A regional New South Wales pride festival will proceed despite an attempt to cancel it, but the community has been left “fractured and hurting” from highly emotional public debate.
The Rainbow Festival in Orange, central west New South Wales, will take place later this month, following an overwhelming majority of local councillors voting down a motion to withdraw council support.
Cheers erupted in the city’s council chambers after the 10-2 vote on Tuesday night, as LGBTIQ+ community members and their supporters embraced and waved pride flags.
Messages supporting the LGBTIQ+ community drawn on the windows of Groundstone Cafe in Orange, central western NSW, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Source: AAP / Stephanie Gardiner
The council announced the inaugural festival last month, featuring celebrations like a parade and drag competitions to increase visibility and tolerance in the growing region.
But councillor Kevin Duffy proposed the motion to cancel council’s involvement.
“Sexuality, gender, and identity are not jurisdictions or charters of the Orange City Council, ideologies that we should be nowhere near,” Duffy told the meeting, which drew a crowd of 200.
A group calling themselves “locals for locals” distributed flyers days before the meeting urging for the cancellation.
The document criticized activities like drag queen story time and face painting.
Adelaide Pratt, a young doctor, encouraged councillors to dismiss “absurd” arguments.
Festival opponents should instead educate themselves about the mental health burden on the LGBTIQ+ community, Pratt said.
“We want all young people to know they will be loved and accepted for who they are,” she said.
The council received a $125,800 New South Wales government grant for the festival.
A financial report before council stated that it would incur costs for performers and suppliers if the festival was canceled, but those costs could not be claimed under the grant if there was no event.
NSW Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence mentioned that the state government provided funds due to the high levels of suicide among members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Lawrence shared his experience of feeling like he didn’t belong when he realized he was gay as a child.
“Now I live a very happy life, but it’s not easy as a gay kid and that’s why this sort of festival is so important,” he said.
“I know it’s brash and it’s loud, but it has to be to reach the people it needs to reach.”
Councillor Melanie McDonell expressed that the community was “fractured and hurting” over the motion, which she labeled as bigotry.
The effort against the festival would have lasting impacts, according to Greens councillor David Mallard.
“It’s caused anxiety and distress for members of the LGBTIQ+ community and the family and friends who love them,” Mallard stated.
“It’s caused damage to the image of Orange as a progressive and welcoming city.”
The festival is scheduled to run from March 22.
LGBTIQ+ Australians seeking mental health support can contact QLife on 1800 184 527 or visit . also provides a list of support services.
Intersex Australians seeking support can visit Intersex Peer Support Australia at isupport.org.au.
Readers in need of crisis support can reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available atÂ
 and on 1300 22 4636.
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