Sydney WorldPride 2023: Northern Beaches Council set to support local LGBTQ+ events

Sydney WorldPride 2023 will attract 78,000 visitors to the city and a northern Sydney council wants them to pay us a visit too.

A “rainbow” crossing to The Corso, Manly ferries and B-Line buses “dressed up” in colours supporting the LGBTQ+ community, drag queen events and a gay youth prom.

These are some of the potential activities and activations locals may be seeing early next year to attract some of the 78,000 visitors to Sydney for WorldPride 2023 to the northern beaches.

The council is looking at the cultural and tourism opportunities to be had by organising themed events around the biennial international festival — the city’s biggest event since the 2000 Olympic — to be held in conjunction with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras between February 17 and March 5.

A “rainbow” pedestrian crossing between Manly Wharf and The Corso, like this one at Darlinghurst, could be part of Sydney WorldPride 2023 activations on the northern beaches. Picture: Chris McKeen

WorldPride was set up to promote and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and human rights across the world.

Five councillors — Kristyn Glanville, Vincent De Luca, Candy Bingham, Stuart Sprott and Ruth Robins — submitted a Notice of Motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting calling on council staff to liaise with Fusion Pride, Lifesavers with Pride, and local Chambers of Commerce, about potential local Sydney WorldPride-themed events and activations.

The council will also contact the State Government and local public transport operators, to suggest they “explore having the B1 buses and Manly ferries dressed up during Sydney WorldPride”.

The council is looking at ways it could support Sydney Worldpride 2023 events on the northern beaches. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Sydney WorldPride 2023 website already is already suggesting that tourists visit Manly and Palm Beach.

Fusion Pride, a northern beaches’ Pride organisation, is already organising local events in Dee Why at Jackson Reserve and Freshwater with the Harbord Hotel.

Council CEO Ray Brownlee has been asked to report back within one month about actions the council could take to be involved in Sydney WorldPride, including providing assistance to local businesses and organisations that want to organise events.

(L-R) Josie Baker, Charisma Belle, Carmen Geddit, Decoda Secret and Jacqui St Hyde pose for a photo during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras WorldPride Bid Launch at the Sydney Opera House in June, 2019. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras made a successful bid to host the biennial WorldPride in 2023 following support from the NSW government. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Mr Brownlee will also look at temporary rainbow crossings and flags and painting the large “MANLY” sign on the beachfront, painted in rainbow livery.

Inner West Council had already scheduled events including a gay youth prom, queer-themed library activities, a LGBTQ+ themed art exhibition and LGBTQ+ family and gender diverse swim events.

Cr Glanville said there was an appetite from within the local LGBTQ+ community for local events. She told the council that some WorldPride events in the city had already sold out and others were expensive to attend.

Manly ferries could be “dressed up” to support Sydney WorldPride 2023 and attract festival visitors to the northern beaches. Picture: David Swift

Cr Sprott said people on the northern beaches would “get a lot out of it”.

“If we don’t get on board with it, we’re crazy,” he said. “It’ll bring so much to the northern beaches.”

Deputy mayor Candy Bingham said that “frankly, I can’t think of anything better than arriving by ferry, going across a rainbow crossing to The Corso … and then hitting the beachfront and there’s that large “Manly” sign in rainbow colours.”