“ONENESS IN DIVERSITY…DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH”
The 10th annual instillation of its kind in Bloemfontein, the “Free State
Pride 2023” is a colorful event that is a commemoration and outright
celebration of LGBTQIA+ visibility and tolerance.
International Pride is
month (June) and in South Africa in October, and happens only once a year,
while we aim at always being present in society by remaining visible
and celebrating being the LGBTQI+ community daily. This year we are
expanding to celebrating our allies as well for their constant support at
all our events and during campaigns, as well as their contributions to
our efforts and clinical services we offer for MSM, (men that have sex
with other men).
Due to COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions, we have missed out on 2
years of hosting the event and this marks a “decade” so to say, and this
year will be us reclaiming back our pride and heritage through the
cultures that make up the diversity that is the LGBTQIA+ community
and our allies. A joint celebration that takes place under the colors of
the rainbow flag and all its meanings, the décor selection is a full
celebration of sun, spring, pride and the major opening event of the
year. This year the theme is “ONENESS IN DIVERSITY” and the event was
held on the 25 th March 2023 at the Mangaung Outdoor Sports
Centre, in line with celebrating national Human Rights Day (21 March),
partly in celebrating our darkest hours as a country, not just referring to
load shedding, but referring to the prevalent hate crimes, corrective
rapes and femicide we are still faced with daily.
Due to COVID 19 and lockdown restrictions, we have missed out on 2
years of hosting the event and this marks a “decade” so to say, and this
year will be us reclaiming back our pride and heritage through the
cultures that make up the diversity that is the LGBTQIA+ community
and our allies. A joint celebration that takes place under the colors of
the rainbow flag and all its meanings, the décor selection is a full
celebration of sun, spring, pride and the major opening event of the
year. This year the theme is “ONENESS IN DIVERSITY” and the event was
held on the 25 th March 2023 at the Mangaung Outdoor Sports
Centre, in line with celebrating national Human Rights Day (21 March),
partly in celebrating our darkest hours as a country, not just referring to
load shedding, but referring to the prevalent hate crimes, corrective
rapes and femicide we are still faced with daily. 
