Despite South Africa’s inclusive constitution that supports the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, their lived experience is sometimes very different to this with queer people regularly facing violence and discrimination, and some even suffering fatal attacks. It is no wonder that queer spaces are often only accessible under the veil of nightlife.
The vibrant presence of the Rainbow Social has been groundbreaking for the LGBTQIA+ community, and literally shifted the approach to queer spaces in South Africa.
There is a wide variety of events at the Rainbow Social including outdoor movie nights, festive sundowners, a luscious brunch and intimate unplugged live music sessions. They even have an annual three-day getaway. The range of events at the Rainbow Social is what makes it marvelous, and a truly unique experience for the different types of queer people that it attracts.
What is even more outstanding is that all of this has been accomplished by Willie in a year, and during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
We sat down with Willie to speak about the Rainbow Social’s journey and ever-growing success.
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AMAKA: What has your experience with queer spaces in South Africa been like?
Landa Willie: Honestly, there are quite a few queer spaces in South Africa, and within those I have always found that it wasn’t always a pleasant and safe experience for me. Thing is, I like going out but I wanted to experience something amazing and thoughtful with queer people. I wanted to also know that I was supporting a Black-owned business, or a Black female-owned business, or a Black queer-owned business. However, even though there are those that exist, I just have not had the safest experience at the queer events that I have attended in the past.
A: Why did you create the Rainbow Social?
LW: The Rainbow Social is something I created for myself, and people like me, who had given up on queer spaces, who had given up [on] the idea that organisers can be thoughtful, accountable, and actually do give a f**k about anything other than selling tickets. I wanted to know that organisers actually care about attendees having an amazing time, a safe time — with people who are there to make you feel like you are part of a community. That’s the type of event I wanted to attend, so that’s the type of event I have been creating.
A: What’s the atmosphere like at The Rainbow Social?
LW: I genuinely think the Rainbow Social is such a happy place. I feel like I know everyone that comes to the Rainbow Social, and maybe that’s just the community we have created because even new faces feel familiar. This space truly just captures the essence of community. Everyone has everyone’s back; everyone is looking out for each other. When there is any form of trouble, we come together. Like if someone doesn’t have a ride home, we get them a cab, or make a plan. I have made myself trustworthy to all attendees, and I know they will reach out to me if the experience that we have promised, which is safety and peace of mind, hasn’t been fulfilled.
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A: How have you been intentional about making the Rainbow Social a “safe space”?
LW: One major way is that we bar all people that we are aware of having an abusive or violent past. More specifically, people who have been accused of harming any individual in the queer community are unwelcome and won’t be allowed into the space. But even if someone at my event tells me that there is an abuser present, we escort them out immediately — that’s one way we have tried making the space safer. Another way is that during the event there is an active call to action, so if you are not okay in any way, you know where to find me, and my team. The third way we ensure safety is by vetting everyone that we hire: DJs, musical entertainment, and other staff.
A: The sense of security that the Rainbow Social provides is remarkable, but what else makes it different from other queer spaces in South Africa?
LW: Safety is the cornerstone that builds the environment we create. When the intention has been set, then everyone can actually just be present, unwind, and have a good time. I am intentional about the experiences I curate. Each event under the Rainbow Social caters to a range of preferences, and creates environments for different personalities to enjoy.
A: You’re the new baby on the queer block, how has navigating that been?
LW: It has been an interesting time. I went from not being part of anything in the queer community to literally being an event organiser, which I had always told myself I would never be. I did not have the confidence to pull off events for queer people. I also thought it would put too many eyes on me, and it did. And that’s what I think has made the journey easier.
There have been people I have gotten to know purely through the Rainbow Social, and they are rooting for me. I feel like I have a community backing me up, and they see me. They see what I am trying to create for us which is important to me because it’s not about capitalising off queerness and queer politics. I put my whole heart into it, and I believe people experience that in the space.
My dream for the space is for everyone to be who they are, and that they can feel held. It’s a few hours of people who can see you, and hold up a mirror to you, and that’s so dope. I have also been able to tap into layers of myself by being immersed in the space.
"This space truly just captures the essence of community"
A: What unexpected pleasant surprises have you experienced on this journey?
LW: I am a big dreamer, and I am ambitious but I still couldn’t imagine that the Rainbow Social is where it is, at only a year and two months old. We literally started this as an outdoor movie night at a friend’s house, and now we are sitting at tables pitching to big brands.
The fact that I can introduce the Rainbow Social to brands like Jagermeister, Savanna, Bacardi, PUMA, Vida e Caffé, and be in a musical partnership with TOMS, has been insanely surreal. It has also been refreshing to see these brands putting their money where their mouth is because instead of just saying they back the queer community, they are actually doing it, and actively supporting by investing in this space.
The Rainbow Social is about to become my biggest dream. I am actively investing in queer artists, queer service providers, and other queer business that work with us. It is empowering our community.
A: What does success look like for the Rainbow Social?
LW: We have made our very first hire — that is such a big milestone for a baby business. It feels like progress to our growth. I just want the space to be truly for queer people and by queer people; that is what success will look like for me. And also for everything I have been planning for 2022 to come into fruition.