今日吃瓜

MEMBERS of Victoria鈥檚 LGBTI community flocked to St Kilda over the weekend for the city鈥檚 annual Pride March, which saw thousands of marchers take to the streets to celebrate their diverse identities.

The 22nd march attracted a number of high-profile politicians including Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, State Premier Daniel Andrews, and Minister for Equality Martin Foley.

The Premier with our Indigenous group preparing to March with Pride 馃寛

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So honoured to march with and the Parents of Gender Diverse Children today at Trans is beautiful! 馃挋馃挅馃挏

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Thank you to everyone who marched for at today – and to the crowd for showing their immense support

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Andrews said the march provided a significant opportunity for the community to restate the things that were important to them.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 equality, inclusion, and making sure people are valued and safe 鈥� and no-one does that better than our state,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he opportunity to do that so publicly is really important because it sends a message to young people that who you are is absolutely good enough 鈥� no more, no less.鈥�

Looking to the year ahead, Andrews said initiatives like Safe Schools and the city鈥檚 Pride Centre would be priorities over the coming year.

鈥淚 think things like Safe Schools and rolling out our program in full delivery of the election commitment we made is important for us to do,鈥� he said.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 more, we need to keep pressure on every politician in the federal parliament to make the change that鈥檚 necessary to not only have a situation where you鈥檝e got Victoria as a progressive state, I want Australia as a progressive nation.

鈥淎nd until we鈥檝e delivered the marriage equality people are so richly entitled to, then we鈥檒l never be able to say that.鈥�

Foley said Melbourne鈥檚 pride march was more important than ever, particularly in light of recent adversities faced by the LGBTI community both here and abroad.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e seeing a hardening of international and sadly national attitudes towards diversity and LGBTI equality in particular,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e need to make sure Victoria and our LGBTI community are increasingly assertive, organised, out, and proud.

鈥淚n the coming year I鈥檓 not giving up on trans issues in particular, as well as issues facing young people and our indigenous communities.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really disappointed that the Liberal party knocked off the trans reforms last year but we鈥檙e not giving up on those reforms.鈥�

For the first time Melbourne鈥檚 Pride March was in the LGBTI community.

A smoking ceremony was held before the march kicked off and continued when the march arrived at Catani Gardens in St Kilda.

At one point the march was slightly disrupted when a group bearing signs saying 鈥渜ueers revolt鈥� and 鈥渓iberation not assimilation鈥� were accosted by police.

LGBTIQA+ people protest police & corporate involvement in Melbourne

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Police push genderqueer anti-police pride marcher at Melbourne

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The leader of the group had their face concealed while holding a sign that read: 鈥淐ops still bash queers. No pride in police!鈥�

Police officers grabbed the person by the arm and tried to keep them moving in the march, while the person struggled and stated loudly: 鈥淚鈥檓 marching at Melbourne pride, I鈥檓 not causing an obstruction.鈥�

The activist group eventually continued on and the police officers parted ways.