Pride WA are looking back on our local LGBTIQ+ community history for the theme of this year’s PrideFEST celebrations – along with a new parade route.
“2019 is also a very special year for us as it is the organisation’s 30th anniversary,” Pride WA President Francis Burgess said.
“On the steps of state Parliament, October 22nd 1989, over 300 people gathered to demonstrate their support for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Western Australia.”
“It was this galvanising movement that formed Pride WA as an organisation 30 years ago. It was the pride, courage and determination of the ’89ers’ that helped free the community from the oppression that had been instituted by law since colonisation.”
Pride WA hope to honour the ’89ers’ with this year’s PrideFEST theme – ‘Reflect; love, community, identity and heroes.‘
PrideFEST 2019 will kick off with Fairday which will return to Hyde Park on Saturday 2nd November for a family-friendly community event loaded with stalls, LGBTIQ+ artists and Pride WA partners – with returning favourite events and some exciting new additions.
The celebrations will culminate with the PrideFEST Parade on Saturday 30th November, hoping to build on the massive 20,000-strong crowd from last year with a new route. Pride WA have also revealed the parade will be capped at 100 floats, after breaking the record number of entries last year.
After the Parade, Francis Street will come alive with the official Street Party to close out the festival – with glambassador Famous Sharron. Registrations are now open for PrideFEST events.
“This year, Pride WA are encouraging artists of all kinds, community groups, venues and organisations to register their events to officially become part of PrideFEST 2019,” Burgess said.
“Registration ensures they will be included in the official PrideFEST calendar and we hope to have a jam packed listing for the entire month of November.”
“We are also looking forward to the return of the Pride Sports Festival on the 16th November at the UWA Sports Park which is an exhilarating all-inclusive carnival for athletes and spectators.”
Registrations for PrideFEST 2019 are open until Friday 27th September – with extensions for Fairday stalls (Friday 4th October) and Parade entries (Friday 29th November). To register, head to pridewa.com.au/pridefest-2019
OIP Staff
