

These archaic laws violate constitutional rights and international conventions, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and are no longer relevant in the countries that first imposed them. Pride aims to raise awareness on the rights of marginalized groups including sex workers and LGBTIQ+ identifying people. These groups continue to be impinged in the country due to laws that criminalize same-sex relations, and laws that do not explicitly protect marginalized groups against discrimination.

So, in these last few days of pride month and months moving on, let us acknowledge diversity and embody the notion of humanity. Let us embrace the principle of Ubuntu and communal living. Let love win, and let there be equality for all.