Knysna’s gays better keep a belt handy. Officials in the small South African town are deploying “pink police” to monitor this weekend’s gay pride parade, where nudity has apparently been an issue in the past. And organizers are blaming religious leaders:
Event co-ordinator Juan Lerm said Pink Police marshalls would clamp down on nudity. An 80-year-old man who has exposed his rear each year - last year he was archbishop of the moon - is to be asked to cover up.Lerm said the campaign against the Pink Loerie was being orchestrated by the same religious group as in previous years.
“I have great respect for religious views, but can’t cope with hate speech and blackmail. Let’s have mutual respect.”
One pastor, Jerome Nel, took another angle against the march: he and about 400 other people asked the town’s mayor to draw up a referendum and let the people vote on whether or not the flaming festivities should continues. Despite his opposition, Nel insists he has nothing against the gay folk. He just doesn’t want to see them parading down his streets. What a saint, right?
Editor
Andrew Belonsky Editorial Director
David Hauslaib Publisher
Jossip Initiatives
Copyright 2008 Jossip Initiatives LLC
Why are people so hung up with modesty? If you don’t want to flash some skin, fine keep it covered, but doesn’t everyone have a rear end? Are we surprised when we see one? “Oh my gosh, what is that? Quick cover the children’s eyes because they’ve never seen such a thing!”
I totally agree with enforcing deceny laws on gay pride events. They should be celebrations of gay people, the history of gay people and a pseudo-protest against gay discrimination. That’s what gay pride is in Dublin; but in London, San Francisco and presumably this South African city, gay pride events are nothing more than a pathetic excuse for leatherfolk, ‘bears’and just gays in general to wander around in public half-naked.
I’m really, really disgusted at the overt sexualisation of gay pride events. When straight people complain complain about the ridiculously low standard of decency at these events, I’ll be right there with them!