The Sydney Pride Centre is on the brink of closure, due to financial losses and lack of support from the GLBT community, it was revealed this week.

The organisation is making a final call for people to serve on the Board and to volunteer.

"We've come to the point now where we can't even operate properly because there's no perceived support," spokesperson Wil Rigby told SX. "We might consider looking at sponsorship deals but we don't even have enough Board members to constitute making a decision for Pride."

Pride has seen a steady reduction in its events, including the cancellation of its annual New Year's Eve dance parties at Fox Studios, as well as difficulties in maintaining a physical presence at the Erskineville Town Hall.

"We've tried in the past few months to pick things up. We acknowledge that the past three years have not been the best for Sydney Pride," Rigby said. "We are looking to move to a new centre in Kings Cross, so we're in a position of wondering if we should take that up but we can't even do that because we've got to have Board members. So good things are happening and potential is there; it's a matter of getting Board members and volunteers in place. If we can't get anyone, we'll have to reassess our options about our future very carefully. This is a final call to see how much support there is in the community."

Anyone interested in volunteering for Pride should visit the website at www.pride.org.au or email info@sydneypride.com.au.

Hi Murray,

I read this thread then jumped onto the website to find out more about the organisation - and there is really nothing there that tells me about what Sydney Pride does for the community. I even tried emailing and it bounced, so I rang and left a message but I have not had a call back in over a week...

Can you either post something here that tells us all a little about the organisation's mission for 2007 or send me an email please - rob.milne@team.samesame.com.au

I look forward to learning more!

robbie

Hi Robbie,
Sorry no one has got back to you. I've sent you an email, if you need to know any more please email me back.
Thanks,
Murray

These so-called Gay representative organisations are bogus most of the time. I boycotted Mardi Gras because they supported the most homophobic act possible - they had a float in support of David Hicks. He who is a member of the Taliban, who has vowed to behead ALL homosexuals among many others.

This disgusted me and is just the recent example how there can not be a representative gay organisation. Not for me anyway. The collapse of 1 or a 100 means nothing to gays, as they dont actually do anything for us.

So you want a community group that represents your own opinions 100%? Maybe start your own?

David Hicks was more an issue of imprisonment without fair trial.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasn

So you want a community group that represents your own opinions 100%? Maybe start your own?

David Hicks was more an issue of imprisonment without fair trial.

He still represents an organisation that would love to see us all beheaded. I wish the Americans had executed him.

I think Pride needs to find a niche to continue in Sydney - for the last few years when I’ve lived in Sydney it kinda seemed like a watered down Mardi Gras with similar events. I ran events for both at one stage. I loved Pride Week events cause they were mostly small, cheap, non-commercial things without the hype of a big parade to distract.

Now though I think to continue they must really differentiate themselves from any Mardi Gras festival/party stylings and figure out exactly what their objectives are - is it to have a week of activities of some sort, is it a big celebration like the San Francisco Pride I'm just about to head over to, is it a protest or is it a year round group renting cheap meeting rooms?

Any suggestions on a niche they could fill in our Sydney life?

I recall Micheal Woodhouse made a comment when he stepped down as NMG Chair that in order to survive MardiGras and Pride would have to merge. Perhaps he was right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

I recall Micheal Woodhouse made a comment when he stepped down as NMG Chair that in order to survive MardiGras and Pride would have to merge. Perhaps he was right.

Yup I remember that comment as well. Perahps a merge would be a good idea?

Merging with NMG has come up on the table many times before, but as it stands the charter of both organisations differ enough to make such a merger impossible.

We are holding a meeting next Wednesday at 7pm, for anyone who wants to attend, please email me at murray@murrayhood.com and I can send you more details. All are welcome.

Thanks
Murray

Hey Murray - what was the outcome of this about the future of Pride?

I'm interested to know too.

Sorry about the delay. We've had some successful meetings with promising turnouts, and some great ideas have been tendered which could save Pride. We're still very keen to get more people involved - so please drop me a line if you're interested.

In the near future we are planning to host the Pride Awards night, as we think this event is an important vehicle to recognise and reward people who have helped better our community. It's a shame that Pride Week wasn't officiated by Sydney Pride this year, but it would be even worse if the Awards night was cancelled.

While the awards night is an important event for the community, it's also a major Pride fundraiser. The success of this event will determine the future of Pride.

So we're looking for volunteers still, anything from clerical assistance every blue moon, to joining the board as a company director, helping with marketing, turning up at events only to lend a helping hand - anything, really.

There are some other exciting possiblities for us - such as the offer of a new venue which would enable us to offer space to other suffering community groups, and more events.

Our next meeting will be on Saturday 21st July at 3pm. Erskineville Town Hall (104 Erskineville Road). All are very welcome. Please email me if you have any questions.

Hi there,

I'm Wil and I am the current secretary of the Sydney Pride centre.

Just to extend on what Murray has said - we believe there is a need and desire in the community to make this organisation once again successful

We have such an array of great iniatiatives that we want to run but we can't do it without the assistance of people in the community

We want to be as active as possibe and really get all hands on deck so i urge as many people to get involved - its a great organisation to be a part of and well...Murray and I are just super cool people to work with:P *sound bite*

I look forward to seeing as many people as possible in the near future

Thanks

Wil

This sounds like this is something that the Sydney community give some consideration to before losing it forever. I agree that Sydney Pride seems like a bit of an anomaly at the moment - I looked at the website too and found it impossible to find out what they actually do. BUT - it would be very sad if Sydney lost something that might have been worthwhile because no one was willing to step up and listen to their vision, and maybe help?

PS Maybe they need to try enrol a Communications Officer?!

Hi Danny,

Thanks for your note,

As always, we are interested in hearing what the community has to say

We agree wholeheartedly that the organisation seems to be an anomaly and certainly recognise there are many people who feel that Pride has had its day

Throughout our dialogue with the community in the past few months, we have found extremley diverse pockets of interest in various forms which is great to see.

Just to detail what we will be doing in the coming months - we'll be hosting the annual Pride Awards at the end of August - our descision to hold this event is on the basis that there are so many people in the greater GLBTQI community who deserve recognition, and just because Pride has been inactive - does not mean these people should not be recognised.

Stay tuned, we're very close to announcing full details and other exciting developments including a move to a new centre - where we will be able to serve our charter - which is to provide space and support for community groups and their activities. Any event we hold is to raise money to continue supporting groups Sydney wide and beyond.

Having said that, the best intentions can not move forward without the community behind us - which we are fully committed to.

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilicent

Hi Danny,

where we will be able to serve our charter - which is to provide space and support for community groups and their activities. Any event we hold is to raise money to continue supporting groups Sydney wide and beyond.

Thanks

I think this is very much what the new generation of queers needs to know that Sydney Pride is about. It puts your very existence into context.

Completely agree.
I have to be honest and say that I had no idea what Sydney pride was and why it was different to mardi gras or other organisations and why it is needed.

Any more information on the charter for Pride would be great.

Thanks for this,

Pride is actually very different to Mardi Gras for a number of reasons. The defining reasons being that Pride is a non-for-profit organisation and that the charter of the Pride centre is to provide a space for GLBTQI community groups in Sydney.

http://www.pride.org.au/?page=aboutus will give you a brief run down. We are currently in the process of making our website more accessible and are always adding functionality. Pride has been somewhat dormant for the last 8 months and Murray and I are eager to kick start things again.

Why is Pride Important? Historically, Pride has been a peak body in the GLBTQI community. We do not engage in political action, we however obviously support such initatives in principal. Our aim is to have an accessible community space to faciliate a Network of GLBTQI organisations at a low cost (essentially enough to pay for our existence). It has been commented on throughout media, websites etc, that the GLBTQI community is more fragmented than ever. Pride attempts to bridge this gap through its events, and its charter.

It would be a shame to look in retrospect at the benefits the Sydney Pride centre once had - but are forever lost.

Pride has historically hosted the annual Pride Week in June to celebrate the Stonewall riots. Unfortunatley 2007 was unable to see this hosted. We stage a variety of events catering to all cross-sections of the community. As I mentioned above, we'll be holding the Annual Pride Awards (formerly the cornerstone of Pride Week) at the end of August.

We have so many things that we would like to run in the next few months - just a few of these are

- The Pride Awards - Details will be sent to Press in the next few days
- Relocation to the REX centre in Kings X - this facility is a great centre with great facilities for community groups in Sydney. We aim for this venue to reflect the rebirth of Pride

Ongoing from this we intend on holding a Dance Party fundraiser later in the year. On top of this we will be engaging the community through Media and other fundraising activities. We're always looking for different ways to raise our profile to the levels that it has been in the past. Thanks everyone for your comments

Can you explain to me, what is the relationship between Prides in all of the different cities. This is something I've always wondered about!

In a way I feel that what’s happening with Sydney Pride is something that can be seen in another area of Australian History.
ANZAC - and its because the people of today don’t completely understand the importance of carrying on such an important part of Australian History.
In no way am i trying to offend by comparing the two, its simply the similarities that im pointing out.
We need to Educate and Promote.
I wasn’t around during the riots and I wasn’t out until the late 90s. I only know about Sydney Pride as I have looked into it, googled it, read what I find in different articles… but I understand the importance of it because im actively involved in the community – but some of my friends couldn’t care less as they don’t understand the importance and I guess they are some what ignorant …
They don’t appreciate that with out the riots, with out the change, they wouldn’t have it so easy like they do – and today we have it much easier then back then.

But what do we do ?? im stuck for ideas …

Good question Danny, is there a correlation between the Prides of different Australian cities at all Wil/Murray?

Its seems a shame that the pride circuit around the world has just finished and Sydney didn't feature but then the wweather has been too cold this year to get round in speedo's

MardiGras was first held in July as a Pride celebration, ie to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, but it was moved to Februrary in 1981, obviously because it is too cold!

To say that Sydney has no Pride event like other cities around the world is incorrect, we just dont have one at the same time of year.

Maybe that's when Pride Sydney should have its dance party that Wilicent mentioned, so it is in sync with the worldwide Pride movement?

Hi there

Pride usually runs the Pride week every year to co-incide with the celebrations occuring around the world - the festival usually has a variety of events to cater for people in the city precinct and beyond.

Unfortunatley we were not in a position to hold events this year due to a number of issues out of our control

This is the reason why Murray and I are holding the Pride Awards in August - which are usually the gala event of Pride Week

Pride in other countries are alot more like Mardi Gras in alot of ways - unfortunatley we don't have the capital at the moment for huge dance parties - which is why we have elected to take the path of slowly rebuilding our profile through smaller, succesfull events