Rainbow Pride to shine bright on the Victorian / NSW Border

Border PrideBorder Pride Fair Day is fast approaching and ACON is partnering with local organisations to take over QEII Square Albury on Saturday 12 November for a day of pride, celebration, fun and information.

This exciting and vibrant event is jointly hosted by ACON, Albury City Council, Hume Phoenix, SWAG, Albury Wodonga Health, Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, Gateway Health and Murrumbidgee Local Health District.

Attendees will be treated to fantastic entertainment, games and performances, as well as a pop up HIV and STI screening service and a special Fair Day DOGGYWOOD for punters to enter their bedazzled and high fashion pooch to win prizes! All hosted by none other than head drag, Beryl, from SWAG Albury Wodonga – this year’s winner of the GLOBE Connecting the GLBTI Community Award.

“ACON is proud to support this inaugural Border Pride Fair Day, which will see the regional LGBTI communities of Albury-Wodonga come together for a day of pride, celebration, stalls and sexual health testing,” said ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill. “Working and partnering with regional community groups and services to promote LGBTI health and engage in HIV prevention and support is a key priority for us.”

For Alison Kincaid, Clinical Nurse Consultant Sexual Health, Murrumbidgee Local Health District the day provides a great opportunity for promotion of inclusive local services. “We are delighted to be engaged with the local LGBTI community for activities on Border Pride Fair Day,” said Ms Kincaid.

“We are committed to providing inclusive services for the LGBTI community. Fair Day provides an important opportunity for our staff to engage with and support LGBTI people around their sexual health, mental health and service needs.’

Lauren Coelli, Sexual Health Coordinator and Sarah Roberts, WayOut Wodonga project worker at Gateway Health said “Clinic 35 and WayOut Wodonga are excited to be involved in Border Pride Fair Day. Gateway Health delivers a broad range of primary health care and support services and is committed to working with, and alongside LGBTI community members”

Brian Kuehn from local LGBTI group, SWAG went on to say, “Albury-Wodonga is a wonderful place to live and Border Pride Fair Day is an opportunity to showcase local talent for a day of exciting performances, entertainment, games and fun. Every month we bring LGBTI communities and friends together in celebration and we also support people doing it tough through our SWAG Community Centre.”

Toni Johnson, the Co-Convenor of stalwart LGBTI group, Hume Phoenix is also thrilled to see the broader local community support 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. 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.”

Afterwards look out for the SWAG Red Party – the official after party to Border Pride. Held at Soho on Dean Street, entry is free and dinner can be purchased from 5pm with the party starting at 6pm. Make sure you wear red to show your support and gold coin donations will be accepted on the night.

Border Pride Fair Day
QEII Square, Dean Street, Albury
Date: Saturday 12 November 2016 (10.00am – 4.00pm)
For more information: www.facebook.com