PORT HEDLAND: PILBARA PRIDE 2024

BY ASAD KHAN

The Pride Festival was celebrated in Port Hedland on Saturday, with a parade and rainbow colours taking over the streets.

This year's theme was  Respect and Acceptance. 

The event was organised by Phlags+, under the leadership of Gloria Jacob, and sponsored by at least two Labor representatives who are also part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Peter Foster MLC said work is being done to address issues the vulnerable community faces.

He said the Labor government’s new legislation will give the fundamental right to decide on identity and make changes to one’s birth certificate.

“It's really important that members of our community's birth certificates reflect the person that they are,” he said

Stephen  Dawson, Minister for Emergency Services, said the Labor government changes have positively impacted the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"That’s why we need to keep celebrating pride, showcasing the issue, and reminding people that we are people like everyone else and deserve the same rights and opportunities as everybody else.”

Alysha Tryed, a drag queen, said, “It’s been more accepted in the community this year. Obviously, we still have our negative comments.  We live, we are here and celebrating.”

The event was wrapped up successfully, with the organisers claiming the turnout to be greater than last year.