Across the Coast people are returning to their daily grind after one hell of a glitter fuelled weekend after Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Among them are the members of Central Coast LGBTIQA+ Community Group, a Facebook group created to ensure the local LGBT+ community had a way to share and connect with one another.
Boasting over 900 members, Group Founder and Administrator, Stephen Wall, never would have imagined his Facebook group would grow into the Coast’s largest social network for LGBT+ people.
“I started it seven years ago after moving to the Coast from Sydney.
“At the time, I felt like there really wasn’t much on the Coast for the LGBT+ community, so I started the group as a way to see if there was more going on,” Wall said.
The Group is involved with several other local LGBT+ groups and organisations and was a part of the landmark Coastal Twist Community Float that united a handful of these groups together under the one banner for the first time.
Pink Drinks, Candy Bar, Rainbow Retro, Central Coast P-Flag, Central Coast Pride and the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus, all came together to fly the rainbow flag for the Coast in a collaborative effort that Wall described as truly special.
“We had so many people involved, working across so many different parts of the project, volunteering their time, working together and forming new friendships.
“It was like we were one big family,” Wall said.
Fellow Group Administrator and operator of Rainbow Retro, Michele Cook, said that while the Coast has had links to the festival spanning back to those that braved the streets for the original Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978, it was encouraging to see the Central Coast community come together like this.
“While this certainly wasn’t our first Mardi Gras, it was definitely one to remember.
“There were so many people from the Coast there celebrating, including the two other Central Coast floats, Point Clare Families and Jopuka Productions, and we took down so many first timers who’ve all said they can’t wait to head back next year,” Cook said.
While Mardi Gras is the major LGBT+ event in Australia, Group members have been activley getting recognition for the Central Coast at LGBT+ events around the state.
According to Wall, members have been a part of Central Coast and Newcastle Pride will also have the honour of running the first Central Coast float at Broken Heel Festival.
Source:
Interview, Mar 2
Stephen Wall and Michele Cook, Central Coast LGBTIQA+ Community Group
Reporter: Dilon Luke