By Nina Pasqualini
Nestled between Vietnamese restaurants, industry, and the Footscray Market lies Pride of Our Footscray (Pride). This unassuming queer bar has become a beacon of the LGBTQIA+ community and nightlife in the inner west.
Pride is famous for its drag shows, welcoming both local acts and international stars, including queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
CEO Matt O’Keefe runs the bar with the help of 200 community contributors. Drag Queen and ‘gorgeously camp’ Footscray icon Melissa Intent organised an all-trans show to celebrate ‘the intersection of hard rock and sexuality’ which I captured in these images.
The magic of Pride is its ability to bridge gaps between queer people and the broader Footscray community, explains Matt. “That’s why this place is worth it”.
Pride is the only dance floor in the area open until 3 am and people of all kinds walk up its rainbow steps. “Pride is where many people see a trans person or a drag queen for the first time,” Matt says. Straight or queer, local or newcomer, 18 or 80, everybody is welcome.
Nina Pasqualini is a second-year Journalism student at RMIT with a keen interest in photography, community issues and global politics.
