Media Release – The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
Monday, 31 October 2022
Warrnambool is set to enjoy a Pride party celebration this summer as part of Victoria’s Pride – a statewide celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced Brophy Family & Youth Services will host a Midsumma Midsummer Party to celebrate diversity and inclusion as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Victoria’s Pride Regional Program.
A celebration of LGBTIQA+ people, the Midsumma Midsummer Party will provide locals with an opportunity to connect and celebrate pride history and experiences across the Great South Coast.
Minister for Equality Harriet Shing announced the regional program of Victoria’s Pride, which will feature a wide range of LGBTIQ+ events across regional Victoria.Victoria’s Pride event locations will span across the state including Wangaratta, Ballarat, Morwell, Kyneton and Castlemaine and are expected to be enjoyed by tens of thousands of attendees.
The program includes three touring projects which will visit several regional and rural communities in Victoria to help ensure that anyone across the state who wishes to participate in Victoria’s Pride can get involved.The Victoria’s Pride regional program will kick off in December, with the summer-long festival culminating in a one-day street party in Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Street precinct on Sunday 12 February 2023.
The Labor Government provided up to $15,000 of funding to 14 different arts and culture projects that showcase regionally based LGBTIQ+ artists and highlight regional LGBTIQ+ voices and stories, through a grants program run by Victoria’s Pride event partner, Midsumma. The festival will give people across the state an important opportunity to demonstrate their pride in and support for LGBTIQ+ people and learn more about the great diversity of sexualities, genders and sex characteristics that make up our Victorian communities.
Victoria’s Pride is brought to life through Government funding of $6.8 million, which confirmed this statewide celebration of rainbow communities will be a staple in Victoria’s events calendar for years to come.For more information on the regional Victoria’s Pride program, please visit midsumma.org.au/regional-activations.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney “It’s fantastic to see this exciting event come to Warrnambool this summer. This is an important opportunity to come together to support and celebrate our fabulous LGBTIQ+ communities.”
Quotes attributable to the Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Todd Fernando “This program of regional events will help to connect Victoria’s diverse rainbow communities and remind people that they are supported, that they belong, and help them to feel seen and represented.”
Quote attributable to Midsumma CEO Karen Bryant “It’s exciting to see a statewide representation of LGBTQIA+ projects which will showcase regionally based LGBTQIA+ artists and highlight diverse voices, their creativity, and their stories from across Victoria.”
