Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival 2017 Knysna

Thursday 27 April - Monday 1 May 2017*
Thursday 27 April and Monday 1 May 2017 are public holidays
PINK LOERIE
Mardi Gras and Arts Festival 2017 Knysna
Back to where it all started with Bears, Fairies, Princess, Princesses,
Kings and fabulous Queens. A modern day LGBTI fairy tale!
The beginning and 17 years later....
The story of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras
and Arts Festival is a story that begins
with Knysna. Hidden away 1200 km
south of Johannesburg and east of Port
Elizabeth, lays the charming town of
Knysna (a local Khoikhoi word that quite
possibly may mean ‘ferns’). One of the
best kept secrets of South Africa, the
town of Knysna is located in the Garden
Route and is surrounded by lush native
South African rainforests, spilling out into
a crystalline estuary fed by the Knysna
River. For the past fourteen years at the
end of April and the first week of May,
Knysna has also become home to one
of the freshest and most exciting LGBTI
celebrations around the world – the Pink
Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival.
Initially started by local businessmen
to entice tourists to the town during the
slow month of May and reinvigorate the
local economy, and run until 2009 by
Juan Lerm, the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras
was also an event that that would not
only incorporate the region’s gay identity
but celebrate the cultural contribution
the gay community made to the region
and overcome a history of suppression..
And with an ever increasingly visible gay
population, Knysna’s Pink Loerie has
quietly become one of the most written
about and must-see annual celebrations
within the global gay community.
During the early days of the event’s
creation, the organisers had first thought
to have the event as a parade similar to the
famous Pride events found throughout
Europe and South Africa. The next
option was to hold a parade and party
akin to that of the Sydney Mardi Gras.
Whilst acknowledging that the region
was in need of an event that provided a
celebratory and creative outlet for the
LGBTI community, the organisers agreed
that whatever it was that was created
should go beyond that of the traditional,
better known Pride parade. It should
be a celebration, a carnival – and a
carnival with a purpose. This would allow
the event to become something that
incorporated all residents and visitors
in the town regardless of their sexuality,
thus celebrating the rich diversity of
people from the Greater Municipality of
Eden area, which incorporates Knysna
and nearby George. It would be an event
that would truly embrace the ideals of
equality and freedom. Whilst essentially
still being a celebration of gay culture
and queer freedom, it would also be
a platform where LGBTI cultural and
political issues could be debated and
addressed, albeit in an informal manner.
Issues such as sexual education, HIV/
AIDS and acceptance from both sides of
the community are often primary themes
of discussion and celebration. After
some initial discussions with the local
government and a whopper of a fund
raiser that proved just how much
support they had from all areas of
the community, they were ready
to begin …
And so in 2001, the very first Pink
Loerie Mardi Gras was celebrated
and to say it was a huge success
is an understatement. A more
culturally aware version of the
European Pride, Pink Loerie Mardi
And, for the more outdoor
oriented, there are excursions to
local tourist attractions such as
Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, as
well as lagoon rides on the cruise
boats on offer.
But at its heart, the Pink Loerie
is a festival and celebration so
dancing, fun and music also
played an enormous part of the
event, with daily shows held at
various locations throughout the
town and club nights.
The grand finale of the Pink Loerie
Mardi Gras, the Parade and afterparty, is held on the final weekend
of the celebrations. The festival
attracts floats, performers and
DJ’s from all over the world and
local businesses also get into to
the spirit, competing for the best
Pink Loerie window display.
This is the event where Knysna
comes into its own, with the
locals showing the full extent of
hospitality, diversity and fanfare
and festive spirit that is the
backbone of the event and the
02
Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival
Gras provided a wider range of
events, exhibitions and gatherings
that focus on creative and political
endeavours within the South
African and international gay
communities.
Performing
art
shows, art exhibitions and charity
drives are held that provoke
thought and debate and provide
many a creative platform to share
their opinions and experiences.
reason that people keep coming
back every year.
A notable accomplishment of Pink
Loerie is the charity drive for local
charities that included Loeriehof
Old Age Home in Graham Street,
Knysna, Knysna Animal Welfare,
Vermont Old Aged Home and the
Mayor’s Social Relief Fund.
Pink Loerie
Mardi Gras &
Arts Festival is
therefore a time
of celebration,
but celebration
with a purpose.
Wigstock Festival SA 2017
The international Wigstock has a local chapter now in South Africa.
The best drag shows, pageants and other “wig” related events.
Drag yourself
to witty wicked
Wigstock
Wednesday 27 April 2016 / Knysna-Plett Herald
Night club
hosts top drag
artists
Tuesday 03 May 2016 / Knysna-Plett Herald
CHAPTER III
Wigstock was an annual outdoor drag festival that began in the 1980s in
Manhattan’s East Village that took place on Labor Day. Traditionally the festival
would act as the unofficial end to the summer for the gay community of New
York City. The name references the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Hosted by co-creator Lady Bunny, the festival was held in its first years
in Tompkins Square Park. According to Lady Bunny, the event began
spontaneously in 1984 after a group of drag queens (along with Wendy Wild
and a couple of Fleshtones) became inebriated at the nearby Pyramid Club
and decided to put on a show in the park.
As the crowds grew each year, the festival was moved, first to Union Square
Park, then to piers on the Hudson River. Lady Bunny said that 2001’s Wigstock
would be the last, but in 2003, 2004, and 2005, Wigstock and Bunny returned
to Tompkins Square, this time under the auspices of the Howl Festival.
Wigstock Festivals Southern Africa
03
Bear Colony Festival SA 2017
A mutual playground for all Bear Groups in Southern Africa.
The term BEAR was
popularized by Richard
Bulger, who was the
co-founder of Bear
Magazine in 1987.
Bear is an affectionate gay slang term
for those in the bear communities,
a subculture in the gay community
and an emerging subset of the LGBT
community with its own events, codes,
and culture-specific identity.
Bears tend to have hairy bodies and
facial hair; some are heavy-set; some
project an image of working-class
masculinity in their grooming and
appearance, though none of these are
requirements or unique indicators.
The bear concept can function as an
04
identity, an affiliation, and an ideal to live
up to. There is ongoing debate in bear
communities about what constitutes a
bear. Some state that self-identifying
as a bear is the only requirement, while
others argue that bears must have
certain physical characteristics, such as
a hairy chest and face, a large body, or a
certain mode of dress and behavior.
Bears are almost always gay or bisexual
men, although transgender men
(regardless of their sexuality) and those
who shun labels for gender and sexuality
are increasingly included within bear
Bear Colony Festival Southern Africa
communities. The bear community has
spread all over the world, with bear clubs
in many countries. Bear clubs often
serve as social and sexual networks for
older, hairier,
sometimes heavier gay and bisexual
men, and members often contribute
to their local gay communities through
fundraising and other functions. Bear
events are common in heavily-gay
communities.
The International Bear Brotherhood Flag
was designed in 1995 by Craig Byrnes.
Mr Gay Mardi Gras
Southern Africa 2017
Gone are the days where beauty pageants evolved around large sums
of cash and fancy cars as a symbolic representation of the community.
Mr Gay Mardi Gras Southern Africa is
more than just a title, it’s a ethos of
achieving a greater sense of self and of
bringing together various segments of
our LGBTI community. As a part of the
Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival™,
MRGMGSA serves as a platform to unite
the entire country in one event where
entrants can be themselves, aspire to
reach goals and link their reign with a
cause worthwhile to celebrate.
Chosen
from
local communities
stretching across all 9 provinces, the
crowing of Mr Gay Mardi Gras 2016 saw
our winner, Alexander Steyn, steal the
heart of the audience and subsequently
launch an awareness campaign titled
#loveall, aimed at promoting equal rights
and attempting to put a stop to bullying
and intimidation, beyond the platforms
of stereotypical school scenarios into
corporate, peer and community sense
alike.
PLMGAF each year celebrates our VIP
Dinner and Fund Raising Auction to
create awareness and generate fund
raising in the best way we know how…
by making it larger than life!
This year we combined the MRGMGSA
with Miss Wigstock and Miss Mardi
Gras in a gala event, hosted at the
prestigious Villa Castollini guest house
and banquet hall, Knysna,
raising
over R200 000 towards charity in one
evening.
We therefore invite local business and
organisation to get involved, to pledge
support and show care towards the less
fortunate in both the LGBTI realm and
in general. Help us make a difference
by showing your care and investing in
the causes which touches all of us.
Mr Gay Mardi Gras Southern Africa
05
Why
Sponsor in
association
with Pink
Loerie Mardi
Gras & Arts
Festival™ ?
The annual Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts
Festival™ provide companies and brands a great
means of broadening their competitive edge by
improving the company’s image, prestige and
credibility by supporting events that the target
market finds attractive. In recent years, corporate
sponsorship has become the fastest growing
type of marketing in South Africa.
Part of this growth can be attributed to the
increasing numbers of small and medium-sized
businesses involved. Previously, only large
businesses could afford to sponsor causemarketing.
Now, smaller companies are sponsoring local
fairs and festivals as an effective method of
boosting their visibility in their community. Most
of these sponsorships can help your company
enhance its public profile.
PLMGAF has successfully partnered with
scores of companies over the past 16 years and
continues to grow and develop new business
06
Why Sponsor?
relationships and opportunities. Irrespective of the size or
industry in which your company operates, we can utilise
all support and drive your marketing and PR awareness
thoroughly, in turn building better client relationships and
potential customer prospects.
PLMGAF Sponsorship Benefits
Partnering with PLMGAF can be especially effective as a
marketing tool because it can be a means of accessing
a wide range of audiences such as decision makers in
business, government entities, and of course customers.
We shift paradigms in terms of customers who take part
in international trade as sponsoring towards our event
transcends LGBTI cultural divides.
Heightened visibility due to positive publicity through the
media is another reason to be involved with PLMGAF especially as we attract such a large number of people who
travel to the festival and utilise the services of the brands
associated a Pro-PLMGAF brand or organization.
The “Pink Rand” is one of the most favorable economic
demographics as our market often includes a higher LSM
level and achievement / aspiration goals in terms of lifestyle,
services and activities.
SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS
& CURRENT SPONSORS
Villa
Castollini
LUXURY GUEST HOUSE & VENUE
CHRIS WINSPEAR
Why Sponsor?
07
KNYSNA
08
Why Sponsor?
Knysna
hosts
Mr Gay
World™
2015
With less than three weeks to the arrival
of 23 international Mr Gay World™ (MGW)
delegates, Knysna is a hive of activity
and anticipation in preparing for the Mr
Gay World™ crowning. This crowning
represents the highlight of Knysna’s
15thGlobeflight Pink Loerie Mardi Gras
& Arts Festival.
Although the Grande Finale was moved
from Cape Town to Knysna a month
prior to the event, the Mother City still
supports the MGW with R100 000 that
will fund other related events there.
The concept of Mr Gay World™ was born
in June 2008 when Eric Butter and Dean
Nelson embarked on a mission to create
a global competition that would inspire
and empower gay men through public
solidarity.
The first Mr Gay World Competition
took place in 2009 during the annual
WinterPRIDE celebrations in the award
winning mountain resort of Whistler,
Canada with 24 delegates. Ireland’s Max
Krzyanowski won this inaugural title. The
seventh MGW crowning will take place
at the Knysna Mall Exhibition Centre on
Saturday, May 2 at 20:00.
Georlene Wolmarans, Knysna Executive
Municipal Mayor, said that Knysna being
awarded the MGW crowning event is
a wonderful recognition of Knysna’s
diversity. “I look forward to welcoming
delegates from the 23 countries to our
beautiful town,” said Wolmarans.
choice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) community
in South Africa. Having the first South
African married gay couple living in our
area as well as the first gay couple who
won the legal battle to adopt children in
South Africa is proof of this acceptance.”
Managing Director of Mr Gay World™
At the crowning ceremony it will also
2015, Coenie Kukkuk smiled and said:
“Everyone at the Globeflight Pink Loerie
Grand Parade on Saturday (May 2) will
no doubt choose their own favourite
among the delegates. We’ll just have to
wait and see who walks away with the
coveted crown.”
be revealed who wins the acclaimed
Eric Butter Philanthropy Award. This
award
recognises
humanitarian
accomplishment
and
inspirational
leadership.
Delegates will travel South Africa
in the company of the international
MGW judges. They will be continually
evaluated
on
their appearance,
grooming, intellect, social skills as
well as a written test on lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) history,
recent news events, an art challenge,
sport and public speaking.
“The diversity of Knysna has long been
the mainstay of the Pink Loerie Festival,”
said Knysna Tourism CEO, Greg Vogt.
“One of the greatest things about our
area is its people. The area is a lifestyle
Among other cities that hosted Mr Gay
World™ Grande Finale are Oslo, Sidney
and Rome. South Africa is the only
country ever to have been awarded this
event twice.
“Knysna is turning pink! The town
is looking forward to welcoming all
delegates and especially our visitors.
Arrangements have been made to
ensure all enjoy safe travel, safety and
the entertainment of our guests. We
want all to have fun,” concluded Vogt.
THE ERIC BUTTER PHILANTHROPY
AWARD
In June 2008 Eric Butter and Dean
Nelson embarked on a mission to
create a global competition that would
inspire and empower gay men to come
together in a public performance that
would show the world that being gay
encompasses a broad spectrum. The
mission aims to demonstrate that
inward beauty, physical appearance,
leadership and confidence are all
equally important. The award brings
these men together to share their
experiences and create awareness that
in many regions, being gay represents a
fight for basic human rights.
Tuesday 14 April 2015 / The Gremlin
Previous Events
09
16 couples tie knot in 1st mass same-sex
wedding in Africa
Friday 29 April 2016 / SABC
10
Previous Events
SA pioneers
to renew vows
at mass gay
wedding
Tue 12 April 2016 / Sowetan Live
Mass wedding
paints Knysna
sky pink
Sat 30 April 2016 / IOL
Rain no dampener
for mass same-sex
wedding in Knysna
Not even the heavy rain and icy weather that swept
over the Garden Route on Friday could dampen the
spirits of 15 couples who tied the knot in Africa’s first
mass same-sex marriage in Knysna.
The festival attracts up to 30 000 people
every year and raises thousands of rands
for charity.
Another highlight on Friday’s programme
is the Mr Mardi Gras South Africa event‚
when South Africa’s representative for
the 2017 Mr Gay World will be chosen.
The festival runs until Sunday.
Friday 29 April 2016 / Herald Live
Dressed in designer wedding attire the
couples said their I do’s at Villa Castollini in
celebration of the 16th annual Pink Loerie
Mardi Gras and Arts Festival. Among them
were several well-known locals including
Hoekwil couple‚ Vernon and Tony GibbsHalls‚ who renewed their vows after 10
years of marriage. They were the first
gay couple in Africa to legally marry – on
December 1 2006.
I do‚ I do‚ I do‚ I do‚ I do: Africa’s first mass same-sex
marriage in Knysna
Friday 29 April 2016 / Times LIVE
Knysna mayor Esme Edge and advocate
Julie Seton also took the opportunity to
renew their vows after marrying earlier
this year.
The couples will lead the annual Pink
Loerie parade through the streets of
Knysna tomorrow.
Previous Events
11
WEBSITE
www.pinkloerie.co.za
www.bearcolony.co.za
www.wigstock.co.za
www.mrgmgsa.com
www.pinkloerietravel.com
www.pinkloeriemagazine.com
TWITTER
@PinkLoerie
@PLTravelZA
@Bear_Colony
@Wigstock
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@MRGMGSA2
FACEBOOK
/PinkLoerie
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/PinkLoerieThree
/PinkLoerieMiss
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/PLMGAFSAFoundation
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/Wigstock
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/MRGMGSA
INSTAGRAM
/pinkloerieknysna
HASHTAG
#pinkloerie
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#fairytale
#wigstock
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#LGBTIfestival
#knysna
#pinkfootfwd
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#showyourcolors
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