Will The Town Known For Being Homophobic Progress? Colac To Celebrate First Pride Event
The Victorian town of Colac will hold its first-ever Pride event after years of being considered homophobic when comedian Joel Creasey relayed his negative experiences there, reports ABC News. The event will be an LGBTQIA+ inclusive space organised by Kristen Turnley and her wife Holly Kercheval on Sunday, February 26.
LOVE AND PRIDE WINS EVEN IN THE THORNIEST OF PLACES
Colac’s first Pride event will be held at a café and include live music, DIY make-up stations, badge-making, Colac Headspace personnel, and free LGBT-branded merchandise, reports ABC News.
When locals Kristen Turnley and Holly Kercheval began to notice s growing LGBTQIA+ presence in their small Victorian town, they knew it may finally be time for Pride to find Colac. “We started noticing… there were other people presenting in the community and identifying and we thought we really need to connect together and let them know we’re here,” says Kercheval.
Despite the growth Colac is having, the town earned a rather spotty reputation when comedian Joel Creasey recounted his time there. Having visited three times, first in 2011 again in 2014 and the last time in 2018, Creasey tells anecdotes that include being heckled, chased and publicly yelled at. “We had people yelling at us 24/7, so Colac is a very homophobic place,” he says.
In light of these stories, it’s actually quite hopeful that Colac is opening up to the modern world and LGBTQIA+ people. This is a reminder of the importance that community events can have in fostering greater understanding and acceptance.
