AFLW Pride Round 2022 – the big Bulldogs rainbow + red white blue weekend in Ballarat

It’s almost Pride Round, and this year we’ll be playing in Ballarat – so we’re painting the town rainbow + red white and blue!

  • Thursday 13th October: Banner making in Braybrook
  • Saturday 15th October: Supporter drinks 
  • Sunday 16th October, 11:20am: Community march to Mars Stadium
  • Sunday 16th October, 1.10pm: First Bounce

Banner making working bee

Facebook event | Google Calendar

5.30pm Thursday 13th October
Dinjerra Primary School – 44 South Road, Braybrook

In the spirit of pride, love, and inclusion – St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs will run out under one banner for Pride Round.

Join Bulldogs and Saints fans to create this special banner and get excited about AFLW Pride Round.

All welcome – many hands make light work (and more fun!)

Parking available out the front Dinjerra Primary School – 44 South Road, Braybrook.

Pride Round: Bulldog Pride Ballarat Supporter Social Drinks

Facebook event | Google Calendar

6pm Saturday 15th October
Aunty Jack’s, 315-317 Mair St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350

Make a full weekend of AFLW Pride round with other Ballarat footy fans and members of the LGBTQIA+ celebrate community, inclusion, and connection the night before the game!

The Western Bulldogs invite you to come along to our upcoming Pride Supporter Group Function.

  • Join in with the Ballarat Bulldogs and LGBTQIA+ communities for a fun night. Dress code: Wear your Bulldogs colours or pride colours (or both).
  • Hear from women in the LGBTQIA+ community talk about why pride and sport are important to them. 
  • Play ‘small talk bingo’ 
  • Put your name in the hat to be a banner bearer at the big game
  • Raffles and door prizes.

There is no cost for the function other than your meal and drinks.

For any questions, please email Linda West – linda.west@westernbulldogs.com.au

Community march to Mars

Facebook event | Google Calendar

Marshalling at Selkirk Stadium from 11:20am, march commences at 11:40am.

The Pride March to Pride Match is back, Ballarat style!

This is a community march celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride and community inclusion, from Selkirk Oval to Mars Stadium for AFLW Pride Round.

Every year, the Western Bulldogs host the AFLW Pride Match, a day that recognises the LGBTIQA+ Community’s contribution to the game. From local footy players, to volunteers, to loyal fans, to professional players, the LGBTIQA+ Community has given so much to growing women’s footy.

In 2020 we marked our third Pride Match with the amazing Footscray Pride March. With over 600 people turning out to march, we made a commitment, we’ve gotta do this again.

Then a bunch of stuff happened in 2020 and 2021 but we’re back for Round 2!

Marshalling at Selkirk Stadium from 11:20am (on 3×3 outdoor courts)

March commences at 11:40am.

Following footpath along Norman Street, then right along Creswick Road (see map below)

Participants to enter via Gate 1 (will require to have valid ticket to match)

1km walk in total (approx. 15min walk)

Maribyrnong Council’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group – applications close this Sunday 5th December

Local council definitely affects your life, from swimming pools and libraries, to child care, public safety… and the approval process running a Pride March (ahem).

Maribyrnong City Council is establishing an LGBTIQA+ Community Advisory Group to advise Council on the needs of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTIQA+) in Maribyrnong.

Find out more and get involved here.

The Group will also support the development, implementation and review of the proposed LGBTIQA+ Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025 which will formally establish Council’s role in advocating for the equality and inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ people within the wider context of the Maribyrnong community.

You can share your thoughts on the LGBTIQA+ Strategy and Action Plan here.

Membership

Maribyrnong Council are looking for up to 10 community members and up to three representatives from community organisations, agencies or service providers working with LGBTIQA+ people, families and communities in Maribyrnong.

Applicants must have a connection with the City of Maribyrnong and a demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to gender and sexual orientation diversity, equality, and inclusion at a local, state, national or international level. They should also have an understanding of needs and risk factors impacting local LGBTIQA+ people, families and communities in Maribyrnong.

A broad representation of the community will be sought, based on ensuring a balance of gender, sexual orientation, age range, disability, cultural diversity, and faith backgrounds.

Membership is for the duration of the current Council term (until November 2024). A minimum of three meetings will be held throughout the year, either online or at the Footscray Town Hall.

For more information please refer to the LGBTIQA+ Community Advisory Group Terms of Reference under the Important Documents tab.

How to express your interest

Please complete the form below by Sunday 5 December 2021 at 5pm. If you are having trouble accessing the form, you can download an electronic copy and email it to diversity@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Meet Up

Bulldog Pride is meeting up in person again!

Hello! Are you gagging to see people again?

Very nervous?

Just out of the habit? That’s ok.

We’re meeting in the open air to say hello, and see how we’re feeling about the 2022 season.

Place: Bristow Reserve, 136 Pilgrim St, Seddon VIC 3011

Time: 6.30pm – 8pm

Day: Wednesday 1st December

Click attending on Facebook.

Come say hi – Bristow Reserve is nice and close to West Footscray station.

We’ll bring pizza and some drinks (with non alcoholic options as always).

Bulldog Pride Update – June 2021

Put some red and white into your lockdown blues: join the Bulldog Pride Facebook group.
If you’re in lockdown, or you live far from Melbourne and are disconnected from the hot spot of Bulldog love that is the west, you can chat about games on game night – or even see if someone would like to go on a COVID safe walk – in our Facebook group.

Pride Bar is selling our merch now because they are lovely legends.
So Bulldog Pride is run by volunteers, and while running inclusive social events and advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion with the AFL, WBFC and local council is big job that we love doing…. running an online shop wasn’t.

So the LEGENDS at Pride of our Footscray Community Bar are helping out by selling our merch on their website and handling all the postage and admin for us. Isn’t that lovely?
Check out Pride Bar’s online merch store
Swim night was a success!
Thanks so much to everyone who came to the Trans & Queer Swim Night. It was a really lovely night where people of all ages and genders came to enjoy our local pool in a safe and welcoming environment, with gender neutral toilets and many wearing their pronouns on their arms in zinc!

Lots of people struck up conversations with people they hadn’t met before, and it had a celebratory vibe. We hope you felt similarly.

The aquatic centre estimates that between 50 -70 people came, and more called to give their apologies but requested it be a repeat event. We’re going to chat to the council to try and make that happen.

What other kinds of events would you like to do through Bulldog Pride when restrictions ease?Please take the super quick survey if you haven’t already.

Stay safe, and please reach out if you need help during lockdown.

In red, white and blue,
Amy & the Bulldog Pride team

TRANS AND QUEER SWIM NIGHT!

Let’s celebrate International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia at the pool!

Maribyrnong Council in collaboration with Bulldog Pride are hosting an LGBTIQA+ inclusive swim night for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia.

WHEN: Saturday 15 May, 6.30pm – 9pm.WHERE: Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, 1 Aquatic Dr, Maribyrnong VIC 3032 (next to Highpoint Shopping Centre)TICKETS: This is a ticketed event, and it’s cheaper than regular pool admission. Buy your tickets from the Eventbrite here.

Adult 16 years plus – $5
Children 5 to 15 years – $2
4 years and under – Free
Family (2 x adult and 2 x children or 1 x adult and 3 x children) – $10

If you don’t have the cash right now, please get in touch and Bulldog Pride can cover your admission, we love making sporty spaces more inclusive, and we’d rather you be there!Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre will be opening up their facilities for people of all ages, identities and abilities, to enjoy a swim and some socialising in a non-judgemental, safe environment.

All gender toilets and change rooms will be available, and Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre staff have undergone inclusion training to ensure everyone can feel welcome at the event.

Queer, questioning, allies, friends and family are welcome
This is a family friendly, alcohol free event, with pool activities provided for kids.
All regular Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre safety rules will apply, and there will be thorough Covid safe practices employed on the night.


Buy your tickets now

MEDIA RELEASE: 400 community members turn out for first Footscray Pride March

Barkly Street in Footscray was turned into a sea of rainbows on Saturday as 400 community members took to the streets for the inaugural Footscray Pride March. 

The march was organised by Bulldog Pride, the LGBTIQA+ coterie group for the Western Bulldogs Football Club, to mark the third AFLW Pride Match at Whitten Oval. Marchers walked almost the length of Footscray from the Nicholson Street Mall to the Whitten Oval, led by the Dykes on Bikes and Bulldog Pride members. 

The march was joined by local bars, Councillors from Maribyrnong Council, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and local football clubs. Drag Performers representing the Pride of Our Footscray Community Bar dotted the march, proving an entertaining sight for bystanders. The march was welcomed into the Whitten Oval by a snuff puppet from the Footscray Drill Hall waving a rainbow flag. 

Overall the reception from the Footscray community was overwhelmingly positive, with many securing outdoor seats in the local pubs to cheer on the march as it moved down Barkly Street. People in their cars seemed largely unbothered by the traffic delay, with many joining in the fun by honking their horns in time with the Bulldogs chants from the crowd. Given the success of the event, the organisers have expressed a desire to run another march to mark the Pride Match again next year. 

Quotes attributable to Bulldog Pride President, Amy Fabry-Jenkins: 

“This is the first time we’ve ever done this and I never dreamed we would get such a positive response. My heart is full and I think many LGBTIQ westsiders feel the same.”

“Today I’ve met queer people seeking asylum and trans teenagers at their first ever Pride March, this has been a truly special day for our community”

Quotes attributable to Bulldog Pride Treasurer, Wil Stracke: 

“When I moved to the inner-west twenty-five years ago, I could have never imagined that one day we would take over the streets for a Pride March. The idea of a Pride March in Footscray sounded terrifying to me at first, and today shows how far we’ve come.”

Media Contact: Amy Fabry-Jenkins, 0424 698 694, bulldogprideau@gmail.com

MEDIA RELEASE

FIRST EVER FOOTSCRAY PRIDE MARCH THIS SATURDAY

The AFLW’s Pride Match between Carlton & Western Bulldogs at the Whitten Oval is in its third year, and this year rainbows will take over the rest of Footscray, with Bulldog Pride organising the first ever Footscray Pride March. 

The march will assemble in the Footscray CBD and make its way down the main street to Whitten Oval, led by the Dykes on Bikes and drag performers from the local queer bar. The focus of the event will be to showcase the pride and diversity of the LGBTIQA+ community in the western suburbs of Melbourne. 

The AFLW Pride Match attracts thousands of attendees every year, many who have never attended a professional Australian rules football match. The game was spearheaded by the Western Bulldogs football club and their LGBTIQA+ coterie group, Bulldog Pride, as a way to promote diversity and inclusion in the game. 

Where: Nicholson Street Mall, Footscray

When: Saturday 22 February, 2020. Gathering 12.30, marching to start at 1pm

Quotes attributable to Bulldog Pride President Amy Fabry-Jenkins: 

“Being Bulldog is about sticking together through adversity. We’re proud to be a part of a club that is proud of us, and that has been so supportive of our work with LGBTIQA+ fans”

“We chose to march down Barkly Street because it links up all of Footscray’s major icons, finishing at the heart of Footscray, Whitten Oval. It’s where the Footscray Bulldogs paraded after they saved the club in 1989.”

“I grew up in Footscray and have made a home here with my spouse. The Pride March is about celebrating the home that many LGBTIQA+ people have built in the western suburbs

Contact: Amy Fabry-Jenkins 0424 698 694

FOOTSCRAY’S FIRST PRIDE MARCH!

(as far as we know)

The first ever AFLW Pride Match was held at Whitten Oval three years ago and we made history in more ways than one (one being it was the first pride match, the other being Brooke Lochland’s ridiculous goal streak being the highest in AFLW history) – this year we’re holding a community pride march from Nicholson St Mall to Whitten Oval to start off the game with a gathering of community and showing of pride.

Date: Saturday 22nd February

Time: Gathering from 12.30, marching at 1pm. (Game starts at 3.10pm)

Where: We will be gathering at Nicholson St Mall to march down Hopkins/Barkly St, Footscray towards the Whitten Oval.

Who: We are a local community group creating a safe space for the LGBTIQA+ community and allies to enjoy the footy. We are a volunteer run group and an official coterie group of the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Invite your friends to this is the Facebook event.

This event is being organised by Bulldog Pride volunteers.

Any questions please get in touch via this email or contact the Bulldog Pride President – Amy Fabry-Jenkins on her mobile 0424 698 694.

Yoohoo – are you our new committee member?

Bulldog Pride is a motley crew of Bulldogs fans who identify as LGBTIQA+. Some don’t even live in the west! One of our long serving committee members has put in years of energy, and now her daughter’s footy team is lucky enough to have that energy – so we need a new committee member!

Come along to our next committee meeting to see what it’s all about at Littlefoot Bar on Hopkins St, Footscray this Monday 17th Feb at 7pm.

Check out the Facebook event for updates, or call Amy (Bulldog Pride President) on 0424 698 694 if you’d like to have a chat beforehand or to find us at Littlefoot!