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Zimbabwe Pride week ends with drag queen contest Zimbabwe Pride week ends with drag queen contest
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In a long and shimmering purple dress, 17-year-old Ezmerald Kim Kardashian – not his real name – was crowned Miss Jacaranda at a drag queen pageant ahead of First Princess, Second Princess and Miss Personality. But it was the beauty contest's location that may shock many: Zimbabwe. Not that President Robert Mugabe could be seen handing out glittering garlands. In a long and shimmering purple dress, 17-year-old Ezmerald Kim Kardashian – not his real name – was crowned Miss Jacaranda at a drag-queen pageant ahead of First Princess, Second Princess and Miss Personality. But it was the beauty contest's location that may shock many: Zimbabwe. Not that President Robert Mugabe could be seen handing out glittering garlands.
Miss Jacaranda, named after the tree that blossoms lavender at this time of year in Zimbabwe, was the culmination of the annual ZimPride week taking place in a country in which homophobia is rife and anti-gay rhetoric was a cornerstone of Mugabe's recent re-election campaign.Miss Jacaranda, named after the tree that blossoms lavender at this time of year in Zimbabwe, was the culmination of the annual ZimPride week taking place in a country in which homophobia is rife and anti-gay rhetoric was a cornerstone of Mugabe's recent re-election campaign.
Little is known about Ezmerald Kim Kardashian except his sense of humour in borrowing the name of one of America's biggest reality TV stars. According to an AP report, he declined to give his real name because he feared for his safety under a president who once described homosexuals as "worse than pigs and dogs".Little is known about Ezmerald Kim Kardashian except his sense of humour in borrowing the name of one of America's biggest reality TV stars. According to an AP report, he declined to give his real name because he feared for his safety under a president who once described homosexuals as "worse than pigs and dogs".
"I want you all to be proud of who you are, regardless of what anyone thinks about us," the pageant organiser Sam Matsipure told the eight contestants, reported AP."I want you all to be proud of who you are, regardless of what anyone thinks about us," the pageant organiser Sam Matsipure told the eight contestants, reported AP.
The pageant was staged without fanfare last weekend in an isolated farmhouse on on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.The pageant was staged without fanfare last weekend in an isolated farmhouse on on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.
"Events like these raise my sense of self-worth in a country that hates us," one participant, who goes by the name Coco DaDiva, told AP."Events like these raise my sense of self-worth in a country that hates us," one participant, who goes by the name Coco DaDiva, told AP.
ZimPride week was organised by GALZ (Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe) whose website states that people still feel unsafe about being open about their sexuality in public and not yet ready to march in the streets. GALZ members frequently attend pride marches in neighbouring South Africa, which gives full rights to same sex couples. ZimPride week was organised by Galz (Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe) whose website states that people still feel unsafe about being open about their sexuality in public and not yet ready to march in the streets. Galz members frequently attend pride marches in neighbouring South Africa, which gives full rights to same sex couples.
Events during the low-profile week were publicised by social media and word of mouth and included the launch of a book, Out in Zimbabwe: Narratives of Zimbabwean LGBTI Youth. Police turned a blind eye despite sodomy being declared a crime punishable by at least seven years in prison.Events during the low-profile week were publicised by social media and word of mouth and included the launch of a book, Out in Zimbabwe: Narratives of Zimbabwean LGBTI Youth. Police turned a blind eye despite sodomy being declared a crime punishable by at least seven years in prison.
Mugabe's regular tirades against homosexuality, including calls for gay men to be castrated, may be as much about populist vote winning as a genuine will to enforce the law. "Are you a man or woman?" he asked a campaign rally in Bulawayo earlier this year. "You just look at yourself and see the talents that you were given.Mugabe's regular tirades against homosexuality, including calls for gay men to be castrated, may be as much about populist vote winning as a genuine will to enforce the law. "Are you a man or woman?" he asked a campaign rally in Bulawayo earlier this year. "You just look at yourself and see the talents that you were given.
"Women wait for young men to come to them, and young men look to girls to go and make a choice from. Nobody tell you. You just know you're a man through the physical talents that were given to you by the almighty.""Women wait for young men to come to them, and young men look to girls to go and make a choice from. Nobody tell you. You just know you're a man through the physical talents that were given to you by the almighty."
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