AROUND 270 people joined Rainbow Coffs Harbour’s third annual Pride Walk on the weekend, the largest turnout yet for an event that has grown steadily since its inaugural walk in 2024.
The weather largely cooperated, with a few brief spots of rain doing little to dampen spirits.
Colour, smiles and creative outfits were out in force along the foreshore route.
The walk, held at the Jetty Foreshore during Pride Month, was supported by Live Theatre Inc, which stepped in earlier this year as the formal host of the event.
PFLAG+ ran the barbecue, with ACON also among the supporters on the day.
Organiser Robyn Dever, who co-founded Rainbow Coffs Harbour, addressed the crowd at the start of the event.
“This is a great place to be loud and proud – be with our friends, be with our community.
“Let’s hope it continues for a very long time.”
She also noted how great it was to see so many younger faces in the crowd.
ACON – formerly the AIDS Council of NSW – made the trip from their Northern Rivers office for the third year running.
Community health promotion worker Guy Grey and social worker Johnny Dawson attended for ACON.
The Northern Rivers branch provides free LGBTQIA+ counselling, care coordination, health outreach, HIV and STI awareness, and community development across the region, for people from the Northern Rivers to Port Macquarie.
“We really recognise the importance of having support and visibility for LGBTQ people regionally and rurally,” Guy said.
“I grew up in a regional area and to see things like this happening now, and the support services for queer people here, is really encouraging compared to what it was.”
The Pride Walk promises to return in 2027.
For more information on Rainbow Coffs Harbour visit their Facebook page or group on Facebook.
By Jessica MILLER
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