Boost for Pride Night event

Horsham Rural City Council has awarded Wimmera Pride Project a $3000 community development grant to support its major annual event early next month.

The LGBTQI advocacy group will use the money to run a Pride Night event at Horsham’s Wilson’s Hotel to coincide with global Pride Month celebrations.

The night will offer a safe space for LGBTQI people to have fun and express themselves.

The pride project was one of 73 groups to benefit from the council’s grant program.

Special performances from Australian drag artists, dancing and music will be the main features of an annual Pride Night for the Wimmera’s LGBTQI community and its allies in early June.

LGBTQI advocacy group Wimmera Pride Project committee has worked tirelessly to program an evening of celebration with special guest drag artists Art Simone and Pashion Couture. Art Simone was a contestant on season one of Rupaul’s Drag Race Down Under.

The annual event runs in globally celebrated Pride Month, which recognises the influence LGBTQI people have had worldwide.

Project committee chair Scott Robinson said the event, at Horsham’s Wilson’s Nightclub on June 4, would help bridge social connection for LGBTQI people after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event’s cancellation last year.

“We were fortunate to have a very successful Pride Night in 2019 for our community and allies, and we knew we needed to ensure we celebrated this milestone month again in 2021,” he said.

“Art was a special guest on our Zoom trivia night during lockdown, and we are super excited that she and Pashion will be performing live for our 2021 Pride Night.”

Mr Robinson said Pride Month was also an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current issues facing the community.

“Pride Month is so important because it marks the start of enormous change within the LGBTQIA+ community and the broader societal implications,” he said.

“Although attitudes and injustice remain, we have come a long way since the riots of 1969. By continuing in this long-standing tradition, we continue to raise awareness, improve society’s attitudes and encourage inclusiveness.”

Wilson’s Nightclub management has worked with the pride project to provide a safe space for the LGBTQI community and its allies.

Presale tickets are $15 via the project’s Facebook page or cost $20 at the door on the night.

Mr Robinson said anyone in the community who needed support to attend the event could reach out via the Facebook page.