Rockhampton is about to raise the rainbow flag for the very first Central Queensland Fair day on the 21st of May.

The head of the event’s organising committee Ric Stumpf says the festival is a chance for people from all over Central Queensland to celebrate the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

“The day will offer a range of live entertainment, market stalls including health and support services information and fun activities for all,” he explains.

“The idea for the CQ Fair Day came about when I was thinking about what I could do bring the gay community, its friends and families together in one event. As someone who lives in regional Queensland and an active member of the gay community, I felt that many of us in the country just did not have anything like this event that many in the large cities have annually.”

The day is for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, their friends and families, and will be the very first of its kind for Central Queensland, Stumpf adds.

The theme for the fair day is ‘Celebrating the diversity of the Central Queensland LGBT community’ and the organisers hope to attract crowds from all over central Queensland.

QAHC’s Health Promotion Officer Tim Spratling welcomes the new event. “For the first time in Central Queensland, in one spot, the opportunity exists to raise awareness of local gay-friendly businesses, health services, performers and entertainers. The CQ Fair Day will allow the LGBT communities to gain access to information on health, sexuality and support services.

“Often people from the LGBT communities in regional areas feel isolated and don’t have access to information and services,” he points out. “Fair Day is one way to bring all of this together in a safe and supportive environment.”

With a variety of live entertainment, stalls, fun activities for all tastes, and the highly entertaining drag diva Vanessa Wagner playing host to the event, you can bet hilarity will follow.

Fair Day will be taking place at the CQ University, Rockhampton Campus, and with the support of the university and numerous others involved, the organisers hope to not only bring a massive crowd and make the day a success, and will be the first of many Fair Days to take place at Rockhampton.

“The CQ Fair Day organising committee is grateful in having successfully gaining financial support from the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities Inc, Healthy Communities Fund,” Ric Stumpf adds. “As this is the first CQ Fair Day, the money from the Healthy Communities Fund will really be the kick start for this community event.

“We are lucky that in Rockhampton we have the annual Tropical Alternatives Film Festival which has been the main event for the gay community. Now we are aiming to have two key events for the Central Queensland LGBT community.

“I hope this will all assist in bring the LGBT community, its friends and family together to celebrate the diversity of the Central Queensland LGBT community, and make us very proud to be gay and living in regional Queensland.”

Central Queensland Fair Day takes place on the 21st of May at the CQ University, Rockhampton.

Will you be coming along?