As the crowds rolled into Big Gay Day 2017 at The Wickham, the air filled with excitement, joy and pride.
It's Brisbane's answer to Mardi Gras, and this year it was just as colourful and vibrant as ever. Extravagant drag queens scattered through the crowd, people towered above the ground in stilts, and there was every kind of outfit imaginable.
Drink booths and food trucks lined the back street of The Wickham with options of delicious nachos, sausages, beers, ciders and more. The main stage up the end of the street was lit up for the whole day, giving music-lovers the chance to dance their pants off for as long as they wanted. Revellers took in the sounds of DJ Arsee and the stunning vocals of Ellen Reed to start the day, before the beats of DJ Sveta and Estee Louder kicked in.
At 3:30pm, a stunning group of fierce drag queens took to the stage for 'Mega Drag'. A vivacious display of lip-sync expertise, the performance started with ABBA's 'Super Trooper' before the beat began and the performers sprung into action, triggering applause and cheers from the adoring observers.
For the rest of the day, the building crowds were treated to the music of DJ Citizen Jane, Yolanda Be Cool, the steamy Hustlers show and SexShooters.
It was then time for the most anticipated acts: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner Sharon Needles and 'X-Factor' pop princess Nat Conway. The two finished off the massive event perfectly; Sharon delivering her creepy, crafty stage presence with expertise and Nat Conway bursting with pop perfection surrounded by scantily-clad dancers and thumping beats.
Spending the day around people from all walks of life was a wonderful experience. The LGBT+ community and beyond came together to celebrate inclusiveness, vibrance, tolerance and love in a music-filled spectacular of monumental proportions.
Here's to next year, and the many years after that!
