Top End Pride March draws in hundreds in solidarity with LQBTQI+ community
A rainbow ‘party with purpose’ has taken over the streets of Darwin, as the queer community comes together for pride. See all the pictures.
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Australia’s steamiest Queer celebration took over Darwin’s streets, with the rainbow community marching together in a celebration of love, in defiance of hatred.
Queer Territory icon Crystal Love was at the head of the march, with the mentor to the Yimpininni sistergirl community of the Tiwi Islands leading her community once again.
Beside her and “walking in sensible shoes for once” was Darwin drag queen Miss Ellaneous, who joined the thousand-strong crowd braving the 30 degree heat for Saturday’s Top End Pride event.
Miss Ellaneous — who is performing as Miss Information in the lead up to the Voice referendum — said the festival was a “party with purpose”.
“We have to celebrate the rainbow community,” she said.
As the 2023 Sydney WorldPride creative director and descendant of Iwaidja and Malak Malak Clans and the people of Badu Island, Miss Information said the community had not recovered from the trauma of the same-sex marriage vote — and now they faced the Voice referendum.
“The plebiscite was really traumatic for our community,” she said.
“We need to really understand that the referendum will affect our community, particularly our rainbow First Nations community.”
Miss Information said these marches were about pride and celebration — but also protest and self-care.
With more than 60 countries still criminalising LGBTQI+ people, Miss Information said these demonstrations were always about “fighting for equality”.
Top End Pride marketing director Drew Tweddle said it was the biggest queer festival that Darwin had ever seen.
“It fills me with — and pardon the pun — pride,” he said.
“I was overwhelmed by the warmth and joy from the community. It surpassed my expectation.”
Protesters carried signs calling to protect trans and non-binary people, fund queer health, and dismantle homophobia, with one red lobster toy calling for the dismantling of the “whorearchy”.
Holding the crustacean plush, Sex Worker Outreach Program NT members Annabel Bond said pride was always about protest.
“Sex workers are part of pride, and protest is part of pride” Ms Bond said.
“We’re high class. So I don’t get crabs, I get lobsters,” she joked.
Fellow SWOPNT member Leahnne Melling said while the Territory was a leader in Australia’s push to decriminalise sex work, there was still work to be done to protect her community.
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