Johannesburg, South Africa – October 2019: Pride Africa banner displayed during South Africa gay pride march
In a pointed rebuttal to the growing anti-LGBTQ+ movement spreading across the African continent, leaders championing Africa’s so-called “pink economy” gathered recently in Cape Town to inaugurate the South African arm of the Queer & Allied Chamber of Commerce Africa (QACC Africa).
Founded in 2022 in Kenya, QACC Africa fosters economic inclusion for queer-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and allies with the goal of unleashing the potential of Africa’s LGBTQ+ economy.
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The South African chapter’s launch took place at the US Consul General’s residence, attended by reps from the U.S. Government, USAID (United States Agency for International Development), private sector stakeholders, and LGBTQ+ organizations, gay African news site MambaOnline reports.
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“Launching the South Africa Chapter cemented our vision of growing the pink economy in Africa,” said Chris Njeri Muriithi, co-founder of the group and Director of Training, Advocacy, and Engagement.
“It gets us even closer to actualizing the dream of enabling queer business owners and our allies to trade amongst themselves from their respective countries, unlocking wider opportunities for trade and fostering a more equitable continent.”
The “pink economy” in Africa is valued at over 250 billion South African rand, or about $14 billion annually.
The launch coincided with another LGBTQ+ milestone event, the first ILGA World Conference to take place in Africa.
The outgoing US Ambassador to South Africa, Dr. Reuben E Brigety II, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative in remarks at the ceremony.
“With this launch, we are not simply making an investment in a chamber of commerce; we are making a profound statement about who we are and what we believe,” he said.
“When we create avenues for LGBTIQ+ entrepreneurs to succeed, to grow businesses, to hire and to innovate, we are building a society in which every individual can participate fully in the economic life of their country.”
90% of South African LGBTQ+ employees aspire to start their own businesses, while 75% of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs need funding to grow, according to The Other Foundation, a South African human rights advocacy group.
Those numbers are behind QACC Africa’s Pride + Prosperity Fund, which provides business incubation and growth capital for queer-owned enterprises across the continent.
The data “shows how essential QACC Africa’s Pride + Prosperity Fund is for the South African queer community,” said Adam Sargeant, the group’s Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Management. “While we will be able to address this need through partnerships, we must work hard to raise the grant funds needed to build the capacity of these entrepreneurs, while also attracting investment funds for growth and scale.”
Khangelani Dziba, president of the new chapter, said the launch was part of a broader “fight towards economic and social justice” for LGBTQ+ Africans.
“It is about understanding that there is power in unity, and so much more progress can be achieved, despite the challenges we are always contending with.”
“We cannot do it alone,” he said.
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