Greens call for NSW pride fund, as another LGBTQIA+ event is cancelled
Another pride event has been cancelled due to lack of funding, with Tamworth Pride organisers announcing they have made the ‘difficult decision’ to cancel this year’s Fair Day and After Party.
According to Tamworth Pride Inc President William Weller, they were unable to secure the sponsorship needed to go ahead.
“We were devastated by this decision, and we feel the pain of the community at the loss of this event this year,” Mr Weller said. “Vibrant community events like ours are a chance for our community to be visible and proud of who they are and are valuable chances for connection and building community.”
Their decision follows cancellations of other pride events, also due to lack of funding, including Wagga Wagga’s Mardi Gras and the Sydney Mardi Gras afterparty.
NSW Greens spokesperson for LGBTQIA+ Dr Amanda Cohn has been calling on the NSW Government to create a dedicated pride events fund, similar to Victoria’s.
Earlier this year, Dr Cohn asked the Minister for Arts if he will provide dedicated long-term funding for pride events across NSW, and she has started an online petition.
“Pride events in NSW are often left to rely on piecemeal fundraising and short-term grants, with no specific or long-term government funding,” Dr Cohn said.
“LGBTQIA+ community events are vulnerable, despite their enormous cultural and social value. These events are crucial, especially for young people and for those living in regional and rural communities, where visibility and connection can be life-changing.”
“The Sydney Mardi Gras relies on Tourism NSW funding, but pride events are more than tourist attractions. They are opportunities for queer people to connect, celebrate and show communities that LGBTQIA+ people belong and matter. This is crucial at a time where hatred and threats towards queer communities is on the rise.”
Media Contact: Kate Dorrell [email protected]
Images of Tamworth Pride available upon request.
Quotes by William Weller, President, Tamworth Pride Inc:
“Cancelling Tamworth Pride's Fair Day & After Party was a very difficult decision to make and one where we explored as many options as possible before making it. We were devastated by this decision, and we feel the pain of the community at the loss of this event this year.”
“Events like ours are so important for our community not simply just to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride but are also an opportunity for us to bring local services supporting our community to the one place where people who might be struggling can access services we know are supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“Vibrant community events like ours are a chance for our community to be visible and proud of who they are and are valuable chances for connection and building community.”
“Regional events especially struggle to be successful in grant applications due to lack of local council support, competition with much larger metropolitan organisations and are often supported by small volunteer committees who are trying to work, raise families and make things happen in their community.”
“A dedicated LGBTQIA+ Pride event fund supported by NSW government would make a huge difference to the viability of regional Pride events, giving them the chance to build enough community support to be able to become sustainable events that continue to support and celebrate regional LGBTQIA+ people for years to come.”
“We welcome the support of the Greens in pushing for this kind of support from the NSW Labor government.”