After six solid years of silence, it has happened: Port Elizabeth has finally celebrated its long overdue gay and lesbian film festival. The 'Port Elizabeth Gay and Lesbian Film Festival' saw visitors come from different parts of South Africa to see the selection of lesbian, transgender and gay films that were carefully selected.

By Frank Malaba

David Hessey, the Founder and President of PE Bears, a gay male social group in Port Elizabeth, and Christina Engela, President of Eastern Cape Gay and Lesbian Association, had the selected the films for the event.

"We wanted to pick films that would appeal to the broader lesbian, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender' (LGBT) community. One of the films of interest to the audiences might be a lesbian film called 'I can't think straight' set in the Middle East. It will be a great film because South Africa is a multicultural society and this film explores the elements of diversity", said David.

Transport needed
Although not a unique occurrence that a city has a LGBT film festival in this part of Africa, it was interesting to see that most of the people who attended were from surrounding towns including East London, Grahamstown, Colchester and Uitenhage. Could this be because the LGBT community in Port Elizabeth is not ready for a film festival of this nature?

"One of our biggest challenges in Port Elizabeth has been to mobilise people to attend our events. I think one of the main causes is the inability to transport them from townships to the venues. Plans are in progress to find appropriate transport to the venues to alleviate lack of involvement", he said.

Shy locals
People who walked passed the venue did seem to be interested and, although the entrance was free or by donation, most of them were too shy to walk through the doors.
An undertone of uneasiness reigned in the local area.

How ironic that a festival of this theme be held in a traditional former church building! Although this is not too surprising as South Africa has taken a few brave steps in the recognition of gay rights, becoming the only country in Africa to legalise gay marriage in 2006.

However, these freedoms come with their fair share of problems. There is still a lot of work to be done to educate people about gender and sexuality. Particularly black lesbians in townships have been attacked in the last couple of years.

Needless to say, the PEGLFF is a much needed tool in the education about gay and lesbian rights in Port Elizabeth and in Africa as a whole. And it appear we might not have to wait too long for another LGBT festival. There are already plans for a bigger, more engaging gay and lesbian film festival in October.