The Allan Labor Government is supporting Victoria's LGBTIQA+ community by backing events and festivals that celebrate their achievements, culture and ongoing fight for equality.
Minister for Equality Vicki Ward today opened applications for the 2025-26 Pride Events and Festivals Fund, a grant program that helps community groups and organisations deliver events that showcase LGBTIQA+ pride and visibility.
Event organisers are invited to apply to share in a grant pool of $400,000 - with $10,000 available for smaller events and $25,000 available for larger festivals.
Since its launch in 2018, the Pride Events and Festivals Fund has supported around 240 events across Victoria.
Last year's recipients, Your Community Health in partnership with Transgender Victoria and VACCHO, hosted Blak and Bowled, an open day event featuring gender-diverse First Nations performers and artists, which doubled as an opportunity for health services to share their culturally safe gender-affirming care pathways.
Transgender Victoria hosted the Trans Book Festival at the Victorian Pride Centre - showcasing diverse trans narratives and spotlighting more than 30 authors to almost 200 attendees.
Other previous recipients include Clunes Neighbourhood House - delivering an LGBTIQA+ Ageing Expo in Hepburn and Melba Support Services which created inclusive friend-dating events for LGBTIQA+ people living with disability in the Yarra Ranges.
The fund is part of the Labor Government's landmark Pride in our future: Victoria's LGBTIQA+ strategy 2022-2032 - a 10-year plan to create a more equal, safe and inclusive Victoria.
In Victoria, equality is non-negotiable and the Labor Government will always stand proudly on the side of Victoria's LGBTIQA+ community.
Applications close Tuesday, 26 August. For more information or to apply, visit vic.gov.au/successful-recipients-pride-events-and-festivals-fund.
As stated by Minister for Equality Vicki Ward
"The Pride Events and Festivals Fund about more than fun events - it's about building strong, connected and visible communities where LGBTIQA+ Victorians feel safe, proud and celebrated."
"We'll always stand with and support the people and organisations of our great state who are working hard to create inclusive spaces right across Victoria - every LGBTIQA+ Victorian deserves to feel that they belong."
As stated by Hank Paul, Communications Lead, Transgender Victoria
"Without the vital funding from PEFF, the Trans Book Festival wouldn't have been possible. This festival provided a much-needed dedicated space for our trans and gender diverse communities, powerfully demonstrating how literature can empower us to explore trans identities."
As stated by Vanessa Brown, Executive Director - Capability and Impact, Your Community Health
"Blak and Bowled was more than a community day - it was a celebration of culture, pride and connection."
