Full of pride for fantabulous fortnight

GET ready to celebrate as the Bendigo Pride Festival is set to run for the fourth time, and it all gets underway today, Friday.

Festival director John Richards said Bendigo Pride is a uniquely Bendigo event.

“Bendigo being what Bendigo is, we thought we’re much more an arts and culture festival, so we take the template of the Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Melbourne Fringe Festival as our guide,” he said.

“But it is very much about storytelling and also about communicating about the queer community’s lives and our love of Bendigo.

“It’s about embracing everybody and celebrating who we are.”

Mr Richards said interest, and the number of events, in the festival has steadily grown since 2019.

That event came after the Australian same sex marriage postal survey in 2017, in which the nation collectively voted in favour of legalising the unions.

Mr Richards said the event has gone on from there.

“We’re still building, every year it’s been sort of doubling what it was the year before, but there are still people who don’t know we exist,” he said. “Having people involved is kind of the point.

“It’s about breaking down isolation, the mental health element is still there.

“The more we make this town a place where allies also feel included, the safer it is for everybody and the more inclusive it is for everybody.”

Bendigo Pride Festival runs until 2 April and for more information visit bendigopridefestival.com.au.