SpringOUT to mark a quarter century of rainbows

The SpringOUT Pride Festival Canberra will share a celebrated milestone next month when it marks a quarter century of supporting the people and culture of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr helped launch the event on Wednesday, noting that he met his husband, Anthony Toms, at the very first festival in 1999.

There has been a lot of water under the bridge since that first event, which also doubled as a protest, and Mr Barr hailed this year’s festival as the best ever and a testament to the hard work of organisers, having been there himself in 1999.

Mr Barr said it was a true community event that relied on only a small level of financial assistance from government and a range of sponsors.

“It really does rely a lot on individual community organisations, staging events as part of the festival calendar,” he said.

“So there probably isn’t a more grassroots event in Canberra or one that is so diverse and can have such a strong set of programming over the month.”

Mr Barr agreed that it would be an opportunity for the community to come together at a time when there remained perpetrators of hate crimes against gay people at large.

While some were disappointed at no arrests being made, he said the police need to be allowed to do their work.

“We want the individuals, the perpetrators, brought to justice, but we also want that done in a way that could see a conviction if charges needed to be pressed,” he said.

He said the festival would be a time for reflection but also to celebrate a range of really positive things.

“I think more broadly, we reflect upon where Canberra was in 1999 to where we are now in 2024, there’s been a substantive amount of progress made for the community,” he said.

The question of not inviting police to participate has been controversial, but Mr Barr welcomed the inclusion of an introductory meeting with new liaison officers as part of the festival.

“The last thing we want is for people to feel uncomfortable,” he said.

“I commend ACT Policing for their response in working with organisers to establish an event effectively of their own that will allow for community engagement with new liaison officers.”

This year’s event will also be a milestone for retiring SpringOUT president and producer Lynne O’Brien, who will mark 40 years’ service to the LGBTIQA+ community, which included several years on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board and as co-president of Sydney PRIDE. This year, she was inducted into the Mardi Gras Hall of Fame.

She joined the SpringOUT committee in 2017 and has served as president since 2018.

Ms O’Brien said COVID had knocked out many festivals, but this one was coming back strongly.

“We’re re-emerging, certainly last year and this year, so it’s very exciting,” she said.

It was also exciting to see many national institutions becoming involved, including Questacon, which will host its after-dark event, Refraction.

She said Fair Day at Glebe Park on 2 November is a key event where people could come together, but the SpringOUT program was packed with a wide variety of events, ranging from family-friendly gatherings to after-dark parties and entertainment.

These include a tribute to George Michael, a Charity Pride Rugby Match by the ACT Rugby Veterans, exhibitions of queer art, theatre performances, dance parties, nature walks, Questacon’s special after-dark event, queer literary events, pride fun runs, FUSE’s Big Gay Breakfast and comedy events.

One of the most anticipated events is the grand finale, One Night in Heaven, a retro dance party to celebrate HEAVEN Nightclub Canberra, the music, glamour and magic of the 90s and noughties.

From protest to celebration, Ms O’Brien indicated the struggle was not quite over.

“I think there’s always something to work on,” she said.

SpringOUT runs until 30 November.

To learn more, visit the SpringOUT website.