Tanzania Pride 2024 celebrations cancelled

With a bittersweet emotion, I pen down this message. I regret to announce, with a heart weighed down by disappointment but also with the certainty that this is the right decision, that the much-anticipated Tanzania Pride 2024, which was scheduled to be held on the 29th of June 2024, has been unfortunately cancelled due to factors that are beyond our control.

The funds collected for this purpose amounting to $140, originally intended for the Pride event, will now be utilized in a different, but equally important way. These funds will now be directed towards providing support to those members of the LGBTQ community who are unfortunately serving time behind bars.

Our initial dream of organizing a Unity March in the vibrant city of Dar es Salaam, followed by a joyful beach party, will no longer materialize in the way we envisioned. The spirit of the event, however, will not be lost. Instead of communal celebration, we will now be channeling our energy and resources towards our LGBTQ brothers and sisters who are currently in prison.

We will be providing them with essential supplies that are allowed by the prison authorities. More than the material gifts, we will be offering them the gift of time and empathy, listening to their stories of hardship and struggle. Through their stories, we wish to comprehend their journey, their battle against the societal and systemic oppression they face. By doing this, we hope we can provide them a glimmer of hope and a reassurance that they are not alone in their struggle.

This change in our plans is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the cause of queer liberation. It's a symbol of our continuous resistance against all forms of oppression that our community faces. Our ultimate aim is to achieve beyond mere queer liberation, to establish a society where every individual, irrespective of their sexual orientation, is treated with respect and dignity.

So, even though with mixed emotions, I relay the regrettable news of the cancellation of Tanzania Pride 2024, let us not forget the bigger picture. Our fight is not just for a single event, but for the broader cause of queer emancipation.

Let us stand together in solidarity, for our struggle is far from over.

Shukuru Christian

Board Secretary- LGBT Voice Tanzania