Protesters fail to shame surging support for Pride. Iain Clacher reports.

Brisbane’s annual Pride Rally, March and Fair Day has been hailed as a success with around 11,000 people turning up for the day-long celebration on June 14.

“That’s up on last year by about 4000,” Brisbane Pride Festival president Scott Hampson told Queensland Pride.

“It was fantastic. Numbers were up all over the place. We had about 2000 people participating in the march, and it was great to see so many young people participating in the parade.

“It was great to see everyone have such a good time on such a fantastic day,” he said.

Hampson kicked off the festivities with a speech on the festival’s theme, Freedom, in front of the statue of Queen Victoria in Queens Gardens.

A small group of five Christian protesters stood quietly and brandished placards at the edge of the rally, which provoked some verbal taunting from some of the rally-goers.

The placards included: “Remember Soddom and Ghommorah [sic] and flee from the wrath to come” and “Jesus said repent or perish”.

Hampson said he had asked LGBTs with banners to stand in front of the protesters and block them out.

“If we react to them we descend to their level,” he said.

The protesters were later moved on by police, who also issued them with an order to stay at least 50 metres away from the rally.

The march began with the roaring motors and honking horns of Dykes on Bikes, who led the march, followed by a gigantic mirror ball and an equally large rainbow flag.

After the marchers arrived at Musgrave Park, Fair Day festivities began in earnest, with the pet parade once again proving a particularly popular attraction.

Along with performances from numerous drag stars and dancers, other entertainers included Carol Lloyd (ex-Railroad Gin), the 80s New Wave-inspired band Twist Oliver Twist, all-girl hard rockers Fem Inc, and the wickedly explicit Master & Stryker. 

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