Charl Blignaut
Final preparations for the annual South African Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade got under way this week with the videotaping of You’re Free, the music video for South Africa’s first mainstream gay and lesbian pop anthem.
The song, written by Kaolin Thompson of the band Naked, is to be included on the Pride 1999 compilation CD.
But despite the video for You’re Free being crammed with diverse images of South Africa’s gay and lesbian community – from dykes on bikes to fag cops – only one of the nearly two-dozen top local artists appearing on it are openly gay.
The rest – including Ashaan, Levvanah from Qkumba Zoo, Blondie Makhene, Wendy Oldfield and the alternative rock band Boo – are appearing in the song to express solidarity with the movement rather than make a personal statement.
Thompson wrote the song on her own after other leading local black songstresses withdrew from the project at the last minute, citing problems with their bands or management if they were frank about their sexual orientation.
“It’s part of an evolutionary process,” said parade committee co-chair Sharon Cooper at the colourful shoot in a Midrand studio this week.
“I’m happy to be part of a process breaking down the stereotypes,” said Thompson.
“What I’ve learned,” said producer Nicola Rauch of Ya Rona Productions, “is that evidently black females in South Africa are particularly oppressed with regards to being open about their sexuality.”