Performing with pride

Coronavirus was no barrier for Wimmera creatives showcasing their talents as part of a Victoria-wide virtual event celebrating LGBTIQ pride at the weekend.

Wimmera Pride Project was one of 15 regional festivals and organisations that united to create online festival ‘Pride-solation’ to celebrate June’s Pride Month.

More than 8000 people tuned in to see seven hours of live-streamed celebrations.

Horsham sisters Lucia, Penelope and Claudia Lopez O’donnell performed Ring of Keys from Broadway musical Fun Home.

Lucia said the event was an opportunity get in front of an audience again – albeit on a screen.

“It’s been a bit sad, all the productions we were involved in were cancelled or pushed back,” she said. “With coronavirus, I feel Pride Month has been overshadowed. It is important to have that awareness and it is a really important time of the year to think about the LGBTIQ community.”

Former Horsham resident and singer-songwriter Chelsie King sang her original song about COVID-19, Today, for the event.

“I think it’s so important to keep promoting our acceptance, especially at this time,” she said.

“It’s a lot harder when you’re not seeing each other in person to feel that acceptance. You don’t have visual representation of how many people are there for you.”

Wotjobaluk Elder Hazel Mcdonald opened the Wimmera talent showcase with an acknowledgment of country.

Horsham College year-12 student Isabella Tepper recorded speaking her poem In Bloom in collaboration with Horsham artist Vixen Arrowsmith, who shared a video of the process of creating their artwork as part of Vixen Art Alley.

Wimmera singer-songwriter Adam Roche, Romantasaurus, also sang three of his original songs.