By Luke Voogt
Geelong lip sync battlers and fashionistas will have a chance to strut their stuff in an online purple extravaganza tonight.
Gender and Sexuality Project (GASP) participant and event MC Annelise Hardman invited Geelong locals aged 12 to 25 to get involved.
“We’re just getting everyone to dress up in their best purple gear,” the 21-year-old Newcomb local said.
The free online celebration for Wear It Purple Day, presented by council’s youth development unit, features a lip sync battle, a live DJ and an online fashion parade.
“We’re getting people to put their cameras on and strut their stuff as if they’re on a catwalk.”
Annelise described the event as a welcome break from studying social work at Deakin University and helping businesses navigate COVID-19 while working from home for Business Victoria.
“I think it would be a great opportunity to meet some new people and get involved in some fun activities after being bored at home,” she said.
“We’ve (Business Victoria) had a lot of people ring up struggling, so I’m pretty lucky in that sense.”
Tonight’s event, beginning at 5pm, would help keep Geelong’s young LGBTIQA+ community connected, Annelise said.
She became involved with GASP in year 11 to find a community of “likeminded people” in Geelong, she said.
“I was thinking about the fact that I wasn’t ‘straight’ and I was really confused.
“I didn’t know what to do. It was great to get into a community where I fit in.
“It’s taken me the amount of time I’ve been at GASP to recognise who I am and what I am.”
Wear it Purple is an organisation that strives to foster supportive, safe and empowering environments for young “rainbow” people.
For event details search ‘wear it purple Geelong’ at www.eventbrite.com.au
Luke Voogt
