Country Town Pride (ATOM Study Guide)

Country Town Pride follows the inspirational story of Holly Conroy, a transgender woman from country NSW, as she bids to stage a Mardi Gras in her hometown of Wagga Wagga – Australia’s number one Christian town. As she herself undergoes gender reassignment surgery to complete her transition, Holly has to confront Christian priests, conservative politicians, her homophobic neighbour and even her own brother as she attempts to pull off the first-ever pride parade in this conservative stronghold.

Country Town Pride also follows the changing face of Wagga Wagga, a country town that has been staunchly conservative for generations but is slowly changing: the Marriage Equality vote in 2017, the end of the Liberals' sixty–year rule in 2018 and the Mardi Gras in 2019 all point to a considerable shift in attitudes. 

For Holly, the Mardi Gras is about acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community in regional Australia, especially given she herself considered taking her own life, as so many in her community tragically do. With an official green light from Wagga Wagga City Council, sponsors, supporters and floats ready to roll, will the Wagga locals turn out in force? Or will the town's Christians and conservatives rain on Holly's parade?

Curriculum Links:

• Civics and Citizenship (Year 9)
• English (Years 9 and 10)
• Health and Physical Education (Years 9 and 10)
• Personal, Social and Community Health
• History (Year 10)
• Science (Year 10)
• The Modern World and Australia: Depth Study 2 Rights and Freedoms 1945 – Present