Mid Canterbury’s only pride month event will be taking place this weekend at Hemsworth estate, and its’ organisers say there is a need for more events like it.

The estate owners, Rebecca Hulse and Jema Smith are hoping to see more inclusive events in the community in the future.

“I think this is just the beginning, and we’d love to see it turn into something that is bigger than just us, in fact we will be pushing on all the local businesses and the council to get this more than just something that benefits us,” Hulse said.

The couple were asked by Christchurch Pride last March if they would host an event for pride month, but with little time to prepare they held off until this year.

They want the Ashburton community to be loud about what they want, so that there is a space for the rainbow community.

“Yes we might have considered doing a pride event if we hadn’t been asked, but it’s definitely pushed us to make sure that we’re doing it – and we are part of the community ourselves.

“So I also think there is this thing of if the community doesn’t demand it, and ask for what they actually want, then these events don’t happen.

“If our Ashburton community wants more of this then it’s time to demand it.

“Give us your feedback, tell us what you want, we’re very happy to go to the council and say hey, we’ve just had an event, we’ve had so much feedback, and this is what they want for the future,” Hulse said.

Just a stones throw away from Christchurch, where pride month is booming, Mid Canterbury has a lack of events that promote representation and inclusion for the rainbow community.

“There’s no places to go or there isn’t a massive sense of community at the moment for the gay community. So, I think that is apparent.

“There’s no place to go and celebrate it, that’s the thing,” Smith said.

But Ashburton is no stranger to inclusion; there are often events, such as Multicultural Bite and the noodle market which promote and showcase the many cultures that make up our community.

“I don’t think we need a month, but I do think that in a smaller community what it does, is show visibility.

“It’s wonderful that we have the noodle market and the multicultural bite because it shows us these communities are here, they’re our neighbours, they are part of our society here.

“So I think having that is not only great for the actual community itself to meet new people and to feel like you're in a safe and welcoming place, but to also show the community that these are your neighbors, these are your workmates, these are your fellow rate payers,” Hulse said.  

Their event, a famed high tea, will be taking place next weekend on March 15, and will draw heavily on the history of pride.

“Going beyond the rainbow, it is all high tea themed to do with historical parts of pride. So, stonewall scones for example, or lavender marriage tea cake, Oscar Wilde cucumber sandwiches, those kinds of things. So really kind of delving into the nerdy side of our history,” Hulse said.

“We want to show how pride has become what it is, and support that historical side of it. Because it’s great that things are so much more open now, but it wasn’t that long ago that we were going through all those struggles,” Smith said.

“Unless we continue to remember that and keep on top of using our voice and representing ourselves it’s very easily that all those rights can be taken away just as easily as they were given,” Hulse said.

By Kate Paterson