Pride Whanganui celebrations hit home run in third year

Mayor Hamish McDouall addresses the rainbow crowd before their Pride Walk. Photo / Christina Emery

Hundreds of locals joined Pride Whanganui over the weekend to mark the third annual celebrations.

Pride Whanganui organiser Christina Emery said it had hit its stride.

The two flagship events - the Pride Walk and Pride Party - took place on Saturday after being delayed due to a packed schedule earlier in the year.

"It's been a long, long two months. I had no doubt we would get a load of people there celebrating and being a part of it. I was not disappointed, they turned up in their droves and their colours, it was epic."

Hundreds of locals made up a rainbow as they met at the Saturday River Markets for their annual walk.

"We just went around our usual route, from around the Markets to the Dublin Street Bridge, through Kowhai Park and back across the City bridge," Emery said.

"Every year I love it, you look out just see an absolute stream of rainbow walking across the bridge. There is nothing like it. It's such an upbeat, excited mood."

Emery said it was awesome to see each year more and more people support the movement and see people grow over the last three years.

"I think the greatest thing is, you see the same people, but you see a transformation of some of them. In the first year, they are in the background trying to blend in. In year two, you saw them mingled a bit and, by year three, they're in full costume and colour and waving their flags."

Pride weekend celebrations had been a great way for like-minded people to meet, said Emery.

"The rainbow community is massive in Whanganui, but it can be a very lonely struggle if you think no one else is like you or you don't connect to anyone else. To see a whole massive crowd like you is awesome."

Emery acknowledged Mayor Hamish McDouall for his strong stance with the rainbow movement.

"To see him stand up and say we aren't going to tolerate hate, homophobia, transphobia, anything like that. This is your town, that is something else entirely."

After the walk, Pride celebrations took on a move festive and fun approach as the crowd moved to Stellar Restaurant and Bar for the Pride Party.

With a DJ in the main bar and the drag queen performers in the function room, Emery said it was a beautiful scene.

"Again, people were celebrating. But it was completely different. People were just free to be themselves, the music's going, everyone's having a good time. Everyone is supporting, it is awesome. It's like nothing else.

"I was blown away by how many people from all over the place came to have some fun. I want Whanganui to be known as a safe space for rainbow people to come live, experience life and party."

To see the celebrations grow every year and to see the community get behind the events has been nothing short of extraordinary, Emery said.

Emery said to go from worrying about how people would react to the rainbow community a few years ago to see the embrace from Whanganui is now showing has been incredible.

"It was more support we have ever seen. People were cheering out of car windows, tooting as they went by, stop and waving. It was just absolutely epic."