Colours of the world come out to show their Pride

The rain held off, it was not too hot and crowds were treated to the huge feast for the senses that is the annual Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda on Sunday.

Tens of thousands of people crammed Fitzroy Street waving rainbow flags, dancing and laughing, including more than 10,000 people who marched from community, sports and corporate groups.

Non-binary teen Imogen Johnson, of Bendigo, said taking part in Pride march in drag for the first time was “amazing”.Credit:Wayne Taylor

There were people dressed as Vikings or butterflies, others wearing kilts, Latin dancing or rugby outfits.

Many people came as themselves, happy to declare and express their personalities and interests to the world.

Imogen Johnson, a non-binary 18-year-old from Bendigo, marched in drag for the first time, after waking at home at 3am to put on their ash blonde wig, false eyelashes and make-up.

Imogen, mother Di Johnson and their mini dachshund, Sizzle, travelled for almost two hours – by car, then bus and then light rail – to be in St Kilda by 9.30am for the 11am start.

Imogen Johnson, mother Di and dachshund Sizzle at Southern Cross waiting for a tram to Pride March in St Kilda.Credit:Wayne Taylor

Imogen wore an elegant black dress they bought in an op shop, having sewed the rainbow trim on themselves along its top and bottom seams. They wore clear coloured Pleaser high heels.

Afterwards, Imogen said marching with the Support Melbourne Drag Artists and Performers group was “amazing”.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” said Imogen, who came out at 14. “My dream job is to work in drag, so I was like, ‘It’s an opportunity to get my name out there’.”

“Just seeing the crowd pumping and hyping everyone up was great.”

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda teeming with marchers and spectators at the 2023 Midsumma Pride March.Credit:Wayne Taylor

They said funny moments included “me almost falling over many times”.

Of the march Imogen said: “I’m glad I did it, to show that there can be ‘assigned female at birth’ drag queens.”

Some participants in Pride March came from as far away as east Gippsland.

Ann Faulkner, 73, and partner Marlene Constable, 72, are from Bairnsdale – 280 kilometres east of Melbourne – and they marched with the Gippsland Pride Initiative group.

Amy Stephens dressed as a butterfly at the Midsumma Pride March.Credit:Wayne Taylor

Faulkner said she felt fantastic.

The pair were keen to be with their community “and also let people know that we’re all out there and we’re proud”.

“You need to feel part of something, a big family, and that’s what today’s all about,” she said.

Before the march, Premier Daniel Andrews said the event sent a clear message that Victorians valued inclusion, respect and equality.

Premier Daniel Andrews in St Kilda before the march.Credit:Wayne Taylor

“With very substantial funding, and a real determination to make sure that at every turn, we reinforce that central principle that every single Victorian should be valued, respected and safe for being just who they are – no more, no less,” Andrews said.

“That is a really important principle and something that is a value we hold dear and one we live every single day.”

Opposition Leader John Pesutto was the first Liberal leader to actually march, although previous leaders have attended the event. Other senior Liberals to march included David Southwick, Georgie Crozier and Matt Bach.

The Pride March largely ran without incident.

Protest group CRYM marched in front of police chanting anti-police slogans.Credit:Carolyn Webb

Several dozen protesters who believe police should not be involved marched in front of several hundred uniformed police officers and a police band playing Queen’s We Will Rock You.

The protesters held a banner saying “F— Off Vicpol” and “cops don’t belong at pride”.

They chanted slogans such as “Bottoms, tops, we all hate cops”. About halfway down the march route, they refused to move off for a short time, as crowds shouted “boring” and “just move”.

The group’s leaflets said they were called CRYM – “a new network of resistance against systems of oppression and exploitation” and they were “a friendly community of radical young people”.

“Fight back against the system and institutions that carry out oppression,” the leaflet said. “Take back power from the bastards that loot our planet for profit.”

Onlooker Fiona Wainrit, of St Kilda East, said the protest in front of police was inappropriate.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” she said, adding that the parade was a celebration and not a protest, was about love not hate, and the protesters were “missing the point. It’s about diversity and inclusion”.

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