EVENTS like the upcoming Frolic Festival are putting Ballarat on the map as not only an LGBTQIA+ friendly city, but also one that is inclusive of rainbow families.
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For Fleur Campbell and Renee Jennings, moving from Melbourne to Ballarat with their young daughter Emmylou last June was a big step.
Ms Jennings was always a little reluctant of moving to Ballarat as she wasn't sure about how her same-sex family would be treated in a regional area.
After being invited to attend the gay bush dance several years ago, where she learnt all about Frolic Festival and its vision, she realised there were many LGBTQIA+ people living in regional communities.
The family decided to move to the city around the time the marriage equality vote was being tallied, when 70 per cent of Ballarat voted 'yes' to changing the Marriage Act. This affirmed their decision.
Soon after moving to the city the couple ran into an old friend, Benjamin Ashe, who directs Frolic Festival and encouraged them to get involved.
Since moving, all of Ms Jennings' worries have dissipated - she has found Ballarat to be very inclusive and loves living here, while becoming involved with the organisation of the festival has been a fantastic way for the family to be involved with the community and connect with new people.
Both women are now on the festival committee - Ms Jennings as the coordinator of the more than 30 volunteers and Ms Campbell looking after sponsorship and grants.
Being part of Frolic has really cemented us feeling like we belong in Ballarat. We have made so many friends through being involved in the festival.
- Fleur Campbell
Since its inception three years ago the festival has been a vehicle to provide positive visibility for LGBTQIA+ people in regional Victoria and to promote acceptance of the community.
It has and continues to connect not only newcomers to Ballarat, including retirees, but also others who have been socially isolated or unable to connect.
"As people's sense of community grows bigger, people have more confidence to then be visible and be themselves within Ballarat. That's certainly the case for me," Ms Jennings said.
"I think it just makes people feel proud, supported, and like they're not alone and that therefore translates to people having more confidence to be themselves."
There is a family focus on this year's festival, with a number of family and child friendly events - from rainbow story time at Ballarat Library to party princesses and a whole day of kids activities during the carnival day.
The rainbow story time session will be hosted by performer Sarah Ward, also known as Yana Alana, who will read stories and sing songs about families coming in all different shapes and sizes.
Behind both women's passion to create that positive visibility is their daughter, who will start school next year.
"It's really important to us that Emmylou grows up in a place where difference is celebrated and that her family being different is not a bad thing," Ms Campbell said.
The festival, which will run for a third year on November 7 until 13, is exponentially bigger this year and is expected to continue to grow.
"While we don't envisage we will ever become a ChillOut Festival, we think it's really important that the community is recognised and celebrated in regional Victoria," Ms Campbell said.
"We are so committed to reducing social isolation and bringing the community on board through events that cater to people from all walks of life."
Visit the Frolic Festival website for more information or to read the program.
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