Gold Coast Welcomes First Pride Parade
At 8am on Saturday morning, rules surrounding public gatherings changed for Queensland residents, with the new government directions ruling out gatherings any larger than 10 in outdoor spaces. However, the new restrictions were not enough to rain on the first pride parade to be held on the Gold Coast.
鈥�We just had to be flexible and stay positive. It鈥檚 all about finding solutions instead of listening to those negative thoughts. We still made it happen.
鈥�We still did a mini parade through Cavill Mall, which makes us the first to parade through Surfers Paradise, and I believe we were the first to do a drag show on the beach as well,鈥� Vince Sicilini,听Director of Gold Coast Rainbow Communities, told Star Observer.
鈥淭he event went fantastically听considering the new restrictionS which came into effect the day before. We had about 150 people turn up, and as far as the launch went, it went really well.听
鈥淓veryone was grateful and just so happy someone was on the Gold Coast doing stuff for the Gold Coast听LGBTQI community.鈥�
听Over recent years, LGBTQI nightlife along the Glitter Strip has all but vanished, after longstanding watering holes The Meeting Place and Escape Bar both closed their doors. But despite this, Vince is keen to stress that the community is alive and kicking.
鈥淲e wanted people to know that there is a thriving community on the Gold Coast, and it is a strong one. Even though all our venues have closed, the community is still here.
鈥淓ventually we are looking for a venue where we can invite people to come any time of the day, that鈥檚 our main goal.鈥�
Vince continued our interview by reflecting on a particularly touching moment at Sunday night鈥檚 launch. A moment which, for him, really drove home the importance of events like those run by Gold Coast Rainbow Communities.
听“Community is so important. A lady came up to me at the launch saying thank you for putting this on, she was lonely and had only recently moved here. She had recently come out and had left the church behind, her sister shunned her and said she wanted nothing to do with her, so she needed someone, some connection and that鈥檚 why we do this.鈥�
Looking forward听Gold Coast Rainbow Communities have a number of events planned and will continue to provide the Gold Coast LGBTQI community with valuable support services.
鈥淲e are not just about parties. We also do community barbeques and things like outreach programs too. For December we have events planned, but we haven鈥檛 got the final go ahead from Council yet because they are waiting to see what the COVID situation is like as well. We will have also decided to have our big festival next year in May. Hopefully we will have relaxed restrictions by then.鈥�
