I’m Nicola, the head wrangler for Safer Pastures. I use she/her pronouns, and I live on Gadigal land.

I love being gay, I love our community, and I love going out and having a fun cute time at queer bars, events and festivals. I love Mardi Gras. I love having a drink and a dance with my friends, and making new ones. Unfortunately, like too many of us, I’ve had some pretty shitty experiences which have made it hard to enjoy myself, even in places where I should feel safe and free.

After talking to other people about my own experiences of sexual harassment and assault in gay bars and at queer events, including at Mardi Gras, I was both comforted and upset to hear how many had similar stories.

Of course, every space should be a safe space. But it’s especially awful to feel violated in a place where you should feel most safe.

Safer Pastures was initially formed as a community group in 2023 to send a clear message that queer spaces should be safe spaces - ones where we can express ourselves, celebrate our identities and have fun, without sexual harassment and assault.

We marched together for the first time at Mardi Gras 2024, and I’m so grateful that we’ve been granted a place to march again in 2025. We’re excited for this amazing opportunity to continue to show the broader community we can have a fun, wild (west) time, without groping anyone non-consentually. If you agree, come ride with us!