AT A GLANCE:
WHO: Khanya, The Designer.
WHAT: KU33R$, a First Thursdays event.
WHEN: June 7, Kitchener's Carvery Bar, Jozi.
WHY CARE: It's a safe, non-violent and celebratory space to party.
THE DETAILS:
Bars, clubs and pubs can be dangerous spaces for anyone, especially if you are not a straight man (harassment, rape, unwanted sexual advances, drinks being spiked and all that other unsavoury stuff). That's why it's exciting when there is a space - or at least an event - that is unapologetic in its aim to be inclusive and safe for those who aren't cisgendered* men.
The posters for the first KU33R$ (pronounced "queers") party this Thursday in Braamfontein make it clear that everyone is welcome - unless they are bigots.
The event's curator, organiser and one of its DJs is Khanya Kemami, aka Khanya, The Designer. Kemami says KU33R$ is focused "towards womxn, queer bodies, gender-queer and transgender bodies creating a safe, nonviolent, celebratory space for such individuals to exist comfortably in".
That's not to say the unfairly under attack (that's sarcasm, folks) straight man isn't allowed - he is - but he just has to leave his hatefulness "at [his] bedroom door", a poster states.
Kemami says: "We do allow the non-women, non-queer and cisgendered into the space but all are heavily expected to have respect, compassion and an understanding of the bodies involved as well as the space designed for their expressive and rightful freedom."
That means no homophobia, transphobia, sexism, harassment, racism, ableism, insensitivity or disrespect of identity or appearance.When choosing the lineup of DJs for KU33R$, Kemami wanted DJs "to deepen the queer energy of the event, to encourage and celebrate their skills and to have us be in full control of the energies sounds, feel and look".
In addition to Khanya, The Designer, the lineup also includes Baby Caramelle, Lelowhatsgood, Rosie Parade and Umagezangobisi.Kemami said: "We are not new to the reality of transgender and queer individuals being killed, attacked, harassed or assaulted purely because of who they are and what they look like. I too am familiar with attacks, harassment and assault because of how I choose to love and look. [The] majority were carried out by cisgender heterosexual men in public or party settings we are all allowed into.
"Women-only events and queer-only parties are important and need to be more abundant. We also want to let loose without having to worry about where or how they will find your body at the night's end. We shouldn't be kept away from having a good, safe time just because we kiss, love, brag, walk and win differently to what you may be [used] to."
Entrance is R40 for everyone except cishet* men, whose cover charge is R50. The price difference is because straight men, says Kemami, "have the ability to dominate any other space they want [and] they have the ultimate freedom of movement when it comes to nightlife. We charge them a higher entrance because, firstly, they have options so if the price doesn't sit well, they may go literally anywhere else, whereas safe options are not so abundant for us.
"Secondly, [it's] to illustrate that the atmosphere of the event is not a focus on them but not against their attendance. There are also more risks to allowing cis men into spaces where heterosexual male gender identity, norms and club hierarchy is directly challenged. Masculinity can be extremely fragile."
If you think the #MeToo movement has gone too far or that the PC Police are out to lynch everyone, this is not the space for you. Otherwise, drop in for what will be an inclusive and kickass jol.
*Cisgendered refers to people who identify with the gender they were born as; cishet means heterosexual...