The festival may be over for another year but Pride is still generating heated discussion across the state.
A number of well known gay and lesbian community members have recently questioned the relevance of Pride’s flagship event, the Pride Parade, citing falling numbers in attendance and participation.
However, Pride WA Co-President, Charles Denham told OUTinPerth that numbers of both participants and spectators were up this year and that ‘those facts alone go to show that the parade is still relevant and enjoyed by the public.’
Suggestions were made that the parade either be changed to a daytime march and combined with Fairday celebrations, moved to a rural area such as Albany or Bunbury, or scrapped altogether.
Bunbury Mayor, David Smith reacted positively to the suggestion and told WIN News that any application to stage a Pride Parade in Bunbury would be considered by the council and the police adding, ‘my guess is that it would proceed because they are entitled to their parade.’
But when Bunbury City Councillor, Wayne Majors sought support for the idea at a recent council meeting, not a single other councillor would second the motion and as a result the issue was not even put to a vote.
Pride WA released an official response to the debate over the future of the parade on their website stating that there are currently no plans to change Pride’s calendar of events.
‘The committee understands that as an organisation which represents a diverse range of people, it must look to its members, its supporters and the wider population for guidance on how it can best deliver in its mission in the years to come,’ said Denham.
Pride will be holding a series of community forums to collect a wide range of views and opinions on the structure of the Pride festival and it’s inclusions.
‘These forums will give community members an opportunity to speak openly and freely with Pride’s management committee about the relevance of Pride’s events and suggest ideas for other potential events which will deliver on Pride’s mission statement,’ said Pride Treasurer Andrew Baietta.
After a preliminary invite-only forum on December 7 involving groups and individuals directly involved in this year’s parade, plans will be made for a second forum which will be open to Pride members and the general public.
Stay up to date with developments at www.pride.asn.au or www.www.outinperth.com.
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