INLSA

The "official" South African Gay flag, launched at last year's MCQP party, was a common sight at the Cape Town Gay Pride parade along Beach road and Main road in Sea Point. Photo: Cape Argus, Gareth Smit

A Dutch drag performer had to be admitted to hospital after he fell from a float during the Gay Pride Parade in Cape Town yesterday.

Mart Reiker, stage name “DJuze Nipples”, was riding on the front of the Beefcakes float waving a feather duster when he fell. Ambulance medics arrived in minutes and strapped Reiker into a brace and stretcher before taking him to hospital.

However, for most participants Cape Town’s 16th Pride Parade was a success. Some chose to strip off as temperatures rose, donning bikini tops, hot pants or designer underpants. Others sweated for fashion in wigs, heels, fishnets, lacy lingerie and feather boas.

An ice cream salesman became so caught up in the singing and dancing that he abandoned sales and used his trolley as a one-man float.

Genderdynamix’s float sported posters spreading the message that people can change their gender in their ID documents without undergoing surgery.

Rhino African Safari campaigned for the protection of rhinos in a giant white rhino-head float.

But a group of evangelists who said they didn’t represent any particular group felt the parade was a “walk of shame” rather than a pride parade.

Members of the Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church marched after a float bearing a huge cross decorated in the colours of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered flag. – Cape Argus/Independent Cadet News Agency