Broome short-listed for Australia’s biggest LGBTQIA+ pride landmark, The Big Rainbow

The town which plays host to Australia’s most remote pride festival could soon also feature the country’s largest LGBTQI+ landmark, the Big Rainbow. Unveiled at Circular Quay on Mardi Gras weekend earlier this year, the 14 metre tall, six metre wide Big Rainbow landmark is now seeking a regional home, with four towns shortlisted for the final vote. The landmark builds on Tinder’s continued commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia. During the initial public submission period, which launched during Sydney’s Mardi Gras events and ran until April 20, Tinder received thousands of submissions from every corner of the country. Among those towns is the pristine shores of Broome — the only WA finalists. It’s now up to Australia to weigh in on which of these four finalists is the preferred home of Australia’s largest symbol of pride and solidarity with the nation’s LGBTQIA+ community. Regional towns across the country have already been campaigning hard to bring the Big Rainbow to them and it’s time for the rest of the nation to join them. Broome Pride Inc president Lucy Falcocchio said she encouraged everyone to get behind voting for the Big Rainbow to come to the Kimberley. “This is a testament to the community and how welcoming and inclusive it is,” she said. “Broome has come together to absolutely smash the stereotypes surrounding how LGBTQIA+ communities are treated in regional WA, and I can’t think of a better place for this installation to be set. “Broome really is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.” Queer Agency co-director Brooke Brady said she was ecstatic to find a regional home for the landmark, while Tinder also earmarked $100,000 to be donated to regional community organisations to support programmes for the regional LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s encouraging to see that so many Australians are passionate about supporting the queer community and we hope that everyone who submitted a regional town votes again to help find the Big Rainbow a loving, regional home,” she said. Voting is now open, and closes on June 30. Victoria’s Daylesford, the Northern Territory’s Katherine and New South Wales’ Hay are the other three finalists.