2 weeks Ago By Callum Godde
Louder and prouder than ever, Australia's LGBTQI community has sent an unambiguous message as transgender and gender-diverse people face an upsurge of ideologically driven hate. Login or signup to continue reading A bright and colourful crowd of up to 14,000 people gathered at St Kilda's Ian Johnson Oval on Sunday before embarking on the Midsumma Pride March. Watched on by thousands, more than 270 groups marched in the annual Melbourne parade as the mercury soared into the mid-30s.
Victorian LGBTIQA+ Communities Commissioner Joe Ball, a transgender man, said the vulnerable community was feeling insecure about world events. "We need this march more than we have ever needed this march," he told reporters. In his first day back in the White House, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order recognising only male and female sexes and declared they cannot be changed.
Biden administration orders designed to stop discrimination based on gender identity or sexual discrimination were also revoked before a separate order was inked to end federal funding for gender-affirming care of children under 19 across the US. Domestically, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has announced Australia's peak medical body will review the health care provided to transgender and gender-diverse children. It came after the Queensland Liberal-National government immediately paused new patients under 18 accessing gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies, amid a probe into the services.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said efforts were under way to "wind back the gains of equality" made in the state since the first Midsumma march in 1996. "But worse to continue to marginalise, to continue to inflict hate and hurt on our LGBTIQA+ community," she said. "I say to any right-wing leader who wants to take their cues or take their notes from the MAGA ("Make America Great Again") movement here in the USA, that they have to come through me, come through the Victorian government and come through the Victorian community first.
"We'll fight for our LGBTIQA+ community." The march is one of the signature events at the Midsumma Festival, which celebrates gender and sexual diversity. But police participation in pride events is controversial, given their origin out of the protest movement against police oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual people.
The 2025 march has been mired in controversy after Victoria Police withdrew from participating, citing a ban on officers marching in uniform. The trial uniform ban was sparked by ugly scenes in 2024 when a group of protesters confronted police along the march route. Leading advocacy body Transgender Victoria was also absent this year over police treatment of its community.
Despite the high-profile boycotts, Midsumma chief executive Karen Bryant insisted the event was "for everyone". "It is for all ages, all cultures, all faiths, all identities, disability," she said, as uniformed police watched over the festivities for public safety. "The message for us this year is call all of our communities in together, regardless of where they come from, to stand together in strength and unity.
" In December, Mardi Gras narrowly voted to allow NSW Police to continue to march in its 2025 parade after an earlier decision to ban uniformed officers joining the 2024 march. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
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