Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch teamed up to kill the proposed February vote, despite some arguing it would postpone marriage equality for years. 

Hume Phoenix female convener Toni Johnson, who helped organise the fair, said she was relieved the plebiscite had been blocked, and argued it would have exposed the Border’s vulnerable to a damaging campaign.

“They knew it would turn to hate speech and that was proved in Ireland. Moving forward, we will push for a free vote in parliament,” she said.

Labor remains committed to a parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage, which is what the Border’s LGBTIQ community hopes for as it would pass easily.

Some have accused opponents of same-sex marriage of wanting a plebiscite because, if it was voted down, it would put the issue to rest in the long-term.

Activists at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras annual general meeting on Saturday appealed to the board to not invite Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull back to next year’s event after his ongoing support for the plebiscite. 

It was the Sydney Madri Gras which gave health worker Teddy Cook the idea to bring something similar to QEII square. 

There was live music, food stalls, mental health treatment expos, free sexual health tests and even a dog competition.

Mr Cook said having free HIV and STI screenings would help destigmatise the process as it was a matter of public health.

“We had a whole lot of people come through to get tested in a community setting to try and normalise sexual health, it has a really profound effect on stigma,” he said. “Fifteen people got tested throughout the day, which is great.”

Ms Johnson was wrapped with how the fair went, and hoped it would become an annual fixture on the Albury-Wodonga calendar. 

“It shows the diversity in our local area. We have a big community, from gay, lesbian, transgender, queer and intersex,” she said.

“It’s about getting out there, and having the wider community accept us is just fantastic. We need to grow, and this is part of it.”