We are deeply saddened by the news that Rural City of Wangaratta has made the difficult decision to delay the Rainbow Ball.
The Rainbow ball is a free celebration for LGBTQIA+ people and their friends, which was originally scheduled for Saturday 3 June.
AlburyCity is proud to be a member of the North East Pride Collective (NEPC) alongside Rural City of Wangaratta, which consists of Councils and service providers across our region.
The NEPC's mission is 'To provide safe and celebratory spaces, events and opportunities to empower LGBTQIA+ young people in regional communities across the northeast.'
Members include Benalla Rural City, City of Wodonga, Indigo Shire Council, Junction Support Services, Mansfield Shire Council, Moira Shire Council, NESAY, AlburyCity through Retro Youth Programs, Rural City of Wangaratta, Strathbogie Shire, The Diversity Project, Uniting, WayOut Wodonga, and Gateway Health.
We are so lucky to live in a country such as Australia that promotes free expression, diversity and inclusion. Everyone in our community should be able to celebrate what it means to be themselves, without fear of discrimination.
It is disappointing to hear that there has been negative commentary around this event, however we will continue to advocate for our local LGBTQIA+ community, and focus on education on the importance of diversity, inclusion and acceptance - all of which are vital to a healthy and vibrant society.
We hope that Rural City of Wangaratta will be able to put on this important event at a later date, and we will do anything that we can to support them in making this happen.
Kylie King
AlburyCity Mayor
