WorldPride 2023 will be held in Sydney, InterPride has announced, marking the 50th Anniversary of Australia’s first Gay Pride Week.

InterPride is the international association of Pride organisations, and it voted on Sunday, October 20, at its Annual General Meeting in Athens on the bids for 2023 WorldPride.

Sydney’s bid, submitted by Sydney Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras, focused on LGBT+ rights in the Asia Pacific region where many countries see extreme violence and discrimination against LGBT+ people.

In 2014, Brunei introduced a law allowing death by stoning for same-sex sexual activity, although it was later revoked.

The bid said that WorldPride in Sydney, with the theme of “fearless”, would “benefit those communities who need it most; neighbouring countries where LGBTQI communities experience some of the worst human rights abuses in the world”.

There have also been some major recent successes in the region, which WorldPride Sydney hopes to build upon, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Taiwan. 

2023 will now be the first time a city in the Southern hemisphere has hosted the international LGBT+ event.

The bid highlighted the importance of a Southern Hemisphere WorldPride: “It presents a unique challenge to the WorldPride movement, asking it to engage with and celebrate the many unique, culturally diverse expressions of genders and sexualities found in Oceania and Asia on an unprecedented scale.

“From the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sista Girls and Brutha Boys, to the Fa’afafine and Fa’afatama from Samoa, the Fakaleiti from Tonga, the Kathoey from Thailand, and the Hijra from India.

“WorldPride in Sydney will be a global first, providing a unique opportunity for the Prides of the world to meet with these diverse communities and for them to be seen, be heard and be included.”

New South Wales minister for tourism Stuart Ayres told ABC that WorldPride could generate $664 million for the city, and it has been estimated that the event could draw around one million visitors.

He added: “Sydney is a truly cosmopolitan city with an amazing harbour, delicious food and beverage, world-class transport and a proud history of celebrating diversity.