Article written by Sera-Lyn Terare.
The Queen’s Ball, now in its 57th year and one of the longest continuous running LGBTIQ+ events in the world was held in Brisbane over the weekend on the June 16, 2018. The Queen’s Ball originated in Mount Tamborine during a time with homosexuality was still illegal in Queensland and ever since its inception, the event has continued to thrive as each year passes. Which has allowed this event and the events surrounding Brisbane Pride to become a pinnacle event on Brisbane’s LGBTIQ+ calendar each year.
In 2017, the Queen’s Ball was the biggest event of the year, with its recent marriage equality postal survey proving that the majority of Australia believes that Love is Love and that everyone should be able to marry the one they love regardless of their sexual orientation. This year’s theme encompasses that, The Future is Fierce – both a statement of moving forward and an opportunity to provide some excellent costume inspiration which will also be contested as ‘Belle of the Ball’.
This year, the hosts are two vocal and influential trans/non- binary activists. Neo Zisin – the author of Finding Nevo: How I confused everyone will be joined by local activist and representative of Out of Australia, Paige Wilcox. Among the line-up of the ball, the night’s opening act was performed by 10 of Brisbane’s finest drag performers who delivered an amazing performance. The next to take to the main stage is Brisbane’s power diva Chrislyn Hamilton who ignited the dance floor and the faces of the crowd. Through-out the night, a local trans DJ and nominee for DJ of the year, DJ Beksis kept the night pumping until the very end.
The Queen’s Ball is where the community celebrates and recognises the achievements in Brisbane’s LGBTIQ Community with seventeen community awards on offer this year. The nominees were announced at the beginning of the year with voting closing the week before the Ball commenced.
The Awards that were presented during the night included: Activist of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Artist of the Year, Young Achievement Award, First Nations Leadership and Engagement Award, and the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. These are just a few of the Awards that were delivered.
This event catered for VIP ticket holders who were treated to a gourmet two course meal and four-hour standard beverage packing. They were also treated to a special one-hour function prior to the main event which included canapes and drinks with surprise entertainment that was hosted by two of Brisbane’s most powerhouse drag queens, Miss Synthetique and the 2017 Drag Performer of the Year, Candy Surprise.
The Queens Ball is a major fundraiser for the upcoming Brisbane Pride Festival with proceeds from each event distributed to the Kal Collins Memorial Fund for further distribution to groups, individuals and organisations that are working towards creating a better mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTIQ community.
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