Marching to Mars with pride

A PARADE of red, white, blue, and rainbow was seen along Norman Street and Creswick Road last Sunday morning.

A Bulldog Pride March made up of fans, members of the region’s LGBTQIA+ community, allies, City and Trades Hall representatives moved from Selkirk Stadium around to Mars Stadium, before an AFLW Pride Round game between the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda women’s football clubs kicked off.

Bulldog Pride president Amy Fabry-Jenkins said the one-kilometre “March to Mars” was all about uniting the community.

“It’s bringing an activist spirit to what is a really important and special day for both the queer community, AFLW and Ballarat,” she said.

Elsa Fisher attended the march with fellow local Frolic Festival volunteers and said it was a fun way to celebrate Pride Round.

“Ballarat is traditionally pretty conservative, so I think it’s really important to be visible, get out there, and encourage acceptance that there are gay people in our community,” she said.

“It’s really lovely seeing people come together, enjoying being part of the community, and showing up for everyone.”

The first ever “Pride March to Pride Match” at the Whitten Oval in Footscray, previously took place just before the pandemic in 2020.

“It’s really special that we’re able to do it again, for the first time since COVID, and this time with the support of the Ballarat community,” Ms Fabry-Jenkins said.