As the Pride Progress flag proudly waves above Sydney Town Hall in June for Pride Month, the streets come alive with celebration and reflection. It's a moment to honour the journey of people of diverse sexualities and genders, and recognise the important work that still lies ahead.
A legacy of safety
London has Soho, San Francisco has the Castro. In Sydney, we’ve long looked to Darlinghurst and, more specifically, Oxford Street as our own celebrated neighbourhood for diversity. Since at least the 1950s, these global city pockets have housed safe spaces for marginalised communities, becoming proud heartlands for people of diverse sexualities and genders.
In the early days, LGBTIQA+ groups, businesses and venues that clustered along the Golden Mile of Oxford Street defied societal oppression. They provided a community where marginalised individuals could band together and keep a watchful eye out for one another.
Today, local venues remain more than just live music, performance, dancing and fabulousness. They're spaces of inclusivity and acceptance where patrons can feel safe to be themselves.
Oxford Street venues welcome PrideVis
Echoing this sense of place and belonging, a growing membership of local businesses are embedding Pride into their core. They also champion diversity and inclusion training and in May introduced PrideVis.
Security guards who volunteer for this training will wear hi-visibiity vests emblazoned with the Progress Pride flag.
PrideVis vests signal to everyone that Oxford Street is an inclusive neighbourhood, where venues stand firmly against homophobia, transphobia, intersex discrimination and antisocial behaviour.
"We need to protect the identity and culture of Oxford Street, while ensuring everyone feels safe and welcome,” chief operating officer of the Universal Hotel Group and Surry Hills Liquor Accord representative Richie Haines said.
Following increasing violence and abuse in public and online, plus backlash to events like Drag Story Time in Manly, the need for ongoing collaboration with venues, event hosts, businesses and community to address attacks on our diverse LGBTIQA+ communities is still much needed.
"Our activism started in Sydney in 1970 with some initial demonstrations, but the first Mardi Gras was the watershed moment. It was a big attack and people rallied around, it galvanized our community", Diane Minnis, a 78er and committee member of the First Mardi Gras Incorporated said.
We have to stand up to defend the gains we've made and to stop any attacks on our communities and any rollback of reforms we've already won.
Education and advocacy
In February, Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO held a safety summit in response to growing safety concerns from our diverse LGBTIQA+ communities, particularly on Oxford Street.
A key theme that emerged from the summit was the need for institutional accountability and recognition of the dignity and diversity of people of diverse sexualities and genders. Since then, the NSW Government apologised for previously criminalising homosexuality. A NSW Government inquiry in December 2023 found 25 out of 32 suspected homicides from 1970 to 2010 were motivated by LGBTIQA+ hate.
We're also funding programs to help make everyone feel welcome, seen and safe. These include:
- bold public displays of inclusivity like Pride crossings, street signs and public art
- cultural events such as swim days for our trans and gender diverse communities
- training and workshops with organisations such as ACON, tailored for City of Sydney employees, community leaders and businesses, prioritising and reinforcing safer spaces.
In the face of escalating, disinformation, lobbying, stigma and violence directed at LGBTIQA+ people, it’s more important than ever that our communities can come together to share experiences, strategies and build our confidence to work together.
"These workshops are just one component of the collective work needed to respond to and end anti-LGBTQ+ hate", said Adrian Mouhajer, project coordinator at ACON.
Get involved
- From dance parties and theatre to trivia and talks about LGBTIQA+ activism, don't miss out on all the Pride Month celebrations until 30 June
- LGBTIQA+ safety workshops: Focus on safety planning, building partnerships and responding to hate. Sessions are available for NSW council workers in June. There’ll also be workshops in August for community workers and community leaders.
- Silver Sessions for LBTQA+ women over 55+: Support and connect participants who are socially isolated.
- Wear It Purple Day: Promotes social inclusion for young rainbow people, on the last Friday in August.
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in February: The diamond of the LGBTIQA+ calendar, with plenty of events to join.
- Celebrate Diversity Days throughout the year.
Town Hall lights up purple on Wear it Purple Day in support of young LGBTIQA+ people. Image: Katherine Griffiths
