It’s Pride time! Pride WA have officially launched this year’s PrideFEST celebrations with an official event at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia.
The launch on October 22nd marked 30 years since the formation of Pride WA as an organisation.
Professor Kingsley Dixon opened the proceedings on behalf of Lotterywest, followed by Pride WA secretary Curtis Ward who reflected a demonstration on the steps of state parliament in 1989 that eventually led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Western Australia.
“It was still illegal for two men to be together, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years and whipping,” Ward said.
“Today, culpable driving causing death will only get you 10 years, that’s how serious a crime homosexuality was in our society in 1989. Yet these heroes marched anyway to support the LGBTQI+ community.”
Other speakers included Member for Perth John Carey who was representing Premier Mark McGowan and the state government, Liberal MLC Michael Mischin. Greens leader Alison Xamon and City of Perth Chief Commissioner Andrew Hammond.
Other guests shared their support for the celebrations remotely, including video messages from the cast of Book of Mormon and our very own golden boy Troye Sivan.
To celebrate this milestone, this year’s PrideFEST theme is Reflect; Heroes, Love, Identity, Community – which will be celebrated in many forms from Albany to Perth to Port Hedland.
The season really kicks off with Fairday which returns to Hyde Park on November 2nd, wrapping with the 29th annual Pride Parade on Saturday 30th November.
For more information about this year’s festivities, head to pridewa.com.au
OIP Staff
