Regional Activation Program
Fourteen and Nine Months, 2024, Photographer Laura Jane Turner
Victoria's Pride Regional Activation Program
Expressions of Interest for 2025/26 have now closed.
View our current RAP events here.
Victoria's Pride is a landmark program of pride events and projects that takes place in Victoria each year, providing an opportunity for people across the state to demonstrate their pride in, and support for, LGBTQIA+ communities.
As a state government initiative delivered by Midsumma, Victoria's Pride includes the Regional Activation Program (RAP), which supports arts, events, and cultural projects run by community groups, artists, and organisations to enhance the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals in regional areas.
If you have any queries or wish to stay up to date with the program contact [email protected]
Previous Years
To get inspired for a future project, take a look at the previous projects we've supported through this program.
Colour My World - The Goulburn Valley Experience
Regional creatives will showcase queer and queer-friendly art throughout the Goulburn Valley, culminating in exhibitions across North-East Victoria.
Join us in Shepparton at the OUTintheOPEN Festival Carnival Day on Saturday, 9 November 2024, for creative workshops featuring art, poetry, stories, and song. Spanning towns across the region, LGBTIQA+ communities of all ages, abilities, and cultures will collaborate with local groups to highlight regional queer icons, 'hero' items, and history through various artistic expressions.
Our exhibition will "colour your world" now and into the future.
BY: Goulburn Valley Pride Inc.
Queer Cakes & Butch Bakes
A Community Bake-off with Pride
Get Ready to Crumble!
Castlemaine Pride invites you to bake, come together and eat cake! With 6 exciting prize categories to enter:
CAKE CATEGORIES:
Gayest Cake: Yass queen…unleash your inner diva!
Best Tart: If pastry is your passion, you can puff up or get short.
Beyond the Binary: Most non-conforming flavour palette.
This cake is ‘brat’: Best youth entry under the age of 18.
Deadliest Cake: Most fabulous feature of native ingredients.
I’m Sweet Enough: Best entry for alternative dietary requirements.
‘People's Choice’ Award: Power to the people!
JUDGES: Johnny Baker, Bar Midland, Ratbag Food & Wine, Superhero and Dhelkaya Health.
There are some fabulous prizes on offer to the winner of each category! Register by Monday 4th November at castlemainepride.org.au
Join us for a day of delicious food, music, and fun. Whether baking or just enjoying the vibe, everyone’s welcome! Enjoy entertainment from queer cowgirl Jess Parker and a tea party by the Silver Rainbow Social Club.
Open to all ages, the LGBTQIA+ community, and allies.
Grab your apron—the competition will be fierce!
WHEN: 10 November 2024: 11am-2pm
- 9:30-10:30am: Cake delivery
- 11:00am: Event Starts
- 11:30am: Judging Commences
- 12:30pm: Presentations
- 2:00pm: Event Concludes
WHERE: Wesley Hill Hall, 149 Pyrenees Hwy (Duke St), Wesley Hill, Castlemaine
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Quiet and/or Low Sensory Space, Step Free Access, Relaxed Performance, Open Captions
BY: Castlemaine Pride & Castlemaine Community House
Seasons Along Rivers Short Film and Community Gathering
Set in Mildura, where the Murray and Darling rivers converge, the film uses the symbol of rivers to reflect the resilience and mobility of queer migrants. This cinematic work aims to connect multicultural and local queer communities to celebrate identities and experiences through a film screening and community gathering in Mildura area.
By using the Mighty Murray River and Gentle Darling River to tell a romantic story and reflect queer women's pride, fierceness, and tenderness in the intersectionality, this film showcases the untold voices of migrant queers, encompassing diverse experiences and identities, and highlighting unique migration journeys. It will shed light on multicultural queer experiences.
This special event also features a screening of the documentary Outpicker, a moving story of migrant queer women finding belonging through litter picking and caring for the environment.
SCREENING
WHEN: 6pm Thursday 6 February
WHERE: Online and NAP Gallery, Arts Mildura
TICKETS: Free entry, no registration needed
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Quiet an/or Low Sensory Space, Closed Captions
BY: Lesley Luo & Feifei Curiosity
Picture Me
Join us for Picture Me, a one-day event celebrating LGBTIQA+ self-expression and identity at the Warragul Goods Shed, hosted by Baw Baw Shire Council and Gippsland Pride Festival 2024. This event fosters visibility and connection in rural communities.
Enjoy free hair and makeup services, explore the GPI Clothes Swap, and capture your self-expression through photography. It’s a chance to connect, share experiences, and build supportive networks, while promoting allyship and inclusive service providers.
Come celebrate with us!
WHEN: 23 November 2024 11:00am
WHERE: Warragul Goods Shed, Warragul Station, Alfred St, Warragul
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Picture Me
Party in Pride
Party in Pride, presented by Drag'd Out Beechworth, is a full day of free, community-focused events. Start with street art installations, followed by Drag Storytime for Rainbow families. Enjoy an intimate Q&A with Portia Turbo, the Queen of Tupperware, and comedy queen Strewth from Wagga Wagga.
Join the open forum, hosted by local advocate Mieke, for personal stories about coming out and living proud in regional areas. From 12pm-8pm, visit the pop-up art station to create your vision of Pride, which will be archived for the future. Later, Cherry Poppins will glam up the youth before the Rainbow Ball, featuring drag makeovers and a 360 Video Booth.
All events are free and open to all ages. More fabulous Drag'd Out events can be found on our website.
WHEN: 23 November 2024 11am
WHERE: Beechworth
- Street Art Installation - footpath between the Memorial Hall, 101 Ford St and the Town Hall, 103 Ford St
- Street Beechworth. Drag Storytime, Q&A and Open Forum - Town Hall, 103 Ford St, Beechworth.
- Art Pop-up - What Pride Means to Me - Memorial Hall, 101 Ford St, Beechworth.
- Rainbow Ball pre-party Glam Makeovers - Memorial Hall, 101 Ford St, Beechworth.
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Quiet an/or Low Sensory Space, Step Free Access, Relaxed Performance
There are some physical access limits due to heritage listing restrictions
The Drag Storytime, Q&A, and Forum will be held at the Town Hall. While ramp access is available, the heritage building's internal ramp may not accommodate all mobility devices. An accessible bathroom is available.
The art pop-up and drag makeovers with Cherry Poppins will take place at the fully accessible Memorial Hall.
Please note, the town has frequent tripping hazards, including cobblestones, deep granite gutters, and heritage footpaths, with limited accessible bathroom facilities.
BY: Drag'd Out Beechworth Incorporated
FAB FRENZY
Get ready to unleash your inner fabulousness at FAB FRENZY! Join DANDROGYNY and friends for a FREE night of dance, DJ performances, laughter, and LOVE in celebration of LGBTQIA+ PRIDE. Wear your wildest outfits and groove to the beats of local and national talents.
This is your chance to shine and celebrate diversity in a space where RESPECT is paramount! Everyone is invited to join the fun. Grab your bio-glitter and bring your friends—let’s create sparkling memories! See you on the dance floor!
Allies are very welcome. Some themes may be visually or emotionally confronting.
We acknowledge the (Dhauwurd Wurrung) Gunditjmara peoples as the Traditional Owners of this land and pay deep respect to Elders past and present, and to all First Nations peoples.
Digital Artwork by Glynn Urquhart.
WHEN: 30 November 2024, 7:00pm
WHERE: The Dart & Marlin - Rear Beer Garden - 216 Timor St, Warrnambool
TICKETS: FREE 18 +
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Step Free Access
BY: DANDROGYNY
"Now I See Colour" - A Pride Music Video
The "Now I See Colour" project is a Pride music video for Mieke Bosland’s original song, "Black and White." Filming in December 2024 will feature multigenerational LGBTQIA+ participants from across Indigo Shire. The video celebrates and empowers Queer identities while confronting homophobia.
In January 2025, a screening and panel discussion will be held in Indigo Shire, featuring local LGBTQIA+ legends who will share stories of pride, self-discovery, and the creative process. Mieke Bosland will discuss her songwriting journey and advocacy as a Queer artist.
To get involved in filming, contact [email protected].
Screening details coming soon.
MUSIC SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION
WHEN: 6:30pm, Friday 31 January
WHERE: Yackandandah Public Hall
TICKETS: FREE - Ticketing info to come
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Relaxed Performance, Closed Captions
BY: Mieke Bosland
Vanity Torso Animal Spirit
"Vanity Torso Animal Spirit" is an upcoming exhibition by emerging artist Tim Hardy at NAP Contemporary, Mildura.
Featuring still photography and film, the works explore recurring themes in Hardy's art, such as image-making, narrative, adolescent rituals, performance, femininity, and the blur between artifice and reality.Inspired by Jean Genet's plays The Maids and Deathwatch, the exhibition presents two scripted mini-dramas alongside documentary-style work created over the past 18 months.
Collaborators include Ignatz Cady-Freer, Penelope Burke, Antuong Nguyen, Joshua Petherick, Lewis Fidock, and Blake Barns.Opening in early December, the exhibition will also feature a public workshop on the themes and processes behind Hardy's work.
WHEN: 7 December 2024 - 11 January 2025 (Exhibition Open) | TBC January 2025 (Public Workshop)
WHERE: NAP Contemporary , 94 Deakin Ave, Mildura
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Audio Described, Quiet and/or Low Sensory Space, Closed Captions
BY: Tim Hardy & NAP Contemporary Art Gallery
Healing Together: A Pride Strength Tour
Content Warning: Sexual violence, victim-blaming notions
The Healing Together: A Pride Strength Tour features an LGBTQIA+SB edition of the What Were You Wearing? exhibition in Wangaratta, Geelong, and Bendigo. Each location will offer free healing days for queer victim-survivors and information events for their loved ones.
The What Were You Wearing? exhibit challenges the myth that clothing choices invite sexual violence. Created by Jen Brockman and Dr. Mary Wyandt-Hiebert, it showcases survivors' stories alongside the outfits they wore during their assaults.
Healing days for victim-survivors will include activities such as guided meditation, dance/movement therapy, journaling, themed discussions, breathwork, and art creation, with the option to display their artworks in the exhibition.
Information nights for loved ones will provide knowledge and skills to support those affected by sexual violence, featuring expert presentations on trauma impacts, signs of distress, and effective communication.
Curated by queer volunteers of What Were You Wearing? Australia, this program aims to foster healing, resilience, and community support.
WHEN: TBC Early Feb 2025
WHERE: Geelong, Bendigo, Wangaratta
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Auslan Interpreted, Quiet and/or Low Sensory Space, Closed Caption
BY: What were you wearing? Australia
Q-Lit
Kicking off the day we're starting with a hands on family friendly workshop, following this is our unique masterclass series, Create-Develop-Perform, where participants are taken on a journey by three professional creatives to generate a new work ready for an audience.
Wrapping up the day we're coming back together in the evening for a gathering, a cheeky drink and a sharing of stories.
WHEN: 18 January 2025
WHERE: Horsham
WHEN: 1 February 2025
WHERE: Swan Hill
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Quiet and/or Low Sensory Space, Step Free Access
BY: Q-Lit: Victoria's Queer Festival of Words
Gippsland Pride Festival Day
Gippsland Pride (Gippsland’s LGBTQIA+ Charity) hosts its annual LGBTQIA Festival Day at Coal Creek Community Park in Korumburra on 25 January 2025
From 12noon to 6pm, this event is jam-packed with community activations, incredible entertainment (including Greg Gould!), kids activities (Youth Zone), Forever Rainbows ‘Pride in Aging’ Garden Party, Gender Affirming no-cost Op Shop, LGBTQIA+ performances, support organisations and service activations, Food and Drink and so much more! Tickets purchased prior to Jan 20 go into the draw for 2 passes to the 2025 Pride Gala.
This is a one day event for Gippsland's Midsumma series with bus transport offered from main train stations, from Drouin to Bairnsdale and throughout the region at NO COST.
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative
Fourteen and Nine Months
A short film Written and Directed by Yvette Turnbull. Developed and produced in Bendigo, VIC.
Fourteen and nine month year old Freya works at the kitchen supply store in her regional small town. On her first solo shift, things take an unexpected turn when local lesbian couple Polly and Ruth come in looking to buy a turkey baster. Their unusual request sets Freya on a crash course in queer self-discovery.
BY: Yvette Turnbull
Behind the Scenes Photography by Laura Jane Turner.
Transcending the Narrative
Transcending the Narrative takes trans and gender diverse people from around rural and regional Victoria on a journey of writing, re-writing, and transcending their story.
Using principles of Narrative Therapy, Lorene Slade (she/they) will take you on a podcast journey from the story trans people have - or are told to have - about their lives, to an affirming, transcendent narrative of our lives. Each person’s story will explore: the story they were told, the rewriting of that story, and transcending that story.
Immersive online workshops will be held over three nights, and participants will be invited to contribute to the Transcending the Narrative podcast.
13 November: 5:30 - 7:30pm
20 November: 5:30 - 7:30pm
27 November: 5:30 - 7:30pm
Listen to Transcending the Narrative now on Spotify.
WHEN: Workshops in November, podcast release in Janauary
WHERE: Online, All Major Podcast Outlets
TICKETS: FREE - Registration required via Humanitix
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible, Audio described
BY: OMNI Insight
Gippsland Pride Festival
Regional pool parties across the shires of Gippsland - bringing pride to all areas of the region. Think 'Summer Carnival' with stalls and resources, music, food and connection with community.
We have partnered with local outdoor pools and community facilities to host a day of celebration, connection and fun for families and folks of all ages.
18 November - Orbost Outdoor Pool, 10am - 2pm
2 December - Yarram Outdoor Pool, 4pm - 8pm
13 January - Poowong Outdoor Pool, 4pm - 8pm
3 February - Trafalgar Outdoor Pool, 10am - 2pm
10 February - Yallourn North Outdoor Pool, 10:30am - 2:30pm
WHEN: November 2023 – February 2024
WHERE: Throughout Gippsland
TICKETS: Registration required for free entry via Humanitix, or gold coin donation requested on the day
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative
Our Queer History Museum | Under The Big Top
Local, regional LGBTIQA+ young people will work with LGBTIQA+ elders to capture and showcase their lived histories at several queer cultural/arts events between November 2023 and February 2024 (& beyond) inc. OUTintheOPEN Festival and Under The Big Top!
WHEN: 10 November 2023 – 3 February 2024
Major events - 18 November: OUTintheOPEN Festival Carnival Day & 3 February: Under The Big TOP Pride Ball
WHERE: Queens Gardens, Shepparton (OUTintheOPEN Festival), The Woolshed @ Emerald Bank, Kialla (Under the Big TOP)
TICKETS: Under The Big TOP tickets available via Humanitix
BY: Goulburn Valley Pride INC.
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints - Shepparton
Queer-ways is a project which aims to document queer stories in communities across the state. The project is coming to Shepparton (Yorta Yorta Country) as part of Victoria’s Pride 2024, a collaboration between the Victorian Government and Midsumma.
Join LUCIANO and George Keats to chart your queer stories and sites onto a map of Shepparton. The stories you share will feature in the Augmented Reality Queer Map of Shepparton, a permanent record of the rainbow community. You can find out more about Queer-ways and add your story at www.queerways.com.au/shepparton
WHEN: 18 November 2023, 10:30am-4:30pm
WHERE: OUTintheOPEN Festival, Queens Gardens, Shepparton
TICKETS: Free
ACCESSIBILITY: There are some physical access limits due to venue
BY: Queer-ways
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints - Ballarat
Queer-ways is a project which aims to document queer stories in communities across the state. The project is coming to Ballarat (Wadawurrung country) as part of Victoria’s Pride 2024, a collaboration between the Victorian Government and Midsumma.
Join LUCIANO and George Keats to chart your queer stories and sites onto a map of Ballarat. The stories you share will feature in the Augmented Reality Queer Map of Ballarat, a permanent record of the rainbow community. You can find out more about Queer-ways and add your story at www.queerways.au/ballarat
WHEN: 25 November 2023, 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm
WHERE: Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
TICKETS: Free - Registration required via Art Gallery of Ballarat
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Queer-ways
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints - Geelong
Queer-ways is a project which aims to document queer stories in communities across the state. The project is coming to Geelong (Wadawurrung Country) as part of Victoria’s Pride 2024, a collaboration between the Victorian Government and Midsumma.
Join LUCIANO and George Keats to chart your queer stories and sites onto a map of Geelong. The stories you share will feature in the Augmented Reality Queer Map of Geelong, a permanent record of our rainbow community. You can find out more about Queer-ways and add your story at www.queerways.au/geelong
WHEN: 2 December 2023, 10am-12pm
WHERE: Platform Arts, 60 Little Malop St, Geelong
TICKETS: Free - Registration required via Platform Arts
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Queer-ways
The intersection of Disability and LGBTQIA+ in Rural Victoria
A live panel discussion exploring the lives and intersections of LGBTQIA+ regional Victorians living with a disability. This panel discussion will be attended by a studio audience and be broadcast on C31 Melbourne and Facebook.
WHEN: 8 December 2023 at 9pm
WHERE: LaNCE TV Studios, Ballarat & Broadcast on C31 & Social Media
TICKETS: Registration required for free entry via Humanitix, or head to the LaNCE TV Facebook Page or C31 for the livestream
BY: LaNCE TV
Queerthentic – Regional LGBTQIA+ Art Prize
Queerthenic reveals authentic stories from Central Victorian LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse artists in this regional art prize. These stories delve into the mundane everyday, fabulous culture, or explore the influence of queer history and culture on their past, present, and future lives.
Applications to be a part of Queerthentic are open until 11 January 2024. Entrants are encouraged to apply earlier to ensure a place. Application details are available via the link above.
WHEN: 25 January – 12 February 2024 | Celebration & Winner Announcement 3 February 2024
WHERE: The Old Auction House, Kyneton
BY: Macedon Ranges Accessible Arts Inc.
Pride Fair Day
LGBTQIA+ In the North East (LINE) Wangaratta, supported and partnered with a variety of local organisations, will coordinate a Pride Fair Day on Friday 9th February 2024, celebrating and embracing LGBTQIA+ culture, music, art and performance in a safe and inclusive space.
WHEN: 9 February 2024, 4pm
WHERE: Batchelors Green, Tone Rd, Wangaratta
TICKETS: FREE
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible - There are some physical access limits due to venue
BY: LINE Wangaratta
Bass Coast Youth Pride Prom
The Bass Coast Youth Pride Prom is a celebration event for LGBTQIA+ young people and their allies, aged 12 - 25. An event designed by young people, for young people, every aspect of the celebration is determined by the Pride Tribe - from location, food, entertainment, music, and more!
WHEN: 10 February 2024, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
WHERE: Wonthaggi Town Hall, Wonthaggi
TICKETS: FREE event - Bookings essential via Eventbrite
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: YES Youth Hub
Sounds Gay, I’m In! Picnic
A beautiful summer picnic to provide a unique intergenerational opportunity for First Nations LGBTIQA+ community, non-indigenous LGBTIQA+ community and allies to come together and celebrate intersectional Pride.
Entertainment, activities, food and more! We are also looking for volunteers to help out on the day so if this sounds like you then register at: https://buff.ly/3H6xyHL
WHEN: 10 February 2024, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
WHERE: The Old Sunbury Courthouse, 43 Macedon Street Sunbury
TICKETS: FREE event - register to attend here
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible & Auslan Interpreted
BY: Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation & Sunbury Cobaw Community Health
Celebrating Deaf LGBTQIA+ Pride in Victoria
Expression Australia and Deaf Hub Bendigo have partnered to conduct interviews with Deaf LGBTQIA+ people who live in regional Victoria or have moved to Melbourne from regional Victoria, sharing their stories of identity development and opportunities.
These videos will be presented at Expression Australia's stall at Victoria's Pride.
WHEN: 11 February 2024
WHERE: Victoria's Pride, Fitzroy
TICKETS: Free event
ACCESSIBILITY: Auslan Interpretation
BY: Expression Australia & Deaf Hub Bendigo
The Big Book of Queer Bendigo - A Victoria’s Pride Celebration
The Big Book Of Queer Bendigo is a full-colour coffee table book exploring and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ history of Bendigo and the goldfields region. So much of queer history is hidden, unrecorded or presented as tragedy. Not this time!
The Big Book Of Queer Bendigo isn’t a dry textbook but a fabulous scrapbook of fantastic lives and exceptional living. Including:
- Our oral history project, exploring local life in the 1960s, 70s and 80s;
- Pieces about great historical Bendigo characters including 1880s transman and global sensation Edward de Lacy Evans, and Bendigo artist Agnes Goodsir and her lesbian circles in 1920s Paris;
- Queer organisations including the Bendigo Queer Film Festival, Queer Country Art Exhibition, Trans And Gender Diverse Bendigo & Beyond and the Trans Clothing Swap;
- and voices of local LGBTQIA+ writers, artists, and photographers exploring what it means to be queer in regional Victoria - growing up, moving back or just staying still.
The Big Book of Queer Bendigo officially launched at the Victoria's Pride Street Party in Fitzroy, and is available for purchase from Midsumma's Closet.
WHEN: 11 February 2024
WHERE: Victoria’s Pride, Fitzroy
TICKETS: Book will be available for $50
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Bendigo Pride Festival
Q-Lit Anthology
"Out-Side: Queer Words and Art from Regional Victoria" is a poignant anthology that spotlights the vibrant and diverse voices of queer writers and artists from regional Victoria.
This collection masterfully weaves together poems, essays, short stories, and visual art, offering readers a multifaceted glimpse into the experiences, dreams, and realities of LGBTQ+ individuals away from the metropolitan hubs. Each contribution resonates with authenticity, challenging stereotypes and offering a fresh perspective on what it means to be queer in regional settings. Through the interplay of text and imagery, this anthology celebrates the resilience, love, and creativity of the queer community in regional Victoria, asserting its integral place in Australia's cultural tapestry.
This project not only serves as a platform for under-represented voices but also as a testament to the universality of human experiences across different landscapes and identities.
The anthology is now available for purchase online in the Midsumma Closet.
WHEN: 11 February 2024
WHERE: Victoria’s Pride, Fitzroy
TICKETS: Free - Book available for $26.99
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair accessible
BY: Scratch Arts
fourteen-and-nine-months
fourteen-and-nine-months is a narrative short film written and directed by Yvette Turnbull. A coming-of-age comedy filled with all the tumultuous teenage anxiety, kitchen utensil innuendo, and feel-good fuzzies you could possibly want in a queer short film. Fourteen-and-nine-month year old Freya's life takes an unexpected turn when she helps a lesbian couple find a turkey baster.
Set in Bendigo, Yvette will develop and produce the film in regional Victoria in 2024. An interactive pop-up will be presented at Victoria's Pride 2024.
WHEN: 11 February 2024
WHERE: Victoria's Pride, Fitzroy
BY: Yvette Turnbull
Ballarat Frolic Festival presents Summer Frolic
Ballarat Frolic Festival presents Summer Frolic brought PRIDE back to Ballarat with 12 events over four days, celebrating regional LGBTIQA+ communities and artists. Highlights included the Frolic Cabaret, youth and ND-friendly events, an Indigenous-led bushwalk, the Frolic Warehouse PRIDE Party with Brendan Maclean, and a party bus to Victoria Pride.
BY: Ballarat Frolic Festival
Gippsland Pride Festival
Gippsland Pride Festival celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community across Gippsland’s six shires—Latrobe City, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, East Gippsland, and Wellington—bringing a touch of Midsumma to the region through events, activities, and community gatherings.
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc
Gippsland's Day Out
Gippsland's Day Out was a family-friendly, one-day outdoor festival supporting Gippsland’s LGBTQIA+ community. The event featured drag performances, live music, a DJ, kids’ activities, food and drink stalls, and an indoor sensory chill-out zone.
BY: Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc
Greater Shepparton's Road to Pride and Inaugural Pride Ball
Greater Shepparton’s Road to Pride and Inaugural Pride Ball was curated by Goulburn Valley Pride Inc., tracing the community’s journey to Pride. The program began with a launch at Shepparton Art Museum and culminated in an exhibition and the region’s first Pride Ball, celebrating local LGBTQIA+ stories and achievements.
BY: Goulburn Valley Pride Inc
IDo Love Queer Disability
IDo Love Queer Disability featured a series of hand-painted photogravure portraits by PollyannaR, celebrating Gippsland’s queer disability community. The intimate, stylised works explored important themes and personal stories, creating a vibrant visual record of identity and experience.
BY: PollyannaR
My Self: Portrait Series
My Self: Portrait Series was coordinated by LINE (LGBTQIA+ In the North East) Wangaratta in partnership with Midsumma, showcasing regional LGBTQIA+ stories through self-portraits. Participants shared personal narratives alongside their artwork, creating lasting records of community life, which were displayed at an exhibition at the LINE Wangaratta Pride Hub.
BY: LINE Wangaratta Inc.
Pop Up Pride 2022
Pop Up Pride 2022 saw Bendigo Pride bring the community together as part of Victoria’s Pride celebration. The event featured live music, DJ Cliterally, drag by host Polly Filla, Gay Stuff Markets, a Trans Clothing Swap, and the launch of an oral history project, alongside highlights of the 2023 Bendigo Pride Festival.
BY: Bendigo Pride Festival
Pride Across the Ages Podcast Season 2
Pride Across the Ages Podcast Season 2 featured a series capturing intimate, heartfelt generational stories of Pride from LGBTQIA+ people living in the Mount Alexander region. Episodes explored personal histories and community experiences, sharing diverse voices and perspectives with a wider audience.
BY: Queer and Now on Main FM 94.9
Access podcast on streaming services.
Q-Lit
Q-Lit was Victoria’s first queer writers’ festival, connecting writers and readers across five regional areas and culminating at Victoria’s Pride in Fitzroy & Collingwood. Each one-day regional event featured workshops for children and adults, masterclasses, author interviews, readings, and showcases, giving local and touring writers the chance to share their work.
BY: Scratch Arts
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints
Queer-ways: Retracing Regional Footprints saw Victorian artists LUCIANO and George Keats bring their initiative to Wodonga, Daylesford, and Mildura, documenting local queer histories through an illustrated Augmented Reality map. Communities contributed stories to a digital queer map, with the completed works displayed locally and at Victoria’s Pride Street Party, celebrating LGBTQIA+ presence across the state.
BY: Queer-ways
Queer & Koorie: A Showcase of First Nations LGBTQIA+ Mob
Queer & Koorie: A Showcase of First Nations LGBTQIA+ Mob featured VACCA at Gippsland’s Day Out, offering cultural activities, goodie bags, and opportunities to connect. The family-friendly event included live drag performances, music, DJ sets, kids’ activities, food and drink stalls, and an indoor chill-out zone.
BY: Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
Self Created Celebration
Self Created Celebration was a pride party celebrating LGBTIQA+ people in Regional Victoria, connecting communities and highlighting pride history and experiences across the Great South Coast. The event featured performances by Jawbreakers and Scotty So.
BY: Brophy Family & Youth Services.
That's Soo Gay!
That’s Soo Gay: From Insult to Strength! was an open art prize and exhibition in Kyneton celebrating the richness and diversity of the queer community’s creative contributions. Showcased at The Old Auction House, the exhibition transformed a once-derogatory phrase into a proud expression of identity and resilience.
BY: Macedon Ranges Accessible Arts Inc
The Regional LGBTIQ+ Condition
LaNCE TV broadcasted an extended panel show on C31 Melbourne and Facebook that explored what it means to be LGBTIQ+ in rural and regional Victoria. The program brought together six diverse panelists representing a range of ages, genders, and intersectional backgrounds to share their lived experiences. Together they unpacked the realities, challenges, and strengths of LGBTIQ+ life outside metropolitan centres, offering powerful insights and comparisons with city-based communities.
BY: LaNCE TV
END OF 2022/2023 EVENTS
Queers on the Catwalk
Queers on the Catwalk is a project that supports LGBTIQA+ community members of all ages to express and celebrate identity through clothing and fashion. Selected clothing was chosen from an October workshop delivered by The Story Costumer and the TGD Clothing Swap.
Produced by Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health
Pirnbial
Sculptural work “PIRNBIAL” (Rainbow in Woiwurrung language) examines the dual correlation between traditional culture and identity from Vince Partington's lived point of view. Vince is a proud Nguri-Illum Wurrung / Dja Dja Wurrung/ Wurundjeri / Wemba Wamba artist.
BY: Vince Partington, Part One Props.
Still Standing After 40 Years
LaNCE TV Ballarat presents a live panel discussion with 5 rainbow representatives from across regional Victoria. Through the intersecting standpoints of culture, gender, disability and ethnicity, our panellists will reflect upon historical, social and legislative issues which still affect LGBTIQA+ Victorians after 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria.
BY: LaNCE TV
Ballarat Pride Weekend
The Ballarat Pride Weekend is a collection of events spaced out over two days. It's run by queer youth for queer youth, with a LGBT+ themed trivia on the Saturday, and a movie night featuring State of Pride, and a short film about LGBT+ Ballarat residents and groups on the Sunday.
BY: The Rainbow Alliance
Pop Up Pride Weekend | Bendigo Pride Festival
A Pop-Up Pride day in Bendigo to celebrate 40 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria. Includes drag performances, live music, stalls, Trans Clothing Swap at the Town Hall, short films from Bendigo Queer Film Festival, exhibitions and more.
BY: Bendigo Pride Festival
I Do Take Pride - Gippsland LGBTQI+ Icons & Activists
PollyannaR is celebrating the LGBTQI+ icons and activists of Gippsland as part of Melbourne Pride & Midsumma through watercolour portraits celebrating 40 year anniversary since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
This exhibition commemorates some of the amazing people who embrace their choices and empower others to be true to themselves. Each icon or activists shown here has contributed to making regional areas safer, more vibrant and prideful place for the whole rainbow community to live in.
See PollyannaR's Website here.
BY: PollyannaR & I Do Support LGBTQI+ Rights Gippsland
Queer Country Pride - Our Time to Shine
An online exhibition that documents Queer community stories from older rural and regional Victorians. Celebrating 25 years of Chillout Festival and the Daylesford LGBTIQ+ community. Award winning photographer Lisa White captures the essence of her subjects as they share recollections of changes over the past 40 years.
BY: Photography by Lisa White. Produced by ChillOut Daylesford Inc.
Pride Across the Ages Podcast
A podcast series covering the lived experiences of 10 LGBTIQA+ people who call Mount Alexander Shire home. Each podcast discusses experiences of growing up and coming out, with a focus on the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria 40 years ago, pride now and into the future. Transcribed copies of each podcast can be requested by emailing [email protected]
BY: Mount Alexander LGBTIQA+ Steering Group
Rainbow Signpost
A documentary produced in Bendigo by local community members, following the unique journey of two trans people. The film explores the difference between trans experiences across a 40 year generational gap, impact on community, social change and their significant others, while navigating the experiences of transitioning.
BY: Trans and Gender Diverse Bendigo and Beyond.
Country Roads to Pride
Photographic exhibition by artist and regional transgender Victorian, James Mepham. Twenty portraits with accompanying narratives celebrate extraordinary trans, gender diverse and non-binary regional Victorians. The theme speaks to the unique journeys or ‘roads’ trans, gender diverse and non-binary people travel in life.
See the online exhibition and read the stories here.
BY: Photography by James Mepham. Produced by Ballarat Community Health and Transgender Victoria
Wangaratta Road to Pride
A collaborative artwork by artist Lisa Bishop and local LGBTQIA+ community members depicting the individual stories along the road to Pride. The artwork and a behind the scenes documentary will be launched via an activation at the Melbourne Pride street festival, along with a blank canvas that will act as an interactive art piece for attendees to contribute their own story.
BY: Lisa Bishop & April Huggins
Celebrating Pride in all Ages and Places
Pride and intergenerational connection to socially isolated older people. In person events have been replaced with partnered activities and care packages being sent to participants of Switchboard’s Out and About program across Victoria.
BY: Switchboard Victoria
SELF(ie) PRIDE
A five-channel video work celebrating LGBTQIA+ led expressions of PRIDE and visibility in the Central Goldfields region.
BY: Martin John Lee
Queer Histories
An exhibition celebrating the lives of queer people from the past.
BY: Denis Chapman
Pride and Diversity Wings
Launch of the Warrnambool Pride and Diversity Wings mural. Southwest Victoria Pride and SWTafe welcome you to the launch of this mural, and invite you to take photos and share your pride.
BY: Southwest Victoria Pride, SWTafe, James Cody-Davis
Camp
Camp Photography Series celebrates the lived experiences of 30 LGBTQIA+ artists who are living and working throughout regional Victoria. Make your mark and add yourself in to the giant map of Victoria, which will act as an artistic representation of an LGBTQIA+ census of Victorians.
BY: Scratch Arts
Goldfields Pride
A podcast and report sharing LGBTQIA+ stories from the Goldfields region reflecting on the ‘Road to Pride’. The stories will then be presented to local councils and service-providers to say “we’re here, we’re queer, include us”, with recommendations on what local councils and service-providers can do to improve LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
BY: Sean Mulcahy
Think About It? Did It!
A portrait exhibit/installation of regional Victorian LGBTIQA+ elders sharing their stories and history as we celebrate and commemorate the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. A series of podcasts will complement the portraits, capturing the joys and sorrows of being LGBTIQA+ over the last 100 years in regional Victoria.
BY: Goulburn Valley Pride Inc *Podcast originally played during OUTintheOPEN Festival 2021 on One FM 98.5 ‘Pride in Diversity’ Radio Show.
END OF 2021 - 2022 EVENTS
Regional Events
Our RAP program is now live on the website, running from November through to the street party.
Intergenerational projects, murals, music videos, and queer comedy — to surf coast celebrations, the Regional Activation Program returns this summer to spotlight queer creativity across regional Victoria.
What is Victoria's Pride?
A landmark program of pride events and projects held in summer as part of a statewide celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities. Victoria’s Pride (previously Melbourne Pride) is held across the state from December to February, with events in regional and rural areas. The tour of state-wide events culminates into a full-day and night street party in Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Street precinct one week after the annual Midsumma Pride March.
Victoria's Pride Street Party
Sunday 8 February 2026
Melbourne’s iconic Gertrude and Smith Streets is transformed into an extravagant street party – with two live music stages and performances from musicians and artists – to celebrate Victoria’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities.
