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Ms Williams estimated about 500 people attended over the course of the day each day this year, but this was still impressive given the festival\u2019s postponement from its usual February date and interrupted preparation time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t as large as it potentially could have been – we had a very short run-up for advertisement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe only started organising six weeks out, so it was a very short run-up, but it was a great turnout for that, and next year we will have a much greater chance to advertise and get the word out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted to do this for the community because it was such a long time for them without connection, so this was really all about the community getting together again, touching base and making sure they\u2019re all okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geelong MP Christine Couzens and Member for Western Victoria Andy Meddick also attended the festival over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fantastic. After not being able to hold it for the past couple of years for obvious reasons, it was wonderful to see such a great turnout for the march and the festival itself,\u201d Mr Meddick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Geelong has always had a really strong, proud and vibrant LGBTQIA+ community, and I think the growth of the community reflects the growth of the Geelong region.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG\u2019S LGBTQIA+ community stepped out and showed its colours over the weekend in the return of the Geelong Rainbow Festival. Hosted by \u201cglambassador\u201d Goldie Cox, the two-day event began on Saturday with hundreds of participants joining Geelong Rainbow Pride March from the festival\u2019s old location in Johnstone Park to its new home in Geelong West […]<\/p>\n