Staff, students and alumni from Edith Cowan University (ECU) were proud to join the colourful celebration of LGBTIQA+ communities when Perth’s 33rd Pride Parade brought solidarity, visibility and joy to the streets of inner-city Northbridge last month.
The 2024 theme, Together, Go West, championed unity and progress and a crew from ECU – complete with a magical disco garden float – aimed to set a glittering example of what togetherness means to their university community.
ECU’s float was a team effort that was decorated at the Pride Parade Picnic in the lead-up to the parade, thanks to group of creative participants who turned the flatbed truck into a truly magical rainbow explosion, filled with a display of flowers, birds, bees, disco balls, fairy lights and satin ribbons.
Vice Chancellor Professor Clare Pollock was there to offer support for the LGBTIQA+ community and was joined by more than 50 others to showcase ECU’s commitment to diversity.
“Seeing our ECU community come together with such joy and purpose is truly inspiring,” Pollock says. “Pride Month is a time to honour and celebrate LGBTIQA+ communities, and today’s turnout shows the incredible heart of ECU.”
This year’s Parade featured 50,000 marchers, with thousands of spectators cheering from the sidelines as the 106 floats passed by.
Month-long celebration of festive fun
Perth’s Pride Month at ECU was filled with many activities and events, including Rainbow Migrants Karaoke with an Accent led by ECU Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow Dr Lukasz Krzyzowski, followed by ECU’s team in the Pride Walk and Run, led out by Pride at ECU Committee Chair Professor Sophia Nimphius.
Perth Pride Fairday was a family fun day with ECU’s stall getting a lot of interest from future, current and past students, and members of the community. With the support of Future Students Engagements and staff from ECU’s LGBTIQA+ Ally Network, visitors to ECU’s stall were met with plenty of helpful information and great conversation. ECU also sponsored Rabble Books and Pride with Disability Network to be at this year’s Fairday, to show the uni’s support for LGBTIQA+ owned and run community groups and local business.
A state of pride
In other parts of Western Australia, the Bunbury PrideFest, run by local organisation OUT South West, saw ECU volunteers engage with more than 100 members of local community in a vibrant showcase of live music, drag queens, entertainment, market stalls and food trucks.
“This has been an unforgettable Pride Month at ECU,” Pollock says.
“From the picnic to the parade, we’ve shown the strength of our commitment to equity and inclusion.”
