Sydney shows its Pride
The Sydney Pride Festival kicks off for another year on June 13, celebrating equal love until the end of the month.
We thought we’d leave it to festival organiser (and Stonewall Hotel owner) Glenn Hansen to say a few words about this midwinter fortnight of fun and community fundraising.
“The Sydney Pride festival is an important time for our community as we remember the history, celebrate the present and look forward to the day when everyone is equal.
“Sydney Pride supports our HIV/AIDS charities and GLBTQ businesses and organisations, and the festival will include a wide range of events and parties throughout Sydney that are fun and affordable for everyone.
“The Sydney Pride festival is a time for us to remember the history of the Stonewall riots, to celebrate but also a time to stand in numbers and be recognised as people who should have equal love. The festival will feature art, cinema, trivia, debates, sports, fundraising activities and club events across Sydney.
“The Sydney Pride Festival would like to thank the volunteers, event organisers, sponsors and GLBTQ community and our straight friends for all their support. Enjoy the festivities and be proud!”
— Glenn Hansen,
Sydney Pride Festival organiser
SYDNEY PRIDE GUIDE
WEDNESDAY JUNE 13
Opening party
The Pride Festival kicks off in style with a massive midweek celebration at Stonewall Hotel, sponsored by the Star Observer.
Gender workshops
Twenty10 is running workshops to create a video about gender identity. It’s a fun way to make new friends, be creative, share your stories and help Twenty10 make an awesome new resource! The workshops will be held 5-7pm on June 13 and 27, and from noon-2pm on June 16. Email [email protected] to register.
THURSDAY JUNE 14
Late Night Trading
Popular Thursday night mainstay Late Night Trading will become a special ACON fundraiser for Pride. It kicks off at 6.30pm with hostess Polly Petrie.
FRIDAY JUNE 15
Gay men’s personal development and meditation retreat
Therapy Space will again hold their annual gay men’s personal development and meditation retreat at the Govinda Valley Retreat Centre, June 15 – 17. The retreat provides men with a serene and spiritual atmosphere on a beautiful 30-acre property at the edge of the Royal National Park. info: therapyspace.com.au
SATURDAY JUNE 16
Showtime @ Richard’s On The Park
Held at Canley Vale venue Richard’s On The Park, this event will be hosted by Beverly Buttercup, Prada Clutch and Lola DelArte, with live singers, drag queens and kings and much more.
Queer flick
Politically incorrect and absolutely hilarious, Serbian comedy The Parade has a homosexual veterinarian and a thuggish, homophobic war veteran uniting to protect Belgrade’s gay pride parade. It screens on June 16, 7.10pm and June 17, 8.45pm at Event Cinemas, George St.
SUNDAY JUNE 17
Polly’s Follies
Stonewall’s Sunday night institution, Polly’s Follies, will become a Twenty10 fundraiser for the night. Enjoy the mayhem and mischief of Polly Petrie and dig deep to support the great work done by Twenty10.
MONDAY JUNE 18
Bingo
Head to Darlinghurst icon TAP Gallery for a special edition of Aroma’s Pride Bingo. Further details closer to the event at www.tapgallery.org.au
TUESDAY JUNE 19
Fifth Pride Week multifaith service
Organised by members of Acceptance, Dayenu, Uniting Network and Metropolitan Community Church, this Pride Week service is open to all people of faith. The one-hour service starts at 7.30pm at Seaview Street Hall in Dulwich Hill and is followed by a light supper, providing time for fellowship and further discussion.
Bingay
Bingay is an weekly ACON fundraising event hosted by the multi DIVA award-winning drag queen Tora Hymen. Tora’s barrel girl is the all-singing out there dyke Naomi Palmer. Bingay has been running every Tuesday night since 1999. During that time, it has raised more than $750,000. Head to this special Pride edition at the Imperial Hotel from 7.30pm. info: www.acon.org.au/get-involved/Events/Bingay
WEDNESDAY JUNE 20
Girls night @ Bank Hotel
C’mon girls! March to the beat of your own drum this Pride. Head to the Bank Hotel from 9pm to hear tunes from DJs Two Girls Will and Hannah Matysek, plus $10 martinis. Entry is by gold coin donation to support the Aurora Group.
Pride art
Celebrating the creative energy and sexual diversity of Sydney’s LGBTI community, TAP Gallery presents an exhibition that promotes a positive stance against discrimination: the Pride Art Exhibition and Award. The presentations will be held 6-8.30pm at TAP Gallery in Darlinghurst. TAP Gallery is also inviting artists to submit their work for the exhibition ahead of June 20. info: www.tapgallery.org.au
THURSDAY JUNE 21
Fruits in Suits
‘Fruits’, as it’s fondly known, attracts between 220 – 280 people every month and is the place where gay professionals network and socialise. This month’s instalment will be held at WaterBar in Woolloomooloo, 6-9pm.
FRIDAY JUNE 22
Stingers Trivia
Are You Smarter Than a Stinger? Find out at the Paddo RSL from 6.30pm. Hosted by Ms Portia Turbo, the Stingers are raising funds for IGLA 2013 where the club will be sending a team to Seattle to compete in this international tournament. info: www.sydneystingers.org.au
Drag Orgy
Stonewall’s Friday night favourite, Orgy of Drag, will be an ACON fundraiser tonight. $5 donation on the door.
SATURDAY JUNE 23
Pride History Group talk
Pride History Group will hold a talk at the Stonewall Hotel from 3pm, unveiling a preview of their 100 Voices project which will be formally launched at next year’s Mardi Gras Queer Thinking day.
Aurora Dinner
The Aurora Group will take diners on board the ill-fated Titanic, by way of Sydney Town Hall. Guests will ‘climb aboard’ to find high society, sailors and stowaways, mermaids, sharks and one giant iceberg. info: www.auroragroup.com.au
Pride Run
The Sydney Frontrunners, Sydney’s gay and lesbian running group, will hold their annual Pride Run from 9am in Centennial Park. Stick around after the 5km run for refreshments.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 27
ACON Great Debate
Fag hags and fruit flies: trash or treasure? That’s the conundrum a clutch of Sydney’s most fag-netic personalities will haggle over at the Sydney Pride Festival’s first ever Great Debate, taking place at the Paddo RSL from 8pm. The line-up of celebrity debaters includes Wendy Harmer, Brendan Maclean, Dan Ilic and Verushka Darling, with funds raised going to ACON. info: www.acon.org.au
THURSDAY JUNE 28
Iron Ladies
After a sell-out event for Mardi Gras, Women Say Something returns to Slide with Iron Ladies, exploring the intersecting themes of power and hope. Women will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of a diverse panel of women from all facets of our community and beyond.
Artist talk
Platform72 Gallery in Darlinghurst will host a ‘meet the artist’ talk and drinks, 6.30-8.30pm, with Tina Fiveash, whose works explore themes of gender and sexuality. She will be showing works from her 2011 series, Grace, including the stunning photograph pictured with this story.
SATURDAY JUNE 30
Sivilised Supper
Points of Difference events will produce a Sivilised Supper of fine wine, fine food and fine conversation. The event will be hosted at The Wine Odyssey in The Rocks, a gorgeous venue owned and operated by two lovely lesbians. info: www.pointsofdifference.com
SGLC Pops Out
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir joins cabaret divas Lady Sings it Better for a concert of pop classics from across the decades. It will be wall-to-wall hits, from the boot-stomping sass of Nancy Sinatra to the hip-swinging tones of Tom Jones, from the operatic rocking of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody to the psychedelic tripping of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. It all takes place at the Tom Mann Theatre in Surry Hills at 2pm and 7.30pm. info: www.sglc.org
Heaven Social Dance
The Northmead Bowling Club will transform into a drag wonderworld for this special ACON charity night. Hosted by Prada Clutch, Christina Dior and Glenda Jackson, entertainment includes Beverly Buttercup, Lola DelArte, Crystal Clear, Ophelia Shaft and many more. Entry is $15. info: www.beverlybuttercup.com
Rainbow Party
Head to the Colombian Hotel for a whole lot of colourful fun at the annual Pride Rainbow Party, to be held on several floors of the venue.
Riot 69
Finish your Pride in style at this dance party at Stonewall in memory of the original Stonewall riots.
THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL
Surry Hills Library will host a collection of photos, stories and other archival material curated by Acceptance Sydney for their 40th anniversary. Acceptance is a fascinating part of Sydney’s gay history. The exhibition extends across both floors of the library, and can be seen every day in June. info: www.gaycatholic.com.au
INFO: Sydney Pride Festival, June 13 – 30. New events are still being added to the Pride schedule – check the website for regular updates. www.sydneypride.org
PICTURED: A piece from Tina Fiveash’s exhibition Grace.
