Celebrating PrideFest 2021 (6-27 November) was a thoroughly modern and magical experience at the City of Cockburn’s Youth Centre on Saturday, when local LGBTQIA+ organisation Youth Diversity Inc (YDI) staged its fourth Pride & Progress Ball.
The City’s youth service and YDI spent months planning the highly anticipated annual event, which was attended by about 150 young people who dressed up in the spirit of the modern magic theme.
A highlight of the ball was a live broadcast by Youth Jam Radio. CEO and founder Isaac Mulcrone interviewed WA LGBTQIA+ community member and advocate, journalist Narelda Jacobs who moved to Sydney for her work with Network 10 in 2020.
Ms Jacobs said if she’d had a pride and progress ball to go to as a 14-25-year-old, “it would have changed my trajectory”.
“(It would mean) you would be with your community of people that you love and are supported by. It would make all the world of difference,” Jacobs said.
“With the month of Pride even though I’m not there in Boorloo Perth we are sending all of our love for the month of Pride.
“We love our community at home and we just love that this event is happening tonight.
“Pride (month) is so important. It’s a chance for our community to come together but also the wider community to come together to celebrate all the good things and unite under the flag of progress.
“Being on Gadigal Country, Stevie and I are missing home right now. We would love to be there to celebrate Pride.” Listen
here.
Ball attendees enjoying a range of activities including art, music, stalls and games.
City of Cockburn Youth Centre Duty Supervisor Kerri Mulford said the theme was chosen because LGBTQIA+ people had a special affinity with the power and freedom in the world of magic and fantasy.
For more information on Cockburn Youth Services and activities for people aged 12 to 24, visit the City’s
website.