Centring First Nations voices, perspectives and performances

It was imperative to invite and engage Asia Pacific First Nations community members to Sydney WorldPride.

To recognise the shared understanding and struggle of First Nations communities, Sydney WorldPride prioritized the voices of Asia Pacific First Nations LGBTQIA+SB peoples in the Human Rights Conference. The Conference included sessions like ‘Regional Spotlights from Our Movement’, and ‘First Nations Justice in the Asia Pacific.

Asia Pacific First Nations LGBTQIA+SB people were well-represented among the attendees of the Human Rights Conference – with 16% of total attendees identifying as First Nations.

First Nations attendees came from across Asia Pacific, including Australia, Fiji, New-Zealand and Samoa.

As part of the Festival, Australian First Nations peoples designed a message stick made of recycled glass. The stick will be passed onto the First Nations peoples of the country that will next host WorldPride at every WorldPride.

“The message stick signifies that First Nations peoples should be at the centre of each Pride. We are the first story-tellers. We are the truth tellers. Hire us. Give us our seat at the table. Each WorldPride should start with us.”

– Felix May (they/them), First Nations Engagement Officer Sydney WorldPride

Chart 20: To what extent do you agree that the Human Rights Conference enabled you to better understand LGBTQIA+SB First Nations peoples?