One of those alternatives will be provided by educator Katherine Wolfgramme, who transitioned 32 years ago and created a trans awareness program for corporations.

Gay bobsledder and rugby player Simon Dunn, along with Katherine Wolfgramme, a former Les Girls performer who now runs corporate trans education events, will both take part in P&O’s gay cruises.
Credit:peter rae

“I am very excited – I have never performed on the high seas. I am always covered in Camilla and I have found a cruise ship is the natural habitat for Camilla,” she said, referencing her brightly colored kaftan by the Sydney-based designer.

Wolfgrams, 50, performed in the legendary cabaret show, Les Girls, in the late 1990s.

“I put it to them that I should turn my [corporate education] program into more of a show. I said, ‘why don’t I do the number I performed in Les Girls and tell the story of my life in slides and turn it into a one-hour show?’ I thought it would be much more receptive and much more glamorous.”

Katherine Wolfgramme in 1999 during the Les Girls era.

The local LGBTQ+ population is 1.4 million and its annual purchasing power is $108 billion, according to analysts LGBT Capital.

P&O Cruises has been interacting with the LGBTQ+ market for quite some time. In 2017, the company supported the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage. Next year, cruises will depart from Auckland, Sydney and Brisbane.

P&O Cruises partnerships manager Chris Rich said the company had decided to award 10 couples a free legally binding marriage ceremony as part of a $3750 prize, which also included a dedicated wedding co-ordinator and photographer, wedding cake, commemorative marriage certificate, accommodation and meals , spa treatment and complementary take-home robes.

Bob Downe will host weddings aboard the P&O Pride Cruises.

Bob Downe will host weddings aboard the P&O Pride Cruises.Credit:

“Over the past two years, it has been challenging for any engaged couple to wed, with COVID-19 impacting nuptial plans or couples affected by last-minute cancellations and reschedules,” he said.

“Guests on the Pride cruise will be able to celebrate the themes of love, compassion, respect and understanding through lectures, educational and spiritual events, same-sex marriages and renewal of vows.”

P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Cruises, which operates pride cruises overseas. For several years, the US-based Atlantis group would operate a New Zealand-to-Sydney cruise for the Mardi Gras festival, but these are the first cruises run by an Australian-based operator.

“Why shouldn’t we have it, we deserve them. Just because we are in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean we should miss out,” Wolfgramme said.

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