Mackay Rainbow Pride leader Ricky Sellick talks regional queer life

A pride march organiser says life in regional towns is slowly getting better for queer people, whose “agenda” is to live a life “no different to anyone else”.

A pride march organiser says life in regional towns is slowly getting better for queer people, whose “agenda” is to live a life “no different to anyone else”.

A pride march organiser says they see life in regional towns slowly getting better for LGBTIQ+ people.

Mackay Rainbow Pride vice president Ricky Sellick, whose pronouns are they/them, grew up in Mackay and said they had seen a decrease in the open homophobia they grew up with.

Despite the bigotry they still face, Ricky said events like the Back to the Bridge Walk for Pride Month on Saturday, June 17, helped them feel the changes in public attitude.

“People talk about the gay agenda,” they said.

“Honestly, the agenda is get up, have coffee, have tea, go to work, pay bills, keep a roof over your head.

Mackay Rainbow Pride vice president Ricky Sellick said growing up queer in regional Queensland had its challenges, but they are still “proud to call Mackay my home”. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“To be a part of the community, to have our families.

“It’s no different to anyone else, it really isn’t.

“And who I choose to date … how does that really affect you at the end of the day?”

Having attended all but the first march organised by Mackay Rainbow Pride in 2018, Ricky said the events were small but powerful.

The 2021 Mackay Rainbow Pride march in Queens Park. Photo: Contributed

They even met their “amazing” partner, a trans man, at the Queens Park pride march in 2021.

Identifying as pansexual and non-binary, Ricky said they had dealt with homophobic comments and overt threats in public, personal, and professional settings.

Being tripped in a nightclub and laughed at.

A boss struggling to use they/them pronouns.

The 2020 Mackay Rainbow Pride march on the Forgan Bridge. Photo: Contributed

Online attacks from “keyboard cowards”.

Yet Ricky said one of the best ways to dismiss bigotry was to find a way to laugh at it.

“Verbal assault is common … it’s expected almost,” they said.

“And in that circumstance you can either get upset, get hurt, or you can turn it into humour.

Road signs donated by REMA TIP TOP Australia promoting the Mackay Rainbow Pride march. Photo: Contributed

“So I went back to work and (joked), ‘I’m going to take the compliment … I’m looking manly today, thank you very much!’.”

Ricky lived in Brisbane for 10 years before moving home to Mackay and said they were pleasantly surprised to be able to “jump on Facebook” and find events that made the Sugar City more queer-friendly.

Charlie Cavanough, AJ Spencer, Talia Holmes and Sherry-Lee Spencer at the Mackay Rainbow Pride Family Day, October 16, 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Now, at 42 years old, Ricky said events like the Pride Back to the Bridge Walk made them feel “like we’re going somewhere”.

“I think, due to my age, I’ve seen the changes and I’ve seen the growth,” they said.

“And I’m pretty proud to call Mackay my home.

“Because we are a small mining community, so things could go very differently and it hasn’t.”

The 2020 Mackay Rainbow Pride march on the Forgan Bridge. Photo: Contributed

Recalling previous years marching on Forgan Bridge, Ricky said they could “feel the love” from the waving and honking of passing drivers.

“It warms your heart,” Ricky said.

“It takes away the fear, the anxiety (and) makes you feel like you’re in a safer place.”

The Mackay Rainbow Pride Back to the Bridge Walk event starts at 3pm, June 17 at Blue Water Quay, with a range of stalls, performers, and an official after-party at The Gallery with drag queen Miss Lady Saint Diva.