Queer Pride in (South) Africa – from Stonewall to ‘stonewalling’

While Pride Month is commemorated at different times across South Africa, the month of June carries particular significance as the original Pride Month in the Northern Hemisphere. File Photo

Apart from South Africa, queer Pride events across our continent are often fraught exercises, risking serious harm to organisers and participants. This places an obligation on South Africa to fight for the rights of all who are marginalised, scapegoated or vilified, often for political gain.

The Sexuality and Gender Division of the Psychological Society of South Africa calls for the recognition of queer rights and the power of queer-affirmative therapy across the continent as we reflect on the concept of ‘queer pride’.

Across many African countries, LGBTQIA+ people continue to face criminalisation, discrimination, violence and barriers to accessing affirming healthcare and psychosocial support, making Pride as much an act of courage and survival as one of celebration.

While Pride Month is commemorated at different times across South Africa, the month of June carries particular significance as the original Pride Month in the Northern Hemisphere. It is rooted in the commemoration of the Stonewall protests of 1969 in New York, which served as a catalyst for the modern global LGBTQIA+ rights movement.