Come in rain or shine, come with friends or to be among them, come in costume and colour, come as you are.
This was the invitation to the Newcastle Pride parade that thumbed an explosively colourful and vibrant nose at the oppressive grey cloud that hung over the city Saturday morning as the festival's annual parade marched from Honeysuckle to Nobbys to a party beat.
Alysha Killen marched alongside her mum, who was decked in a bedazzled rainbow cape, and admitted that the crowd felt slightly smaller than it had done in previous, sunnier years, but it lacked none of the spirit.
"What's a little rain without a rainbow?" the Maitland local said. "It's colourful, it's cheery and happy. It's cold and windy, but look how happy everyone is."
The annual parade kicked off a packed roster of events, shows and performances in the city from October 11 to 27 and saw residents advocacy and political groups, including local councillors, in attendance.
Environment advocacy group Rising Tide marched in solidarity with the local pride movement over the weekend and forecasted a "protestival" of LGBT-inclusive action when they once again plan to blockade the Newcastle shipping channel in November.
The vibrant parade set off from Honeysuckle around 11.30am and marched along the foreshore to Nobbys Beach to a pop-tune beat that blew away the overcast chill.
One attendee, who marched with a giant inflatable rainbow on her back and asked to be identified by first name only, said the event was a sign of the city's LGBT inclusion and the community's visibility.
"When you just see it for the kids, the kids who are maybe a little bit different, and they don't necessarily see that in their everyday lives, it's beautiful that they can see themselves reflected in others," Gen said. "It doesn't matter how you identify. You can come out and have a great time."
The all-ages parade was officially incorporated into the Newcastle Pride festival in April, the organisation said earlier this year. Newcastle Pride was established in 2018 to celebrate sexuality and gender diversity in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the broader Hunter region.
"Our vision is to empower the current and future generations to be their true selves and feel accepted, find their voice and be proud of who they are, regardless of their gender identity or sexuality. We aspire to a safer, more inclusive future for our community," the association said on its website.
