The annual Djilang/Geelong Pride March and Festival, organised by volunteer-run organisation ,聽on March 25 attracted about 600 people to the march, including a number of contingents from local public health service Barwon Health, Barwon Child Youth & Family, Bethany, Salvation Army and a number of political parties, including Socialist Alliance, the Greens, Labor and the Animal Justice Party.
There was a significant rise in numbers compared to last year鈥檚 Pride March, after the Australian聽tour of British transphobe Posie Parker and the violent attack on queer and trans activists in Belfield, Sydney, by more than 300 religious conservatives.
The Djilang community mobilised in large numbers, with Geelong Trades Hall and local unionists marching in聽solidarity and to provide marshalling.
Geelong Rainbow president Dean Cardigan told 麻豆传媒聽he was very happy with the day, and聽the committee and other volunteers were very happy with the amount of community support shown.
Commenting on the recent upswing in transphobia, Cardigan said it was 鈥渁bsolutely necessary to counter the division and hate spread by figures like Posie Parker鈥, particularly as transphobes and the far-right unite.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 Pride Marches and events like this one, that bring communities together, that will overcome the fear, lies and hate spread by the far right and religious conservatives,鈥 Cardigan said.
鈥淭oday we鈥檝e sent a strong message in Djilang that we stand with the rainbow community, in particular that we stand with our trans and gender diverse community members.鈥
Cardigan encouraged people to attend local rallies and events for Trans Day of Visibility on March 31 and to continue to show their support.
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