For the first time in the 24 year history of Brisbane's annual gay pride festival, Brisbane City Council will advertise it on 50 of the city's buses.
Brisbane Pride Festival, the city's annual month-long celebration of all things lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersexual and queer, kicked off with an official launch last Friday, where it was revealed the council would promote it for the first time on a selection of the city's bus fleet.
Festival president Pete Black welcomed the move, describing it as a "genuine good faith gesture" on behalf of the council.
But he acknowledged City Hall had plenty of damage to repair with the LGBITQ community.
Though the council financially supports the festival by way of a three-year, $21,000 sponsorship deal, twin furores earlier this year have caused significant harm to the council's oft-espoused inclusiveness goal.
In February, the community was up in arms after council lifestyle chairman Krista Adams deemed a publicity poster for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival that depicted two men kissing too racy for the city's bus stops.
The following week, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk declined a request from Brisbane's LGBTIQ action group to follow the lead of other Australian municipalities and fly the internationally recognised queer pride symbol, the rainbow flag, at City Hall on the International Day Against Homophobia.
"I think the council accepts that there have been some challenges and bumps in the road in the last 12 months and I think you can take this as a sign of good faith they are trying to repair that relationship," Mr Black said.
"I think it is fair to say those incidents did contribute to a feeling of mistrust that perhaps exists in some parts of the LGBTIQ community.
"In Brisbane I think the council acknowledges that and is trying to repair that relationship."
Councillor Vicki Howard, whose Central Ward hosts much of the Brisbane Pride Festival activity, said the council would pay $650 to advertise it on the buses.
"Not only will these advertisements promote this fantastic community event, but it will also place the LGBTIQ community front of mind for Brisbane residents this September," Cr Howard said.
"As local councillor for Central Ward, I am proud to support Brisbane Pride 2014."
Mr Black said he hoped the advertisements would encourage all Brisbane residents to join the celebration of diversity.
"It's another really positive example of the support the Brisbane City Council is showing for the Pride Festival and it will also help, we hope, to get the message out beyond the LGBTIQ community and reach the rest of the community," he said.
"We encourage them to come along and to get involved."
An array of events are planned on the Brisbane Pride calendar with the flagship event the fair day on Sunday, September 20, which starts with a rally march down Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley and culminates in a family fair day at New Farm Park.
"It is very important to us, to try to reach out to the wider community, so we encourage everyone to come along," he said.
"It really does show and highlight the diversity and warmth of our community."
As for the council's attempts at damage repair, however, there is still a long road ahead – albeit one that is off to a good start.
"All these incidents highlight is it is an ongoing process," Mr Black said.
"There is no single gesture or act or policy decision that can totally destroy or salvage the relationship, it is an ongoing process of support and working together.
"One step doesn't right any wrongs but it is a gesture we certainly appreciate and are grateful for."
To find out what events are happening as part of Brisbane Pride Festival 2014, go to brisbanepridefestival.com.au
