For those of you who are not aware the first gay Pride parade was in 1969 and was known as the March on Stonewall. The march started as a protest against discrimination and violence against gays in New York City. Today, Pride events have become an annual ritual and have grown to include thousands of gay and gay-friendly participants, not to mention hundreds of spectators.
The Gay and Lesbian community in the Northern Territory is a diverse one that strives to honour the tradition of Stonewall in its Pride festivities. While Darwin’s isolation brings with it a transient population, many GLBTI people have chosen to make this fantastic city their home and have become valued members of this cosmopolitan community. Participants, both passing through and life-long residents, who join the festivities, do so to remind the world that gays deserve the same rights as others and people should be free to live their own lifestyle, void of judgement or hate.
Gay Pride in Darwin is also a symbol of our solidarity and an opportunity to express the vivid personalities which reflect the diverse gay communities throughout the Northern Territory, Australia and the world. During this time (and in many places year round), the skies are covered with the Gay Pride Flags and Banners, the symbol of gay solidarity and freedom.
While there are some who say it’s a choice to be Gay or Lesbian, Pride Darwin believes the only choice we can truly make is accepting ourselves.
To celebrate those who have accepted and embraced their sexuality, Darwin welcomes everyone to its Pride Festival. Chief Minister, Clare Martin will officially open the Darwin Pride Festival at the Fair Day on Saturday May 26th at Brown’s Mart at around 4pm. Clare has supported the Gay and Lesbian community here for sometime, well before she became Chief Minister.
Our closing party will be the Dance Party on Sunday June 10th at the Gardens Park Golf Club.
In between there’s heaps of things to do and see and enjoy. So come along and find out just what Frangipanis is!
