Proud to be bringing this motion to the Inner West Council meeting on Tuesday 14 March with my fellow World Pride Committee members, Clr Jess D'Arienzo and Clr Liz Atkins. #PrideInnerWest was such a joyful and important festival, and I’d love to see it continue beyond Sydney WorldPride 2023 during Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every year.

1. That Council notes the successful Pride Inner West festival held from 11 February to 5 March 2023, which celebrated our local LGBTQ+ community as part of Sydney World Pride.

2. That Council commends the work of staff, members of Council’s World Pride Committee and LGBTQ Working Group, in developing and implementing the festival, which included more than 70 inclusive and accessible events across the Inner West.

3. That Council notes Councils longstanding Feel The Love Mardi Gras reception and the success of the inaugural Pride Inner West Festival and prepares a report to detail an annual program of events, including a Mardi Gras Parade screening, in celebration of our LGBTQ+ community.

Background

Pride Inner West took place from 11 February to 5 March 2023 and included over 70 free or low-cost events across our suburbs, in our libraries, aquatic centres, sporting fields, bars and other indoor and outdoor spaces, including screening of the Mardi Gras parade in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park attended by over 1,000 locals. We launched Pride Square and the Rainbow Pathway in Newtown and installed nine new Pride Seats across the Inner West as permanent reminders of our community’s inclusivity and support for the LGBTIQA+ community. 

The festival was welcomed and enjoyed by people from across the Inner West and from further afield. It brought a great number of visitors to the Inner West and Inner West businesses participated enthusiastically.  

There has been some discussion on social media about why we need such a display of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that there were some behaviours during the Pride Inner West Festival which answered this question all too clearly. However, the outpouring of support from community for affected businesses is a clear indication that our community does not tolerate homophobia or any other bigotry.