New date set for Pride Gala

The Pride Gala at Lardner Park has been rescheduled for November.

After a successful inaugural event in 2019, Gippsland Pride Initiative spent months to make the 2020 gala even bigger and better.

Set for May 23, COVID-19 resulted in the event being postponed indefinitely to assure the health of guests and comply with government restrictions.

However, as restrictions begin to lift, the committee announced a new date for the Pride Gala – Saturday, November 28.

It is also aimed for the second Australian Roller Derby Pride Cup and Festival to run prior to the gala event starting at 6pm.

Gippsland Pride Initiative committee spokesperson Caitlin Grigsby was delighted to make the announcement on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17.

“We had no hesitations in postponing our original May 23 date given what is happening in the world right now,” said Ms Grigsby. “But we feel it is important to now shift our focus cautiously and optimistically to the future. We look forward to connecting with and celebrating alongside the LGBTQI+ community once again, at another amazing Gippsland Pride Gala in November.”

While event organisers are prepared should restrictions be continued or revisited, they said the new date was a welcome and positive indication of things to come.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is a significant day for the LGBTQI+ community to acknowledge, connect and celebrate one another both locally and internationally in a show of solidarity.

In Gippsland, this date also marked the anniversary for Gippsland Pride Initiative’s first-ever and hugely successful Gippsland Forum, Roller Derby Pride Cup and Pride Gala initiated by Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby in 2019.

Gippsland Pride Initiative is a not-for-profit organisation in Gippsland which aims to raise visibility, engagement, awareness and celebration to LGBTQI+ Gippslanders.

The Pride Gala at Lardner Park is its annual flagship event and offers a rare opportunity for LGBTQI+ communities, friends, families and allies to come together for celebration, connection, dinner and dancing.

Tickets are $100 plus GST, which includes a three-course dinner.

For further information and tickets to Pride Gala, visit events.humanitix.com.au/gippsland-pride-gala-2020.