On September 28 Pride Fairday hits Russell Square for seven and a half hours of non-stop entertainment. Fairday 2008, which runs from 11am until 6:30pm, promises to be bigger and better than previous years, although all the same great music, drag shows, informative stalls and pooch parade will be there for everyone to enjoy.

However, in a bold new move, Pride WA will be charging an entry fee into Fairday this year. For regular attendees there will be a cover charge of $10, while Pride members will only be charged $5 entry. Children under the age of 18 will be granted free admission, as will stall workers and volunteers assisting on the day. And, as a blanket rule, there will be no BYO. That means that all alcohol will have to be purchased from the bars on the day.

- Advertisement -

It is the first time since Fairday’s inception in 1993 that attendees have ever been charged entry into Pride Fairday. However, it’s not an uncommon model. Brisbane Pride and Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival both charge admission into their Fairday events. In fact, Brisbane Pride just raised the cover charge associated with their Fairday from $15 to $25… and the event was a complete sell-out.

‘Introducing the entry fee was something we thought long and hard about,’ Pride WA co-president Andrew Baietta recently told OUTinPerth, ‘but ultimately it’s a step that must be taken to ensure the long term viability of Pride. For a long time the dance parties (XES and The Parade After Party) that carried Fairday and The Parade – have both been loss making events. Rather than put Pride at great risk by trying to run huge dance parties in a city that really doesn’t cater for them, this year we are opting to make each event as financially viable as we can, so that one event does not rely on another to survive.’

For example, Baietta predicts that Fairday this year will cost approximately over $100,000 to put on. ‘Gold coin donations, bar profits, stall registrations and sponsorship unfortunately just are’t enough to cover that cost and then leave enough left over to put on the Parade too,’ Baietta explained.

‘If we can come out of Fairday with more money in the bank than when we started, we are on our way to creating a sustainable organisation,’ Baietta concluded. ‘Running events that make no money does not make sense; even non-profit organisations need to ensure that each event breaks even. If at the end of the year we have surplus cash we will find a way to utilize that cash to either give back to the community or build a bigger and better Pride festival in 2009 – or both!’

PRIDE FAIRDAY AT A GLANCE

• Sunday September 28
• Runs 11am until 6:30pm
• $10 entry general admission
• $5 entry Pride members
• Free for under 18yr olds, stall holders, stall works and Fairday volunteers
• No BYO

THE FREEDOM CENTRE

The Freedom Centre will be out in force this Pride. Not only will they be appearing in the Parade (naturally) while also making an appearance during the Pride Festival (of course), but not before they deliver two most excellent stalls on Fairday!

‘This year,’ explained Freedom Centre Coordinator Dani Wright, ‘we are teaming up with True Colours to have two collaborative stalls – one for people to get info, free condom packs, Clit Kits and buy fundraising goods, such as badges & keyrings; and one for a chill out space that will have bean bags and a slide show of all the photography we have been doing at Outspace sessions this year.’

On Sunday October 5, from 1-4pm, Freedom Centre will be holding an Open Day on which they will showcase recent photography and art completed at Freedom Centre as well as officially launching their new look website. Come the Parade, and Freedom Centre will be joining forces with GLCS and True Colours to create a giant human Pride flag(!!). Want to be involved with that? Then dress in one of the six colours of the Pride flag and come to Freedom Centre (1/471 William Street, Northbrige) by 7pm on October 25. Email info@freedom.org.au or go to www.freedom.org.au for more info.

GLCS

Gay & Lesbian Counseling Services (GLCS) will once again be making an appearance at Pride Fairday, as will their incredibly triumphant and somewhat hilarious The Biggest Loser Competition. No, this isn’t another installment of Fat Fighters eating dust but rather a look at who has disgraced themselves with a homophobic quote, be they a sportsperson, a politician or superstar. Now in its third year, contenders include Kevin Rudd and Jeff Kennett. John Howard, naturally, won the last two years. Who will take out 2008? Be there, cast your vote and go into the running for a major prize!

CROSS CAMPUS QUEER NETWORK

The Cross Campus Queer Network (CCQN) will be appearing at Fairday. They will be raising money for Querelle, an annual student queer publication which Murdoch and UWA Queer collectives are producing for 2009’s Queer Conference.

Watch out during Pride month for the possibility of some more fundraisers for Querelle, along with CCQN appearing in the Pride Parade with a student-relevant float. Be there October 25 to see exactly what punches they will pull.

SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE

Blessings from The Abbey of the Black Swan! The Blessed Mother Gretta Amyelletta of The Holy Vapours told OUTinPerth that the Sisters will be stepping out in style this Pride with brand new habits.

The Abbey of the Black Swan will also be making an appearance during the Pride Festival with an afternoon tea and book reading of Cream Sherry taking place at a city bookshop, with details confirmed soon. And, naturally, the Sisters will be making another brash splash in this years Parade. After all, who could forget the Holy Covenant of John Howard’s Balls from last year?!

THE COURT HOTEL

The Court Hotel will be open on Fairday from noon and special guest Miss Swish Everready will be heading home for a night of madness, munt and mirth which promises not to subside until the 2am close. Feminem and others will also be dragging it up, as will a cavalcade of DJs. Don’t forget: they’ll be serving up dinner too.

Elsewhere during Pride and The Court promises to deliver a relentless schedule of events, with details released very, very soon. There will also be a float from The Court, plus there’s a rumour that at some point during Pride The Potbelleez will be making an appearance. When exactly? More details revealed soon!

ZOO

ZOO goes 3D after Fairday with a never before seen art spectacle which comes complete with 3D glasses. Add an uplifting funky cyber soundtrack, ZOO surprises and very special guests – plus an almighty 2am close – and not only will you delight in the unexpected, but your Pride will kick off on the freakiest foot possible.

SAPPHIC TRAMPERS

Join Sapphic Trampers on Sunday October 12 for their Pride Star Swamp Walk. Meet at end of Groat Street, North Beach at 2pm for a 1.5 hour walk on some of the most pleasant trails in Perth. Revel in glorious urban bush land surrounds, all abloom with stunning wildflowers. Contact either Diana (ehe@westnet.com.au) or Ann (anncutler@iinet.net.au) for more details.

UNITING FRIENDS

‘St Andrews Anglican Church Subiaco and Uniting Friends will hold a joint stall at FairDay which will provide info on Being Gay and Christian and where to find gay friendly churches in Perth,’ said Bev Fabb of Uniting Friends involvement in this year’s Pride festivities. ‘And once again Christians with Pride will be marching in the Parade. This float is being organized by the Social Justice Unit of the Uniting Church.’

Uniting Friends will also be holding two special Pride events which focus on the theme Reinventing Christian Faith. A Worship Service, open to people of all church backgrounds and none, will be held at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Subiaco, on Sunday October 19 at 6pm. A Public Forum “Reinventing Christian Faith – Can you be both Gay and Christian?” will be held at the Loftus Centre in Leederville on Tuesday October 21 at 7.30pm. If any volunteers would like to help with any of these events or would like more information about them, contact Bev Fabb on 9481 1077 or bev.fabb@trinity.uniting.com.au.

CONNECTIONS NIGHTCLUB

The campest club in town will be going all sideshow again after Fairday this year with a Hall of Crazy Mirrors and a giant bouncy castle. Proceeds from the $2 coin donation will be going to Pride. They won’t be holding a stall at Fairday itself, but watch out for their promo team who will be armed with plenty of goodies.

‘Yes, we will be having a float in the parade this year,’ said Connections manager Gavin Kingsbury when asked if Connies will be making an appearance during the Pride Parade. ‘This one is hard to describe… but suffice it to say it will be ever so camp & will indeed fit the theme. Think murals, olden day board walks and 1920’s bathing suits.’

Ooh la la. Adding to the overall feel of Pride month, Connections will explode into a fragrant bouquet of colour as their always amazing Cherry Blossom Tree sprouts out of the dance floor and across the ceiling. It’s a look not to be missed!

LOTON PARK TENNIS CLUB

Loton Park Tennis Club has some smashing events to start the new season. Visit them on Fairday to try your luck at mini tennis. Open Day is a free event on Saturday October 18 which starts from 1pm. There are then a whole host of events in November which all kick off with the first interstate Lesbian Tennis Competition on Saturday November 1 from 10am. Stay tuned for all the details!

PRIMETIMERS WA

Primetimers WA return to Pride Fairday with their fourth Pink Elephant stall. It’s a trash and treasure adventure which not only acts to raise funds for this crucial group, but prove there is gay life after 40. Be there to show them your support.

BEARS PERTH

Lions and tigers and bears… oh my! Yes, Pride Fairday will see our community’s most cuddly members out in all their hirsute glamour with a stall. There are plans also for a Den Night at Loton Park on October 11 with a Bears Perth Pride Party the day after with venue yet to be confirmed. And stay tuned for OctoBEARfest at Loton Park on Friday October 24 from 9pm.

DYKES ON BIKES

Dykes on Bikes will be tearing through Pride month with two rides taking place before the Pride Parade, which they will be opening once again with their roaring enthusiasm. At current, details have not been confirmed as to when exactly these rides will take place, so be sure to email Jax at dykesonbikeswa@hotmail.com if you wish to participate in any of them.

QUEERS FOR RECONCILIATION

Prior to Pride, Q4R will be meeting on Thursday September 11 at 5:30pm Q4R at Edith Cowan’s Mt Lawley Campus Kurongkuri Katitjin Centre in order to plan future events. However, one Pride event already planned is a Cultural Awareness Workshop, being held at Mt Lawley ECU’s Kurongkuri Katitjin Centre from 5:30pm on Thursday October 16. This workshop, being held in conjunction with Kitty Hawkins from ECU’s Queer Collective, is open to all community members. For details regarding any of these events pleast ring Alan Carter on 0428 250 155.

***

To stay up to date with exactly what’s happening during Pride month, subscribe to the OUTinPerth e-newsletter by entering your email address on our home page for weekly updates of all things Pride orientated.