What is MCQP?

The Mother City Queer Project (MCQP) in Cape Town is a glamorous and fun largely gay party event that attracts all sorts of people from around the world annually. It is now into its teenage years as it turns 13 this year! More reason to celebrate…

Each year a theme is selected for this huge costume party, and some revellers spend months preparing spectacular outfits. In 2005 the theme was the Circus. Other years have included themes like Farm Fresh featuring sunflowers, cows and a gang of mealies (corn).

The theme for the 2006 Mother City Queer Project is Cartoon Strips, and some partygoers will probably focus more on the “strip” than on the “cartoon”. Expect to see a lot of flesh between the Batmen and Robins, the occasional Wonder Woman, and perhaps at least one Beavis and Butt-Head.

The partygoers tend to be as diverse as their costumes, with varied ages, races and sexual orientations demonstrating how colourful the post-apartheid rainbow nation can be. A public space is completely transformed for the occasion by artists, designers and volunteers. On the Big Night the hottest DJs, performers and bands help to provide the year’s best night out.

After a short time the place is pumping and you can dance the night away in a magical celebration at the bottom of Africa. It is customary to dump the more inhibiting aspects of your costume along with your inhibitions once the heat is on.

The organizers support a charity by giving a percentage of takings to an appropriate charity. In 2006 this will be the Pride Shelter Trust that provides emergency short-term accommodation to members of the gay community. See www.pridesheltertrust.co.za.

For more information on one of the best gay parties in the world - the 2006 Cape Town Mother City Queer Project - visit the official website at www.mcqp.co.za.