Council is proud to celebrate its Rainbow Community and promote the Beaches as a safe inclusive place where diversity matters. Colourful art, performance and open-air community events will define the WorldPride program running from 17 February until 5 March.
WorldPride 2023 is the largest LGBTQIA+ event ever to be held across Sydney and it will stretch over three spectacular weeks. Celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion the festival and human rights conference will reach all parts of the state and continue to promote tolerance and education in the wider community.
To coincide with the WorldPride events, Council and community groups are also hosting a fantastic range of activities to celebrate diversity and inclusivity on the Northern Beaches. Some highlights from the program include; rainbow banners across the peninsula; temporary art installations in Manly and exhibitions in our libraries and art gallery.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said he is very proud of Council for supporting the international event with local activations and activities.
"We want the Northern Beaches to be a place where all people in the LGBTQIA+ community feel respected and supported, and where diversity is celebrated.
"We are very excited that Sydney has been chosen to be the host of WorldPride in 2023, this marks the first time a city in the southern hemisphere has been chosen to host this event.
"Council has offered an array of organisations its support to be part of a program that will deliver the biggest tourism drawcard and city-wide celebration since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"This fantastic festival shines an international spotlight also on First Nations culture and draws attention to LGBTQIA+ issues and human rights.
"Northern Beaches Council has chosen to run a program of activities that acknowledge and support Sydney WorldPride, because we believe creating a sense of safety for LBTQIA + communities is intrinsic to our Social Sustainability Strategy - Better Together 2040 and the Community Safety Plan," Mayor Regan said.
There will be a vast array of activities for people to participate in including:
- First nations artist Daniel Golding on exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum
- Drag Queen story time at Manly Library on Sat 25 Feb
- Rainbow art on the Manly Corso as part of a city-wide mural program Fri 17 Feb - Sun 5 Mar
- Youth focused activities from Girls on Fire at James Meehan Reserve on Tue 21 and Wed 22 Feb which helps teens with problem solving and resilience building.
- Active Sessions from Collaroy Tennis Clubs Pride Day on Sat 4 Mar and Running Stars Run the Rainbow sessions on Sunday mornings at Winnererremy Bay Reserve and John Fisher Park.
- Plus Rainbow Families/Fusion Pride, family friendly picnic on Sat 18 Feb at Ted Jackson Reserve - Dee Why Beach, with entertainment and activities around live music while providing access to information for LGBTQIA+ families and their allies
- In Avalon there will be a Love is Love Community Social and PrideSwim happening Sun 19 Feb at Dunbar Park and Avalon Beach thanks to the Avalon Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Council is also supporting Community Bank Freshwater and Fusion Pride in rolling out a Rainbow Windows initiative to get businesses involved in celebrating WorldPride. One hundred and fifty businesses will be provided with bunting to deck out their shopfronts and any business that wants to go all out will be up for winning a fabulous prize from Community Bank Freshwater.
About WorldPride
WorldPride is a global LGBTQIA+ festival that has been staged since 2000, with cities competing to host the event. The right to host it is licensed by InterPride which has representatives from nearly every Pride organisation around the world. Previous WorldPride celebrations include New York in 2019 marking 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, and Copenhagen in 2021 celebrating both WorldPride and the EuroGames. Sydney was chosen by InterPride members to be the host of WorldPride in 2023, marking the first time a city in the southern hemisphere had been chosen. Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a broad festival offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.
