IAM Update: Midsumma Festival 2025
On the first Sunday back at school for 2025, a collection of perseverant Mac.Rob students and teachers braved the heat together at the Midsumma Pride March, showing their support for inclusion and diversity.
The Midsumma festival first ran in 1988, after the Victorian AIDS Council proposed the idea, suggesting that the gay community needed a moral boost after some of the worst years of the AIDS pandemic.
The Midsumma Pride March has been running since 1996, as a day to raise awareness, show pride and acknowledge that we still have a long way to go before we reach equality.
This year’s march was a vibrant display of solidarity, with students from various schools and members of the general public joining in to celebrate and advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. There were some genuinely spectacular costumes, which visibly had a lot of hard work and thought put into their creation. From a marvellously pink Princess Peach to a fabulous Drag Queen straight from the runway, it was a fusion of colour from the start to finish of Fitzroy street.
While waiting for the march to start in the readily increasing temperature, we were approached by a street interview curious about why we came. Though initially caught off guard, it was a nice opportunity to share our reasons for deciding to march and continue to uphold both the school’s and our own commitment to supporting inclusivity no matter what.
And while we moved to our designated section on the oval and made some final touches to our face gems, a kind-hearted participant offered us some handmade bracelets, which we gladly accepted. And as we all moved out of the oval in the scorching heat, spirits remained high (and the vibes pumping) as we made our way down Fitzroy street to the Catani gardens.
A fitting way to end the march, the Catani gardens offered a place to cool down and of course, eat ice-cream!!
I think the Midsumma Pride March serves as an annual reminder and reflection that the fight for equality is far from over. But it also shows that no matter the state of current world events, there are people around that will always support you, and support a future where everyone can be their authentic selves.
Mayumdi, IAM Committee Member
Amélie and Tivona, IAM Co-Captains