MEET THE TENACIOUS BULLDOG WHO GRAND MARSHALLED GOLD COAST PRIDE
By Dustin Lowrey (@cadydeville)
Madame Pawsident, Bonjella Hopkins MP (Minus a Paw), Grand Marshall of the Labrador Pride Walk 2025
MEET THE TENACIOUS BULLDOG WHO GRAND MARSHALLED GOLD COAST PRIDE
Meet Bonnie, the three-legged French Bulldog who went from rescue pup to community icon.
Bonnie hopped into our lives when she was three months old, freshly surrendered by her previous family and straight out from a four-hour surgery that resulted in the amputation of one of her front legs. She had sutures for the first 20 days of our lives together.
One thing led to another, and I happened to be standing in the clinic the day the surgery happened. Ten days later, we signed the paperwork and Bonnie was a certified foster fail.
Bonnie was one of two French bulldogs in the clinic that day. Her brachycephalic counterpart, Franklin, only had one eye, so between them they had three eyes and seven legs and enough chaos to fill Pandora’s Box.
At first, she was shy and uncertain, her movements tentative. She sat plopped in a puddle in the middle of our living room for a vast majority of the time. We’d start each day with quiet time in her crate as she was technically on full time rest orders, but over time, she began to heal and get stronger.
Her first word was “café,” because that’s how we taught her to walk again—one coffee outing at a time. She loves our local barista, who, in a bizarre twist of coincidence, is the sister of the vet who had amputated her leg and cared for her through recovery.
As her sutures healed, her zoomies got stronger. She got bigger, jumps got broader, and became a neighbourhood celebrity. She was the bulldog that could. This crazy puppy became a symbol of resilience when she wasn’t eating toilet paper rolls or stealth-shitting somewhere in plain sight.
We adopted Bonnie during an election and, fittingly, lived in the State electorate of Bonney. I later found out many dogs rehomed through Dr. Ali’s clinic had been named by her daughter—so there may be as many as nine “Bonnies” out there in Bonney.
As Bonnie grew stronger, her story took on new meaning. Bonnie isn’t just any dog—Bonnie is a gay dog. With two gay dads, one a drag queen - Bonnie eventually found her three legs leading the way for LGBT+ community members and allies to march their way through her local community when problems surmounted on a different front.
It’s no secret that in recent years, large-scale events, festivals, and tours have been increasingly vulnerable—especially those catered to queer communities. Queer events often seem to be the first on the chopping block when funding dries up or organisational support falters, particularly in regions where local public funding is minimal or non-existent.
The Gold Coast, a lifestyle capital, is a unique, fun, and constantly evolving place. A geographically spread out tourism capital that enjoys a paradise daytime lifestyle, events are affected by ebbs and flows of a sometimes unpredictable tourism market. Occasional tensions between community groups and generational disconnects have only added to this instability.
Against this backdrop, Gold Coast Pride collapsed.
The Labrador Pride Walk 2025
Against the backdrop of Gold Coast Pride Fair Day being cancelled, community rallied and a grassroots Pride marched happened on June 1 to kick off Pride month on the Gold Coast.
On April 19th, it was officially announced that Gold Coast Pride would not continue. The last communication from the organisation’s Facebook page was back on January 15th.
Instead of succumbing to the loss, the community responded with defiant hope. This collapse became the spark that ignited a new movement—a network alliance of queer business owners, community leaders, performers, and volunteers coming together to rebuild what was momentarily lost.
Bonnie, by proxy of myself, Cady DeVille—has become part of this grassroots revival. The alliance’s mission was clear from day one: to restore confidence, visibility, and celebrate joy within the Gold Coast’s vibrant queer community. And Bonnie was the rowdy puppy off to the sidelines.
In an interview with ABC Gold Coast, the question was asked:
“It feels like we’ve tried to do this many times, and the Gold Coast just can’t seem to make it stick.”
But perhaps this time is different. We’re living in a moment when visibility isn’t just important—it’s essential. It makes our spaces safer. It reminds people they’re not alone.
That’s why its important for these events to march forward. And this time, a three-legged French bulldog might just be leading the charge. The new queer network worked together to align their events, and while looking at the gaps, we had no march, walk, or rainbow family gathering. A walk being symbolic of the original Stonewall riots and further protests such as the 1978 Mardis Gras police riots.
Organising the Pride Walk was a true grassroots effort. Bonnie relied on local advocates, friends, and community Facebook groups to spread the word. Once we announced the walk, however, we hit our first major obstacle: the council informed us that drainage works would soon tear up Marine Parade—right along our planned route—in preparation for the Gold Coast Marathon.
Accessibility was non-negotiable. Every member of our community needed to feel welcome and included. Add to that a week of relentless rain and construction works leaving the route in ruins, it was clear: we needed a contingency plan.
Thankfully, our friends at Butter Bodega, a beloved dog-friendly café, generously offered their space as a new endpoint for the walk. Still visible from the street, fully accessible, and protected from both the weather and the construction, it was the perfect pivot.
Then, something magical happened.
On the morning of the walk, the sun came out for the first time in five days. Labrador was painted in a stunning rainbow—it felt like a sign. #QueerJoy.
People began arriving half an hour early. Whitney Houston was playing. There were families, rainbow tutus, joyful dogs—and most importantly, sunshine. It was as if the universe stamped the day with its queer seal of approval.
You might wonder: why make Bonnie—a three-legged French bulldog—the face of the walk?
Because anything queer, especially online, is often met with backlash. Whether it’s bots or real people, the hate still finds a way. But it’s pretty hard to protest a rainbow family walk hosted by a disabled bulldog. Bonnie disarms people. She brings levity and softness to a world that can be harsh.
She also invites participation. I wanted people to bring their whole families—including the four-legged kind. One of the things I love most about Labrador is our pet-friendly, open-hearted community. And Bonnie? She’s basically the mayor.
What better symbol for queer resilience than a bulldog who has survived so much before her first birthday? It might sound silly, but people see Bonnie and feel hope. She represents strength, sass, and survival—all the things our community stands for.
My hope is that others take inspiration from this walk and bring similar grassroots joy to their own communities. The Gold Coast is geographically spread out, which makes localised queer visibility all the more vital. We need rainbows in every corner of our home.
Huge thanks to Martin Kincaid and the team at Butter Bodega, Goldy’s, Jenna Schroeder, and to every beautiful soul who showed up and made the day unforgettable.
