100-thousand at the Midsumma Carnival, Melbourne's major celebration of LGBTQI+ culture
There were high spirits and higher stilettos as Melbourne's major celebration of LGBTQI+ culture kicked off today. More than 100-thousand people were expected at the Midsumma Carnival, the first event in the annual festival of queer arts and culture.
Transcript
00:00 There are few rainbows without a bit of rain.
00:05 And here comes the rain, it's only going to be momentary.
00:08 We've dealt with a lot worse than rain.
00:10 We never know quite how the weather's going to be,
00:12 but it is always a day of colour, of connection and of celebration.
00:17 And tens of thousands still glammed it up for the festival
00:20 that kick-starts Melbourne's three-week celebration of queer identity.
00:23 Happy Midsummer!
00:26 From far-flung veterans...
00:27 First Midsummer and they brought all their outfits the whole way from Belfast.
00:31 To newcomers...
00:32 I have two mums and I support the rainbow family.
00:36 A high-fashion dog show, with the entrance donning their Sunday best.
00:40 A grey day couldn't dim Melbourne's diverse LGBTQIA+ community.
00:44 Today it's a designer piece by myself.
00:48 Midsummer is now in its 36th year, having started when same-sex marriage,
00:52 the banning of gay conversion therapy
00:54 and changing the record of sex on birth certificates
00:57 were decades off becoming realities.
00:59 It's a family day, so you get to bring the little ones down,
01:02 which is always good as well.
01:04 When it comes to stamping out prejudice, there's always more work to be done.
01:08 I live in the suburbs and I can get yelled at in the street, in the car park.
01:14 We're also determined to continue to provide good access to health care
01:18 and indeed to mental health supports.
01:21 It's all about inclusion and things like that.
01:23 After the sun comes out and the party kicks on.
01:26 (door creaking)
01:28 [BLANK_AUDIO]