Border Pride Fair Day is back this Saturday 19 May, bigger than ever, to showcase and celebrate the LGBTI community and diversity of Albury-Wodonga.
LGBTI community members, their friends and families will descend on QEII Square Albury for a day of fun, information and activities. This year, Border Pride Fair Day will coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Border Pride Fair Day is jointly hosted by the LGBTQI+ Alliance Albury Wodonga, which comprises local community groups and services including ACON, Hume Phoenix, WayOut Wodonga, Albury City Council, NSW Police, Victoria Police, City of Wodonga, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, headspace, Gateway Health, Murray PHN, Intereach, and Albury Wodonga Health.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said ACON is proud to support Border Pride Fair Day. “ACON is thrilled to be a part of Border Pride Fair Day as it’s an important event that brings together regional LGBTI communities of Albury Wodonga” said Mr Parkhill.
“Events like Border Pride Fair Day provides ACON with an opportunity to connect with LGBTI people and people living with HIV in regional areas. As our communities are becoming more visible in regional Australia, working and partnering with local community groups and services to promote HIV prevention, support and LGBTI health is a key priority for us.”
Nathan Lorenzon, Chair of the LGBTQI+ Alliance Albury Wodonga, said Border Pride Fair Day is a time for the LGBTI communities of the region to come together and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion.
“Despite significant progress made over recent years in fostering a more inclusive society in Australia including the legalisation of same-sex marriage, many LGBTQI+ Australians and families continue to be targets of prejudice, discrimination and exclusion,” Lorenzon said. “Hosting Border Pride Fair Day during IDAHOBIT week provides a great opportunity for us to demonstrate that the Border region is welcoming and celebrates difference.”
Attendees will be treated to fantastic entertainment, games and performances, as well as a pop up HIV and STI screening service. The dog pageant and show, DOGGYWOOD – will be hosted by local drag star Beryl from SWAG Albury Wodonga – this year’s winner of the GLOBE Connecting the GLBTI Community Award.
Glenn Boyd, convenor of stalwart LGBTI group Hume Phoenix, was also thrilled to see the broader community get behind Border Pride Fair Day.
“Hume Phoenix has supported the local LGBTI community of Albury-Wodonga since the mid-1990s and we have seen a lot change in that time,” said Boyd. “Local businesses and services will be out in force to support the day with fantastic stalls alongside the community. The event comes at a time where regional support for LGBTI communities is so important.”
Border Pride Fair Day
QEII Square, Dean Street, Albury
Event: Saturday 19 May 2018 (10.00am -3.00pm)
Information: www.facebook.com
Image: courtesy of VAC