The Andrews Labor Government is helping Victorians celebrate the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer communities through a series of events across the state.
Minister for Equality Harriet Shing today announced $220,000 in funding for 32 recipients of the Pride Events and Festivals Fund, which supports events that celebrate LGBTIQ+ diversity, inclusion and connection.
Half of the events funded will take place in regional and rural communities. Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby is amongst the regional recipients, receiving $4,950 to deliver the 2023 Roller Derby Pride Cup, which will be inclusive for local trans and gender diverse skaters.
Guide Dogs Victoria have also received funding to help them participate in the annual Midsumma Pride March in February, providing an important opportunity for LGBTIQ+ community members with low vision or blindness to be part of the event.
Since its inception in 2018, the Pride Events and Festivals Fund has supported 161 diverse events across Victoria.
In addition to grants, the fund is also providing $425,000 this year to a number of larger-scale, annual LGBTIQ+ events including the Midsumma Pride March, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, the GLOBE Awards, All the Queen's Men's Rainbow Families Dance Club, and ChillOut Festival.
The program is a key component of the Labor Government's long-term strategy to drive equality across the state, Pride in our future: Victoria's LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-2023, released in February this year.
The strategy aims to create safe, strong, and sustainable LGBTIQ+ communities and strengthen the LGBTIQ+ sector, including through government grant programs.
To see the full list of recipients, visit vic.gov.au/pride-events-and-festivals-fund.
As stated by Minister for Equality Harriet Shing
"We're so proud to announce funding for this fabulous group of events which will celebrate pride, inclusivity and equality."
"It's particularly fantastic to see the high number of regional events which will be taking place, providing important opportunities for our rural and regional rainbow communities to come together."
As stated by Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities Todd Fernando
"This fund helps ensure there are inclusive events for all Victorians, including our wonderful LGBTIQ+ communities across the state."
Grant recipients
- Queer Multicultural Film Club, Brunswick - $7,000
- Loud, Proud and Unhoused - older LGBTI housing information sessions, Melbourne - $9,000
- Beyond the Art- Transgender Day of Visibility, Echuca - $6,000
- Youth Pride Events, Ballarat Central - $8,240
- Building Strong LGBTIQ+ Regional Communities- LGBTIQ+ Legal Roadshow, St Kilda - $6,930
- 2023 Ballarat Frolic Festival - Summer Edition, Ballarat East - $7,650
- OUTintheOPEN Festival, Shepparton - $9,000
- Launch of Inclusive Rainbow Voices (LGBTIQA+ People with Disability) Inc, Carlton - $9,000
- Birds of a Feather - LGBTIQA+ Luncheons and events, Kyneton - $5,544
- Archer Magazine presents Issue 18: Incarceration, Carlton - $6,057
- Pride in the North's Creative Connections, Epping - $5,850
- Our Words: Touring Regional Queer Writers Festival, Fitzroy - $9,000
- Regional LGBTIQA+ youth forum, Mount Duneed - $9,000
- AUNTY at Fringe Common Rooms for Midsumma 2023, Carlton - $5,607
- Strong. Proud. Me, Preston - $9,000
- Pride Picnic, Wangaratta - $6,894
- Geelong Pride Film Festival 2023, Batesford - $7,650
- David Rosetzky LGBTIQ+ project at Castlemaine Art Museum, Castlemaine - $6,750
- Bass Coast Youth Pride Prom 2023 - Bass Coast - $7,650
- Pride Cup 2023, Traralgon - $4,950
- Biggest Games Day Ever, Ballarat East - $7,650
- Castlemaine Pride Presents: Vintage Drag in Mint Condition, Castlemaine - $6,930
- Turbulence - LGBTIQ+ ageing and transformative power of connection, St Kilda - $5,670
- Pride Festival, Maryborough - $7,650
- Burgerz, St Kilda - $6,300
- Rainbow Formal, Box Hill - $5,850
- Self Creation, Warrnambool - $5,850
- Accessible Pride Parade for Victorians with low vision or blindness, Kew - $4,050
- Heart of Thornbury Queer Makers Market, Preston - $6,750
- Geelong Rainbow Pride Festival, Geelong West - $5,400
- PacifiqueX Presents Queer Polyfest, Brunswick - $6,993
- Overlooked and Ignored, Melbourne - $4,136
