Third Whanganui Pride Week offering a packed schedule

Christina Emery at the new Pride Whanganui office at 396A Victoria Ave. Photo / Bevan Conley

Active inclusion is the theme for the third annual Whanganui Pride Week.

This year's event will run from February 27 to March 6, and Pride Whanganui trustee Christina Emery said the activities on offer will cater to people of all ages and interests.

"The week is there to give people a bit of time out and a bit of fun, but obviously our root cause is the rainbow community," Emery said.

"We started off [in 2019] with one day and two events, then last year we had a whole week with a dozen events. This year we're going Saturday to Saturday.

"We get two weekends where we can do things, and we're up to 14 events at last count.

"They wanted more, so we gave them more."

Events over the week include a youth festival at the green space at 1 Victoria Ave, a long-lunch on the Dublin St Bridge, a feature film at Confluence Cinema, 'Boom Boom Burlesque' at the Royal Wanganui Opera House, an exhibition at Sarjeant on the Quay and 'Bowls in Drag' at Laird Park Bowling Club.

Like last year, the week will close with a Pride Walk on the morning of March 6, followed by a party at Stellar Bar that evening.

"What we did in the first two years was to try to do a 'blanket Pride' for everyone, and this year we're going into more particular areas, like with our youth festival," Emery said.

"There's going to be a whole lot of stalls and a whole lot of organisations that are here in Whanganui and nationwide that help youth and rangitahi. It's going to be about fun and it's going to be about having a safe environment for them to chill and be themselves.

"It's really important for us that the different pockets of the rainbow community are thought of and catered to, and our 'Authentic You' evening is similar to that [the youth festival].

"It's a night for people who are experimenting with their gender expression can come in a safe place and try on different clothing, get some tips and tricks from local hairdressers, make up artists and fashion gurus."

The Pride Walk will round out seven days of events at this year's Whanganui Pride Week. Photo / Neil Jones

Pride Whanganui had seen a "huge influx" in people over the age of 60 coming to seek help in the last year, Emery said.

"There is a generational stigma attached to it and there's not necessarily a peer group they can speak to and, depending on where they sit in the rainbow, it might have been illegal at one point in their lives.

"I've had quite a few people come out for the first time to me, and it was an amazing privilege that they felt comfortable enough to share their truth with me.

"It's not just about rainbows and events and fun, it's deeper. It's about making sure our community is safe, advocated for, heard from, and acknowledged."

Emery said the theme for 2021 was 'active inclusion'.

"It's not enough for businesses, organisations and individuals to say they're inclusive; anyone can say that, what we're looking for are actions.

"Throughout the week we'll be showcasing ways in which the community can show or be actively inclusive.

"There are things the community can do to ensure active inclusion."

The reason the 2019 Pride Week had only two events was because Emery had "no clue how the wider community would react", she said.

"My most important role was to keep our community safe, I didn't want to put them in a vulnerable position. We have had nothing but positivity from the community as a whole.

"There are always going to be naysayers and people who, for whatever reason, have judgements to make. On the whole though, it's been a really positive experience and, touch wood, let's hope it continues to be that way.

"The tide is changing, for sure".

For more information on Pride Week 2021, or what Pride Whanganui does in the community, go to www.pridewhanganui.co.nz or https://www.facebook.com/pridewhanganui, or visit their office at 396A Victoria Ave.