The Central West Rainbow Alliance will make history by sending a large group of its members to march at the 41st Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney.
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Last year a group from the Central West marched, but the Mardi Gras committee’s commitment to a regional and rural focus for 2019 prompted the group to submit an official application to participate this year.
Central West Rainbow Alliance president Nic Steepe said the Alliance would aim to cover a theme with its contribution to the march.
“We are going to tie in the Central West Pride March theme which was unity,” he said.
“We will show that you can bridge the divide between the country and the city and we’ll aim to show that everyone is united with pride regardless of where they live.”
Mr Steepe said the Central West’s unity theme would marry well with this year’s Mardi Gras theme of ‘fearless’.
“We want to use our theme of unity to create awareness around the Central West Pride March, but the fearless theme ties in well with us because with unity we can be fearless, especially in a regional area because to be open and proud you do have to have some level of fearlessness,” he said.
Mr Steepe said he is looking forward to participating in the march.
Marching this year is going to be wonderful,” he said.
“I marched last year with people from the Central West community and other members from Dubbo have done their own individual things at Mardi Gras, but this will be the first time the Central West Rainbow Alliance will be marching as a collective together.
“We were successful in getting 72 places which is exciting, so we are hoping to get as many people to fill those spots.”
The Alliance president is looking forward to watching the excitement in his group.
“The people that went last year are excited to do it again and those that have not marched before, the ones that this will be their first time, they are super excited,” he said.
“I know people that have watched on TV or from the sidelines that are marching for the first time with us and from my personal experience being a part of the march is a whole different experience. Just the feeling of pure pride and joy in oneself is everywhere, it is great, and we are looking forward to marching as a collective.”
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To be open and proud you do have to have some level of fearlessness
- Nic Steepe
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
