Mixael de Kock interviews Fulvio de Stefanis a director of Joburg Pride, the Section 21 Company responsible for Johannesburg’s greatest annual spectacle. Fulvio De Stefanis has a BSC Civil Engineering degree from WITS University. In addition to his role in the construction and property development industry.

Fulvio has also been a leading dance event promoter for over a decade. He was a co-founder of The Mother of All Raves which commercialised the rave ‘scene’ in South Africa with events attracting over 16 000 people.
He brought TRADE, London, to the country and produced the largest gay rave in South Africa, with Channel 4, BBC, Attitude Magazine and DJ International covering the event.

Fulvio went on to open Bitch super-club in Johannesburg which operated with great success for a number of years before he opened Legends nightclub in Pretoria. He also has experience in publishing, having launched The Vibe Magazine, with an audited readership of 100 000, which he published for 24 issues.

There will also be a short insert interview with Philip Liebenberg, the author of “Daar is ‘n Gay Pastoor in my Kop“. Phillip has been on quite a journey that took him form studying theology, practicing as a pastor, getting married, having children and, finally coming out ias the 21st Century dawns.

The main interview with Fulvio de Stefanis will centre on the great news that International diva, and the most famous drag artist in the world, RuPaul will be strutting her stuff in Johannesburg and Pretoria during Joburg Pride week this October: presenting a live performance at Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party and launching her new film at Cinema Nouveau’s Pride Film Festival.

The drag superstar singer and actress will be performing her chart-topping hits on stage at Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party at Carfax, proudly presented by Flex Bender, on Saturday October 4th, with a live act that starts at 11pm. The mega party will also boast four dance floors each featuring top South African DJs taking the event’s 2008 Pride celebrations into the early hours of the morning.

“This is a major scoop for Joburg’s nightlife and the city’s Pride celebrations – boosting both to an international level,” says Therapy co-owner Fulvio De Stefanis. “RuPaul is one of the world’s true gay icons, and we’re very proud to bring her to South Africa for the first time.”
RuPaul is also coming to the country to promote her latest film, Starrbooty, which will be exclusively screening at Cinema Nouveau’s Pride Film Festival around the country. Starrbooty tells the story of a gorgeous crime fighting federal agent named – you guessed it – Starrbooty, who disposes of villains while becoming entangled in various romantic liaisons.

RuPaul, who plays the titular character, will be appearing at the film’s glamorous premiere on Thursday, October 2nd at Ster Kinekor, the Zone, Rosebank, and will also attend the Pretoria premiere of the film at Brooklyn’s Cinema Nouveau on the 3rd. All proceeds from the premieres will be donated by Cinema Nouveau and Therapy to the non-profit company that runs Joburg Pride on behalf of the gay and lesbian community. RuPaul is a multi-talented American singer, actor and lyricist who has appeared across a grand spectrum of media. The singer’s remake of classic disco anthem ‘It’s Raining Men’, her collaboration with Elton John (‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’) and her massive hit ‘Supermodel (You’d better work)’all soared to the top of the charts.
On the left is a mamba in disguise!

RuPaul has also featured on the silver screen, with roles in mainstream cinema as well as in iconic gay films such as ‘To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar’ and ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’. In 1995, RuPaul was signed as the face of MAC cosmetics; making her the first drag queen supermodel. She is currently working on ‘RuPaul's Drag Race,’ a reality TV game show that aims to find the number one drag performer in the United States. Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride Afterparty - proudly presented by Flex BenderSaturday October 4, Therapy, Newtown, Johannesburg.

Doors open at 4pm with shower and change room facilities for revellers wanting to come straight from the Pride march at Zoo Lake. Entrance fees range from R80 between 4pm and 7pm (with no pass-outs) and R150 after 8pm. Pre-sale tickets for the event at R120 per person can be purchased by calling TicketLine 082 16789 or at www.sterkinekor.com. Therapy Happens at Carfax, Pimm Str, Newtown, Johannesburg. Tickets on sale from 25 August. The Starrbooty Film PremieresThursday, October 2nd – Ster Kinekor, the Zone, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Friday, October 3 - Cinema Nouveau, Brooklyn, Pretoria Tickets for the premieres of Starrbooty are priced at R150 per person and also include free entry to the Therapy’s Viva La Glam Pride After-party. Tickets can be purchased at Ster Kinekor cinema box offices, from cinema Self-Service Terminals, by calling TicketLine 082 16789 or at www.sterkinekor.com. The Cinema Nouveau Pride Film Festival takes place at Rosebank (26 Sept - 4 Oct), Brooklyn (26 Sept - 3 Oct), V&A Waterfront (3 Oct - 11 Oct), Gateway (3 Oct - 9 Oct). Tickets on sale from 25 August.