The diversity of Dubbo was on display on Saturday at the Central West Pride March.
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Hundreds walked the street in a rainbow of colours to show their support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning or Asexual (LGBTIQA) community.
The march was led by headspace Dubbo and Connected Communities Project Rainbow Alliance, as part of Mental Health Month.
Nic Steepe, headspace Dubbo Youth Access and Awareness worker and Chair of the Central West Pride Committee said it was “an amazing day”.
“I couldn’t imagine four or five years ago when I was going to high school that a march like this would be held,” he said.
“People have a right wherever they live to love whoever they want and be whoever they want.”
The turnout was incredible, Mr Steepe said.
“People came from all over the Central West, as well as Sydney, Newcastle, and there was a lady I spoke to from Melbourne as well,” he said.
The march started at the corner of Bultje and Bligh streets, headed down Macquarie Street, and finished with a Community Fun Day at Macquarie Lions Park.
It was not only the people in the parade who showed their support, Mr Steepe said, but also the people who lined the streets to watch and the shops that decorated their windows.
Mr Steepe said he believed the increase in the number of people was due to the recent media attention on LGBTIQA issues in the media, and therefore a larger number of people who wanted to show their support for the event.
“So many people move away from Dubbo to seek that acceptance elsewhere, and it’s great that we now have that inclusion and acceptance in the Central West,” Mr Steepe said.
With the suicide rate among the LGBTIQA community more than seven times the average, it was also important to shine a light on mental health awareness, Mr Steepe said.
NSW Shadow Minister for Tourism Penny Sharpe attended the march and said she would definitely be back again next year.