Premium Content:

Pride Memories: Coming home

Western Australia’s LGBTIQ community organisation Pride WA is celebrating their 25th anniversary.

The ‘Silver City’ themed PrideFEST began last night and there’s a stack of event running over the next sixteen days. The highlight will be the Pride Parade through the streets of Northbridge in a week’s time.

- Advertisement -

We asked a bunch of people for their favourite Pride memory. This one is from GALSWA’s Stan Schirmer.

DSC_0541Web

My First Pride Parade was 2013. I was 50 and finally had the courage to come out as a gay man. I knew nobody really in the gay community. But I was part of the teachers union so I marched with them. I parked and started walking on my own to the muster point. As I walked I began seeing rainbow colours and people in costumes or holding flags and I started crying because for the first time in so many years I felt like I was coming home. I had finally found my tribe. I will never forget that feeling. I will be marching again this year. I am glad I am gay. Pride helps me celebrate that.

Have you got a favourite memory of the Pride Festival’s 25 year history? Share it with us at editor@outinperth.com 

OIP Staff

Latest

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Bibliophile | ‘The Warrumbar’ tells a story of Australia’s haves and have-nots

The year was 1969 when thirteen year-old Robbie rode three miles to high school, with one sister sitting on the handle bars.

Review | ‘Twinless’ is a psychological thriller with an original premise

'Twinless' is a psychological thriller with many twists and surprises.

On This Gay Day | In 1989 the LGBTIQA+ community rallied at parliament

In 1989 a huge protest took place on the steps of the WA parliament calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.