Australia's longest-running HIV charity, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, is entering a new chapter.

The event, which is billed as the largest LGBTQIA+ festival of its kind in Europe, is set to take over Bondi Beach in February during Mardi Gras, though it is not connected to the organisation that runs the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Ultimately, and perhaps sadly, creating spaces where people feel included, safe and comfortable sometimes means drawing lines that exclude others.

CEO Michael Lewis and owner Kevin Du-Val of the soon-to-be-launched gay club on Oxford Street, which was initially set to be named after lesbian Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony” song – despite its target demographic being gay men – have apologised for offence in an open letter to the community.

Pop superstar Kesha has been confirmed as the headliner for Mighty Hoopla Sydney, which will take place at Bondi Beach in February during the Mardi Gras festival.

News of a new Sydney club called Pink Pony initially gave lesbians like me hope for a venue where we could truly feel at home, writes Isabella Freeland (@bellabeenaa).