Under bright skies and surrounded by a sea of rainbows, unicorns and shirtless festival‑goers soaking up the warmth, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 broadcast live from Alexandra Gardens for Midsumma Festival’s iconic Carnival Day. Among the day’s standout conversations was an energetic and heartfelt interview with Paul Horwell, CEO of the Victorian Pride Centre, joined by Sam Chew, the Centre’s marketing manager.
The atmosphere was buzzing from the outset. Hosts Jason and Tess painted a vivid picture of the morning, sunny, scorching, loud and unapologetically queer. Tess, who is blind, proudly described her cane decorated with rainbow tassels and pom poms, a symbol of the intersection between disability and queer identity. It was the perfect segue into a conversation about community, representation and the vital work of the Victorian Pride Centre.
Paul explained that the Pride Centre serves as Victoria’s only dedicated hub for LGBTQIA+ communities, a striking architectural space home to 14 resident organisations including Switchboard, Melbourne Queer Film Festival and JOY. It is both a community refuge and a place of essential services, offering clinical support through Harbor Health and the Monash Gender Clinic, as well as hosting an array of events year‑round.
The Centre’s story is one of determination. After the City of Melbourne moved to sell the Bourke Street building that housed several queer organisations, elders and advocates rallied to secure a permanent home. With support from the City of Port Phillip and state funding, the Pride Centre opened its doors five years ago, quickly becoming a beacon of identity, resilience and celebration.
Accessibility, Paul noted, has been central to the Centre’s design. With wide aisles, clear walkways, audio‑guided tours and Auslan‑interpreted experiences. Braille wayfinding is next on the agenda and Paul shared it is firmly on his “hit list” for the year.
Looking ahead to this Midsumma season, Sam highlighted a packed program. There’s a Pride March after‑party, the vibrant Y Series pop‑up bar and the rooftop Chemist Warehouse Party complete with giveaways and brand activations. One of the most daring events, Plunge for Pride, will see Paul, Commissioner Joe Ball and even celebrity names like Mitch Brown abseil four stories into the Centre’s atrium to raise crucial funds.
Paul and Sam closed with an invitation: the Pride Centre is for everyone, “open hearts, open minds, open doors.” Whether volunteering, donating or simply stopping by to say hello, every visitor adds to the beating heart of this community landmark.
Midsumma Festival runs until February 8. Vision Australia Radio is a proud access and inclusion partner to the annual festival.
Hear, or read, the interview here:
