Country pride events struggle to survive as volunteers dwindle

Organisers of queer festivals in regional Western Australia say their events are at risk of vanishing due to a lack of people willing to help coordinate every year, as another Pride parade bites the dust.

In Carnarvon, about 900 kilometres north of Perth, those pressures have brought the town's 2026 parade to an end after three years, despite being well supported in the community.

Most of the committee behind Queernarvon has stepped down or moved away, leaving the group without enough volunteers.

In the state's south, Busselton's long-running Pride parade has also been cancelled, with organisers instead directing their limited resources towards education and wellbeing events.

But in the Pilbara, a Pride festival that began as a small games night among friends has grown to attract about 1,500 people, with organisers crediting support from the wider community for its success.

So, what are the obstacles for LGTBIQA+ people living in the regions?

Changing views

Queernarvon chair Carmen Reilly said Pride events played an important role in regional communities.

In her view, there had been a shift in public perception towards trans, gender diverse and young LGBTQI+ people.

"I have had several conversations over the last few months with people who have never met a trans person, but have seen posts and AI clips on social media and have formed their opinions," she said.

"I say to those people, 'If you're basing your opinions and ideas on social media, put the phone down, go out and meet someone who has a different life experience to you.'"

She said events such as these helped build real connections within communities.

"There's more connecting us than dividing us,"she said.

Finding a community

Johnathan Trace, who is working in Carnarvon on a holiday visa, said he made the decision to leave his home country of the United States because the rise of the far right made him feel unsafe as a trans man.

"I was like, 'It's time. I need to get out of here,'" he said.

Since being in Australia, Mr Trace said he had felt safer but still experienced moments that made him feel unsafe and unwelcome.

Those ranged from nasty comments delivered by strangers in the bathroom, to homophobic outbursts from customers he was serving at work.

Mr Trace said it was a shame the Carnarvon event was cancelled, as there were a lack of spaces to discuss his life experiences as a trans man.

"You're surrounded by all these backpackers who are just here for a good time, who don't want to talk about politics or anything that ruins their good vibes," Mr Trace said.

"It's very hard to find a real community where you can talk about your queerness and the negative things you face with that."

Mining towns lead the way

A bright spot for WA Pride celebrations is in the state's mining region.

The Pilbara Pride Festival started from a small games night among friends, but is now in its fifth year, with about 1,500 people estimated to attend the events across places such as Port Hedland, Karratha and Onslow.

Port Hedland Lesbian, Allies, Gays Society (PHLAGS+) secretary Gloria Jacob put the success down to dedicated volunteers and support from local government and the resources sector.

"This year in particular, the one thing that filled my cup was the high school students asking us to hold a workshop at the school, and the high school allowing us to do that," Ms Jacob said.

But she said it had not always been this way.

"I can tell you there were times in the early days where it wasn't that pleasant, and it still isn't pleasant," she said.

"But the main reason we do it is to ensure our young people, our First Nations people and those who are less able to access these safe spaces know PHLAGS+ exist."

'Space to be themselves'

A local church initially protested against the PHLAGS+ Pride events.

"But the second year they actually marched with us in the parade," Ms Jacob said.

"The more people engage and the more people become aware — it becomes the norm."

Ms Jacob said if support was not upheld by the wider community, the regions will lose their diversity.

"If they don't feel like they are welcome or supported or have space to be themselves openly, you're going to lose them to the city,"she said.

"The city can be brought to the communities, we've proven it through Pilbara Pride."