Dunedin pride parade on organiser's wish list

Dunedin Pride Festival co-ordinator Hahna Briggs prepares for the upcoming event. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Dunedin Pride Festival co-ordinator Hahna Briggs prepares for the upcoming event. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
A pride parade through the city is not quite in reach for this year's Dunedin Pride Festival, but organisers believe it is only a matter of time before it becomes a reality.

Festival co-ordinator and OUSA queer support co-ordinator Hahna Briggs said while it was not possible to hold a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) parade this year, the event would continue to grow over time with community support.

''It's my dream to one day have a spectacular parade in Dunedin, similar to the ones held in Auckland and Sydney.

''It would be a great attraction for the city. People could come from all over the country.''

Running of the festival has been taken over by the Q-squared Trust, which is made up of a small team of volunteers.

Ms Briggs said the festival organisers were taking ''baby steps'' in expanding the event, to make sure it was sustainable.

''Dunedin does have some events that celebrate our queer culture, but there is a need to build on what is working well for the queer community and to draw the whole city into celebrations of diversity.

''The 2018 Dunedin Pride Festival will be a week of fabulous fun and educational events for people of all ages.''

A programme for this year's Dunedin Pride Festival, to run from April 8 to 15, would be released officially in the first week of March, but Ms Briggs said there were many public events already being advertised, including a poetry competition and art exhibition.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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