South African police to rain on drag queens’ parade
The gay community is up in arms after a newspaper reported on Wednesday that drag queens will not be allowed to participate in this year’s Gay and Lesbian Pride parade in Johannesburg, due to take place on 25 September.

Authorities are citing the Regulation of Gatherings Act (an Apartheid law), which prohibits any person participating in a gathering, march or protest from wearing a disguise or mask that obscures facial features and therefore prevents identification. The Johannesburg Metro Police took the decision to ensure consistency and that no one in disguise or wearing a mask will be allowed to take part in the march. This includes drag queens, because of their wigs and make-up.

The statement says the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, Pretoria’s OUT, Johannesburg’s Forum for the Empowerment of Women, Cape Town’s Triangle Project and the Durban Lesbian and Gay Health Centre have all stated that the interpretation by police of the Act is “blatantly unconstitutional as it unjustifiably limits a whole host of rights” and that the Act’s “purpose is to prevent individuals in a protest action being involved in criminal activity by concealing their identity”.

Drag queens ‘pose no threat’
“Drag queens are an intrinsic part of our subculture and are a more visible and vocal element, and it is for this reason that many spectators actually attend the Lesbian and Gay Pride march. They pose no threat to society, and in fact many of them are full-time entertainers and enjoy a large and loyal following,” said Dawie Nel, director of OUT — a lesbian, gay and bisexual wellness organisation.

Nel also suggested the metro police could redirect their “misplaced enthusiasm and scarce resources” to a more beneficial end by “arresting thieves, rapists and murderers — thereby providing the service they should be”.

Visit the Pride South Africa website