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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

January 01, 1970

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or Sydney Mardi Gras is an event in Sydney, New South Wales attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around Australia and overseas. One of the largest LGBT festivals in the world, Mardi Gras is the largest Pride event in Oceania.[a] It includes a variety of events such as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and Party, Bondi Beach Drag Races, Harbour Party, the academic discussion panel Queer Thinking, Mardi Gras Film Festival, as well as Fair Day, which attracts 70,000 people to Victoria Park, Sydney.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Participants in 2012
GenreLGBT pride parade and festival
BeginsSecond Thursday in February
EndsFirst Saturday in March
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Years active46
Inaugurated24 June 1978
Most recent25 February 2023
Participants16,500 (Parade 2019)[1]
13,626 (Party 2019)[1]
Attendance500,000 (Parade 2019)[1]
80,000 (Fair Day 2019)[1]
Websitewww.mardigras.org.au

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia's biggest tourist drawcards,[14] with the parade and dance party attracting many international and domestic tourists. It is New South Wales' second-largest annual event in terms of economic impact,[15] generating an annual income of about A$30 million for the state.

The event grew from gay rights parades held annually since 1978, when numerous participants had been arrested by New South Wales Police Force.[16] The Mardi Gras Parade maintains a political flavour, with many marching groups and floats promoting LGBTQIA+ rights issues or themes.[17] Reflecting changes since the first Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, participants in the Mardi Gras Parade now include groups of uniformed Australian Defence Force personnel, police officers from New South Wales Police Force, as well as interstate and federal police officers, firefighters and other emergency services personnel from the Australian LGBTQIA+ communities. Marriage equality was a dominant theme in the 2011 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade with at least 15 floats lobbying for same-sex marriage.[18]

In 2019 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras submitted a bid to host WorldPride 2023 competing against Montreal, Canada and Houston, Texas. InterPride chose Sydney, Australia to host WorldPride 2023 at their Athens October 2019 Annual General Meeting of three hundred delegate organizations, the first time WorldPride will be held in the Southern Hemisphere or Asia Pacific region.[19][20][21]

History edit

The term Mardi Gras edit

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or Sydney Mardi Gras is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ history and culture.[22]

The term Mardi Gras derives from the celebration on Mardi (French for "Tuesday") when Gras (French for "fat") is eaten prior to the Christian abstinence period of Lent preceding Easter.[23]

1970s edit

On 24 June 1978 at 10 pm as a night-time celebration following a morning protest march and commemoration of the Stonewall riots[24] organised by the Gay Solidarity Group more than 500 people gathered on Oxford Street, in a planned street "festival" calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals in employment and housing, an end to police harassment and the repeal of all anti-homosexual laws.[25] The figure rose to around 2,000 as revellers out for the Saturday night at Oxford Street bars and clubs responded to the call "Out of the bars and into the streets!".[26] Although the organisers had obtained permission, this was revoked, and the parade was broken up by the police. After the parade was dispersing in Kings Cross, 53 of the participants were arrested.[27] Although most charges were eventually dropped, The Sydney Morning Herald published the names of those arrested in full, leading to many people being outed to their friends and places of employment, and many of those arrested lost their jobs as homosexuality was a crime in New South Wales (NSW) until 1984.[28] Only two people who were arrested were fined.[29] The rest were released without bail and the charges dismissed. The police response to a legal, local minority protest transformed it into a nationally significant event which stimulated gay rights and law reform campaigns.[26] A documentary, Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters, produced by Digby Duncan in 1980 tells the story of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.[30][31]

The second Mardi Gras Parade occurred in 1979 despite opposition by gay media, businesses and groups. The 1979 parade, in recognition of the Stonewall Riots and commemorating the riot of the previous year, was attended by 3,000 people. In that same year, the Labor Government of New South Wales, led by Neville Wran, repealed the Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW) under which the arrests in 1978 were made.[29] The second Mardi Gras had the theme of Power in the Darkness.[29] While there was a large police presence, there were no arrests made.

1980 to 1999 edit

 
1996 Drag Races at Bondi Beach.

In 1980, after the third successful Mardi Gras parade, at community consultations, decisions were made to move the parade to the summer.[25] In 1981, the parade was shifted to February, with the name changed to the "Sydney Gay Mardi Gras".[27] An increasingly large number of people not only participated in the now summertime event, but a crowd of 5,000 came to watch it.[34] 1981's event saw a split develop between lesbian and gays over the inclusion of floats representing businesses. For most of the decade many lesbians excluded themselves from the event.[29] A large post-parade party was held in 1982, which 4,000 people attended. This would continue to become an integral part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. 1983 saw 44 floats participate with 20,000 onlookers.[29] Footage of the 1984 event appeared in the music video for the Cold Chisel song "Saturday Night". In 1987, an estimated 100,000 people came to watch the parade.[35] The mid-1980s saw considerable pressure placed to the Mardi Gras Committee following media controversy regarding AIDS. Despite calls for the parade and the party to be banned, the 1985 parade went ahead with the theme Fighting for Our Lives. In 1988 the parade was renamed the "Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras" at an Extraordinary General Meeting.[25]

1991 saw the eighth annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Film festival, a Mardi Gras event, included in a national film festival for the first time. In this year the parade had become the largest ever held in Australia.[35] In 1992, the festival lasted for four weeks, making it the largest gay and lesbian festival in the world.[35] Also in 1992, Fiona Cunningham-Reid filmed a documentary about the history of the Mardi Gras called "Feed Them to the Cannibals!".[36][37] By 1993, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade had become the largest night time outdoor parade in the world.[35] Mardi Gras' Economic Impact Study found that the total Mardi Gras impact into the Australian economy was around A$38 million.[38] In February 1993 an Umbrella Event of the festival was the play "Nothing Personal" designed by Arthur Dicks. In 1994, Mardi Gras Festival adopted the theme We are Family, a nod to it being International Year of the Family. That year there were 137 floats in the parade with 600,000 spectators.[29] For the first time, the parade was filmed by the ABC TV and shown on Sunday 6 March at 8.30 pm. It won its time slot and earned ABC TV its highest ratings in history.[25] The 1997 parade was covered by Libbi Gorr's current affairs show McFeast on ABC TV.[39]

In 1988, Aboriginal Australian dancers Malcolm Cole (1949-1995) and Rodney Junga-Williams (1962-2011), in collaboration with artist Panos Couros, enacted the story of the First Fleet, with Cole as Captain Cook, and Junga-Williams as Joseph Banks – the first ever Aboriginal float entry in the parade. A boatful of black sailors was pulled by a white man,[40] with this leading float commemorating 218 years after Cook's landing and claim on the land.[41] Cole died of HIV/AIDS, and in 2024 his twin brother Robert recreated his costume in order to march again in the parade to commemorate his life.[42]

Criticism of the Sydney Mardi Gras was perhaps at its strongest during the early years of the AIDS crisis, and flared again when in 1994 the national broadcaster ABC telecast the parade for the first time.[27]

In 1996 there was criticism over the inclusion of bisexuals and heterosexuals as members of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It was claimed that the subsequent requirement for those people to correctly answer specific questions, created two classes of membership – namely (1) gays, lesbians and transgender people and (2) bisexuals and heterosexuals.[43]

In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998. This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year's Mardi Gras parade since 1998.[44]

2000 to 2009 edit

 
Drag queen, Carmen Geddit from Sydney Drag Royalty[45] dressed as Anthony "Tick" Belrose / Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving)[46] from the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert during the 2007 parade.

The 2001 Parade was broadcast on Network Ten and had a theme of gay and lesbian parenting.[39] The 2002 event saw a loss of A$400,000.[47] In August the organising company was bankrupt.[48] In 2003, the festival organisers responded to claims that the event was becoming too commercialised by implementing a scaled-down, grassroots approach.[49] The 2009 performance figures indicated about 9,500 participants and 134 floats were part of the parade, making it the largest ever.[50] Up to 300,000 spectators from Australia and overseas turned out in 2011 for the celebrations.[51]

Mardi Gras, at different times, has attracted criticism from its own members, LGBTQIA+ communities, and a variety of religious and political groups. Some argue Mardi Gras is inherently subversive to traditional Christian, Islamic and Jewish values.[29] Each year the event is held, Fred Nile, a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and a former minister of the Uniting Church in Australia, leads a prayer for rain on the event.[52]

In January 2008 Robert Forsyth, the Anglican bishop of South Sydney, condemned Corpus Christi for opening the Mardi Gras because it depicted Judas seducing a gay Jesus as well as Jesus' administration of gay marriage between two apostles. Director Leigh Rowney accepted that it would generate discussion on Homosexuality and Christianity and stated: "I wanted this play in the hands of a Christian person like myself to give it dignity but still open it up to answering questions about Christianity as a faith system." Playwright Terrence McNally, a gay man, received death threats when it was played in the United States.[53]

2010 to 2015 edit

 
Australian Defence Force 2013[54]

In early 2011, members of the organisation unanimously voted to include intersex formally into the organisation at the Annual General Meeting and adopt the formal use of the LGBTQIA+ acronym. To allow for greater inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community it represents (including those identifying as bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual), on 17 November 2011 the festival and event organisers changed the event name to "Sydney Mardi Gras". On the same date the organisation reverted to its former name, "Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras" (from "New Mardi Gras"),[55] as more than 9,100 participants joined in the 2012 Parade, on 134 floats.[56]

In 2011 Mardi Gras came under fire from LGBTQIA+ communities for removing the words "Gay and Lesbian" from the festival's name.[57] The organisation's board confessed that they did not adequately consult the community in such an important decision. The organisation was also criticised for focusing on the requests of corporate sponsors, and allowing their floats rather than maintaining its original sense of identity.[58] This followed the 2010 season in which the Mardi Gras Parade and Party were held on separate dates for the first time in history.

During the rebranding in 2011, Mardi Gras Chairman Peter Urmson said "I think that whilst we are first and foremost a GLBTQI community organisation, we also are very open to all of our friends that do not necessarily identify within that alphabet soup."[59] Many community members were offended by the change, including former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden, who said that the group did not have the authority to make such a change, adding "For 20-plus years we have been able to force the mainstream media to call it the 'Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.' They had to say the words. For a long time they did not want to but we made them. That has been thrown away".[60]

The name of the festival was subsequently restored as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.[when?]

In 2013, the New South Wales Police were accused of police brutality after a video shot by a bystander showing a handcuffed man thrown to the ground by an officer.[61] The man repeatedly kicked police officers before being handcuffed.[62] By 2014, all charges against the bystander were withdrawn by police and the officer concerned was facing disciplinary proceedings.[63] Disciplinary proceedings against the officer were withdrawn.[64]

On a number of occasions, there have been controversies with, and bans of, the UFO-related Raelians participation in the parade. A Raelian spokesman said the bans were unfair as the Raelians support non-discrimination and have gay and lesbian members.[65][66][67][68]

In 2012 Mardi Gras organisers faced the issue of having a Sydney Polyamorists float in the parade, whilst also promoting same-sex marriage for couples. Particularly, as the 2012 Mardi Gras theme was "universal and infinite love", some polyamorists felt discriminated against.[69] The issue was resolved[70] with a polyamory float, based on the theme, "Queer Polyamory".[71] In the 2014 Mardi Gras there was another float, "Polyamory Sydney 'Birds of a Feather, love together' – the infinite love Nest".[72]

In 2015, some members of the LGBTIQ community argued that the Mardi Gras perpetuates gay stereotypes and excludes other members of the LGBTIQ community.[73]

2020s edit

In 2020, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was held just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. NSW Health advised there was no evidence of community transmission of the virus at that time.[74] British singer Dua Lipa debuted her single Physical at the event.[75]

In 2021, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the parade, held on 6 March 2021, was relocated to the nearby Sydney Cricket Ground as a paid, ticketed event with 36,000 spectators and was televised live on the Special Broadcasting Service.[76][77]

After the alleged murder of Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies around 20 February by serving NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre, the Mardi Gras board decided to ban members of the force from participating in Mardi Gras. Owing to sensitivities in the LGBTQIA+ community and recollections of past poor treatment by NSW Police. However this decision was reversed on 28 February, and it was agreed by both the board and Police Commissioner Karen Webb that the Force could participate, but not in uniform. They would march as a group, without a float.[78][79]

Additionally in 2024, Malcolm Cole's twin brother Robert recreated his 1988 Captain Cook costume, in order to wear it in the parade to commemorate Malcolm's life.[42]

Resources edit

The Australian Queer Archives, City of Sydney Archives, Pride History Group,[citation needed] and the State Library of New South Wales hold an extensive collections of material related to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, including oral history interviews, organisational records, personal papers, posters, clippings, and photographs.[80]

Events edit

Mardi Gras Parade edit

External media
Images
  2016 Parade
Video
  2005 Parade
  2012 Pool Party
 
Participants 2012[81]

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival culminates in the renowned Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, an LGBTQIA+ rights protest and celebration of sexuality. The parade features more than 12,500 entrants in colourful costumes and elaborate floats, who represent a community group, topical theme or political message. Parade entrants include members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the Australian Defence Force, Amnesty International Australia, Australian Marriage Equality, City of Sydney, Fire and Rescue NSW, Taronga Conservation Society and DNA among many others.

Each parade starts with approximately 200 Dykes on Bikes riding up Oxford Street.[82] It is often accompanied by fireworks displays, which are launched from the rooftops of buildings along the parade route. Approximately 300,000 spectators watch the Parade as it snakes 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) through the Sydney CBD and Darlinghurst.[18][83]

The parade travels along Oxford Street before turning into Flinders Street and finally into the bus lane that runs parallel to Anzac Parade – to the parade end. These roads and others including some around Hyde Park, are closed to traffic for the duration of the parade and for a few hours after as clean-up operations proceed.

Each year, a Chief of Parade (Grand Marshal), is chosen by the organisation New Mardi Gras as someone who represents the values and spirit of Mardi Gras. This honourable title has previously been awarded to:

  • 2004 – Monica Hingston, former nun and cousin of Cardinal George Pell[84]
  • 2007 – Rupert Everett, gay actor
  • 2008 – Margaret Cho, bisexual American comedian
  • 2009 – Matthew Mitcham, Australian Olympic gold-medalist, world record holder and 2008 Australian Sports Performer of the Year
  • 2010 – Amanda Lepore, transgender model/performer
  • 2011 – Instead of a single Chief of Parade leading the march, eight high-profile heroes were chosen to lead the Parade. These were Lily Tomlin, lesbian actress and comedian; Peter Tatchell, a world-renowned gay rights campaigner; Don Baxter, Executive Director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations at that time; Bev Lange, chief executive officer of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation at the time, a former President of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and a former co-chair of the Sydney Gay Games; Lex Watson and Sue Wills, Campaign Against Moral Prosecution's (CAMP) first Co-Presidents; and Hannah Williams and Savannah Supski, who had recently protested against the ban against same-sex couples at Hannah's Melbourne school formal.[85] The same year, Ignatius Jones consulted as Artistic Director to oversee the creative production of the Parade.
  • 2012 – Shelley Argent, the national spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and 2011 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year[86]

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is extensively covered by the media. In 2011, it was broadcast on radio by Joy 94.9 FM Melbourne and 2SER 107.3 FM Sydney. The Parade was also shown live on Foxtel's Arena in its entirety. The Arena broadcast was presented by hosts Louie Spence of Pineapple Dance Studios, Charlotte Dawson, Ruby Rose and Matthew Mitcham. The Parade was also broadcast on radio live by various community radio stations, via the CBAA's Community Radio Network satellite. In 2012, Optus, a corporate sponsor, broadcast a delayed and edited highlights of the parade via www.mardigrastv.org.au. In 2014, SBS TV broadcast delayed and edited coverage of the parade highlights, hosted by Tom Ballard, Patrick Abboud and Heather Peace.[87]

Despite its name, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is not held on Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) or indeed, on a Tuesday at all.[88] In recent years, the Mardi Gras Parade has been on the first Saturday of March, with a festival of events going for approximately three weeks preceding it.

The parade running order for 4 March 2017.[89]

Mardi Gras Party (Post Parade) edit

 
Kylie Minogue 2012[90]
 
Conchita Wurst 2016[91]

The post parade party is one of the largest ongoing party events in the country.[citation needed] Mardi Gras Party attendances at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion / Royal Hall of Industries peaked in 1998 with 27,000 tickets sold.[92] In the years since 17,000 to 20,000 tickets are consistently sold, an increase over the first Parade Ball held in 1980 at the Paddington Town Hall, a BYO event which attracted 700 guests.[93] Although, by the late first decade of the 21st century, ticket sales has begun to fall, with the 2012 post parade party selling out at 15,300 tickets;[56] and ticket sales a little lower again in 2013.[87]

The 2010 party was not held on the night of the parade and was later described by the organisers as human error during scheduling.

Several well known local and international artists have performed at the Party and include:[94]

Mardi Gras Festival edit

By 1987 the festival included 35 events.[41] The 1998 festival was estimated to contribute $99 million to the Sydney economy.[48]

Multi-disc Mardi Gras compilation albums were released in 1995,[35] 1997, 2002 and 2003.

The festival's live entertainment includes cabaret, comedy, music and theatre. The Mardi Gras Film Festival showcases international and local gay and lesbian films. There are many literature and arts events, forum and conferences to attend between the many social activities. Individual and team sports have always been a big part of the festival.

Mardi Gras Fair Day edit

 
Fair Day 2007 "Sea of Hearts" by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby[100]

In 1979 an 'Alternative Lifestyle Fair' as part of a week of activities around International Gay Solidarity Day. During the early 1980s the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association held an annual Fair Day, which was brought into the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras program in 1985. From 1985 to 1988 the Business Association continued to run the Fair, which was subsequently run by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from 1989. The event is the kick off event for the official Mardi Gras season in Victoria Park, Sydney for Sydney's wider LGBTQIA+ communities and their friends and family. Up to 70,000 people routinely turn out to sit on the grass, browse the stalls and catch up with old friends or make some new ones. Fair Day 2011 saw record numbers of attendees. Entertainment came from the Foxtel Main Stage and included a set from Zoe Badwi and Garçon Garçon, and one of the biggest ever "Mr and Mrs Fair Day" competitions.[101] Approximately 250 volunteers assisted with 220 stalls made up of many LGBTQIA+community groups.[101]

In 2017, Mardi Gras Fair Day was held at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on Sunday 19 February.[102]

Mardi Gras Awards edit

The Mardi Gras Awards are presented to organisations and individuals who made an outstanding contribution to Mardi Gras and the gay and lesbian community.[32]

WorldPride Sydney 2023 edit

InterPride, at their October 2019 Annual General Meeting of three hundred delegate organizations, held in Athens, Greece chose Sydney, Australia to host WorldPride 2023, the first time WorldPride will be held in the Southern Hemisphere or Asia Pacific region. Sydney received 60% of the vote ahead of the other bid contenders Montreal, Canada (36%) and Houston, Texas (3%).[19][20][21]

WorldPride 2023 coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the first Australian Gay Pride Week, 45th Anniversary of the first Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and 5th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Australia. According to the bid document the stated objective of WorldPride Sydney 2023 is to celebrate the diversity of culture and identity in the Asia Pacific region, while shining a light on widespread human rights abuses.[104]

WorldPride Sydney 2023 was held between 16 February and 4 March during Australia's summer and consisted of a 17-day combined 45th Anniversary Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras/WorldPride 2023 Festival.[104] The centrepiece was a three-day LGBTQIA+ Human Rights and Health Conference focusing on LGBTQIA+ people's experiences of violence, torture, abuse, discrimination and persecution in the Asia Pacific region and more broadly. Other stated signature events included:

• Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country

• WorldPride Opening Ceremony

• 45th Anniversary Mardi Gras Parade

• 45th Anniversary Mardi Gras Party

• Interpride Reception

• Bondi Beach Party

• Mardi Gras International Arts Festival

• 30th Anniversary Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival

• WorldPride First Nations Gala Concert

• Sissy Ball Grand Final

• WorldPride March

• WorldPride Closing Ceremony

Support edit

 
In 2017 Qantas displayed its Mardi Gras sponsorship on an Airbus A330-300, dubbed the Gay330 or PrideRoo.[105]
 
Rainbow Crossing at Taylor Square

Political support has come from a number of local and federal politicians such as former Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja[106] and current Labor Senator Penny Wong,[107] Members of the House of Representatives Tanya Plibersek[108] and current Prime Minister (since 2022) Anthony Albanese,[109] former Leader of the Opposition and Labor Party Bill Shorten[108] Former Premier Barry O'Farrell[110] as well as the present Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.[111] In 2023 Albanese became the first Prime Minister to march in Mardi Gras while in office.[109] In 2024 Chris Minns became the first Premier of New South Wales to march in Mardi Gras.[112]

As Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull attended the 2016 Mardi Gras but did not march. There was a movement by some Mardi Gras members to disinvite him in 2017 due to "lack of action" on same-sex marriage and his cuts to the Safe Schools program[113] however the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board subsequently rejected the move.[114]

Hundreds of thousands of Australians and international guests come out in support of the Parade, with many lining up for a viewing spot from early in the afternoon. By the 7.45 pm Parade kick-off, crowds are usually ten-people deep.[115] Though it has rained on several Mardi Gras parades (notably with heavy downpours prior to, and drizzle during, the parade in 1995, and heavy rainfall during the parade in 2004), this has never stopped the parade.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is regarded internationally as one of the world's biggest and best LGBTQI marches and festivals, and has been described as an "absolute once-in-a-lifetime must for every travelling gay man".[116] Mardi Gras is featured in the programmes of tour operators which target the gay market.[48]

In the 2000s the Mardi Gras organisation struck financial trouble, and collapsed. This was attributed at the time to poor financial management and a downturn in international tourism following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, while another explanation was given as Australia's ongoing public liability crisis, which has seen massive insurance premiums impose a significant burden on community and public events, if not preventing them. As a consequence of the impending collapse of the organisation, there was a groundswell of concern and support within Sydney's LGBTQI communities for the continuation of the work and events of Mardi Gras. A series of crisis meetings culminated in the creation of a reformed organisation "New Mardi Gras" being formed to continue the Parade, the Festival & the Party.[117]

In 2008, it was announced that the Government of New South Wales would provide funding for Mardi Gras as it had become part of the state's Master Events Calendar.[118] Limited funds have also been sourced from the Sleaze Ball party held in Sydney towards the end of the year. Mardi Gras still receives significant public support and the event now receives some limited government funding.

In 2013, a temporary rainbow crossing was created by City of Sydney Council as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations.[119] The rainbow crossing proved popular with tourists and when it was removed as part of a condition with Roads and Maritime Services when the rainbow crossing was built, DIY rainbow crossings, emerged and was picked up by the local and international media.[120] In 2018 the rainbow crossing was reinstated.[121]

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ As of June 2019, New York City's NYC Pride March is North America's biggest Pride parade. For Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 up to five million took part over the final weekend,[2][3] with an estimated four million in attendance at the parade.[4][5] São Paulo, Brazil's event, Parada do Orgulho GLBT de São Paulo, is South America's largest, and is listed by Guinness World Records as the world's largest Pride parade starting in 2006 with 2.5 million people.[6] They broke the Guinness record in 2009 with four million attendees.[7] They have kept the title from 2006 to at least 2016.[8] They had five million attend in 2017.[9][10] As of 2019 it has three to five million each year.[11] As of June 2019, Spain's Madrid Pride, Orgullo Gay de Madrid (MADO), is Europe's biggest, it had 3.5 million attendees when it hosted WorldPride in 2017.[10] As of June 2019 the largest LGBTQ events include:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ Allen, Karma; Katersky, Aaron (2 July 2019). "Millions more attended WorldPride than expected". ABC News. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. ^ Caspani, Maria; Lavietes, Matthew. "Millions celebrate LGBTQ pride in New York amid global fight for equality: organizers". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. ^ O’Doherty, Cahir (4 July 2019). "Irish march at historic World Pride in New York City". IrishCentral.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  5. ^ Lynch, Scott. . Gothamist. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  6. ^ Ripardo, SÉRGIO (28 May 2008). "Guinness exclui recorde da Parada Gay - 28/05/2008". Folha Online. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ Lawler, Opheli Garcia (18 June 2017). "Brazil Holds World's Largest Pride Parade". The Fader. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ Sheets, Cassie (1 June 2017). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Pride". Pride.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ Petrov, Arkady (30 June 2019). "2019 LGBT Parade in São Paulo Raised R$403 Million for the City". The Rio Times. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d "Pride 2019: The world's 15 biggest LGBTQ celebrations, from New York to Tel Aviv". USA Today Travel. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  11. ^ Nomadic Boys (11 June 2019). "South America's best Pride parades". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  12. ^ Duffy, Nick (20 February 2019). "Glitter has been banned from Australia's biggest Pride celebration". PinkNews. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  13. ^ Mohamed, Amarra (6 June 2019). "Pride in Pictures: Johannesburg's Pride parade is the biggest in Africa & there's a reason why". www.lgbtqnation.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  14. ^ Sames, Christine (7 March 2004). "Statements and sequins on parade". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  15. ^ "Mardi Gras marchers push for gay marriage". Australia: ABC News. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  16. ^ Peoples History of Australia (9 April 2020). "People's History of Australia Podcast. Episode 7 – The 1978 Sydney Mardi Gras". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  17. ^ Ross, Liz (3 April 2023). "Revolution Is For Us: Gay Liberation, Unions and the Left in the 1970s". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  18. ^ a b Samandar, Lema (5 March 2011). . Ninemsn News. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  19. ^ a b Nguyen, Kevin; Collins, Antonette (21 October 2019). "'Sydney, we're coming for ya, baby': Australia wins WorldPride bid for 2023". ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  20. ^ a b "'The gay Olympics': Sydney wins bid to host 2023 WorldPride event". SBS News. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  21. ^ a b Peter Hackney (20 October 2019). "Sydney wins bid to host WorldPride 2023". Star Observer. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  22. ^ . Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  23. ^ "Mardi Gras Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster".
  24. ^ . George Negus Tonight. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 March 2004. Archived from the original (transcript) on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  25. ^ a b c d Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Information Kit. 1997.
  26. ^ a b Irving, Terry; Cahill, Rowan (2010). Radical Sydney: Places, Portraits and Unruly Episodes. Sydney, Australia: UNSW Press. pp. 326–327. ISBN 978-1-74223-093-1. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  27. ^ a b c . Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
  28. ^ "New South Wales Year Book, 1998". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 January 2001. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g Watson, Sophie (1999). "City Politics". In Pile, Steve; Brook, Christopher; Mooney, Gerry (eds.). Unruly Cities?. London: Routledge. pp. 218–221. ISBN 0-203-98353-X. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  30. ^ Australia, National Film and Sound Archive of (13 May 2021). "Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters: Owning terms". www.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  31. ^ Matilda Graphics (1980). "Witches and faggots : dykes and poofters. (poster)". digital.sl.nsw.gov.au. Panacea Press. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  32. ^ a b c Carbery, Graham (1995). A history of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Melbourne: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives Inc. p. 245. ISBN 0-646-23788-8. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
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External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sydney Mardi Gras.
  • Official website
  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 1978–2018 interactive Timeline on Google Arts & Culture
  • Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives holds extensive collections relating to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, including records, photographs, publications, posters, artwork, T-shirts, badges etc.
  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival coverage on SBS
  • Garry Wotherspoon (2008). "Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 5 October 2015. [CC-By-SA]

33°52′50″S 151°13′02″E / 33.88068°S 151.21719°E / -33.88068; 151.21719

January 01, 1970
sydney, lesbian, mardi, gras, sydney, mardi, gras, event, sydney, south, wales, attended, hundreds, thousands, people, from, around, australia, overseas, largest, lgbt, festivals, world, mardi, gras, largest, pride, event, oceania, includes, variety, events, s. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or Sydney Mardi Gras is an event in Sydney New South Wales attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around Australia and overseas One of the largest LGBT festivals in the world Mardi Gras is the largest Pride event in Oceania a It includes a variety of events such as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and Party Bondi Beach Drag Races Harbour Party the academic discussion panel Queer Thinking Mardi Gras Film Festival as well as Fair Day which attracts 70 000 people to Victoria Park Sydney Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi GrasParticipants in 2012GenreLGBT pride parade and festivalBeginsSecond Thursday in FebruaryEndsFirst Saturday in MarchFrequencyAnnuallyLocation s Sydney New South Wales AustraliaYears active46Inaugurated24 June 1978Most recent25 February 2023Participants16 500 Parade 2019 1 13 626 Party 2019 1 Attendance500 000 Parade 2019 1 80 000 Fair Day 2019 1 Websitewww wbr mardigras wbr org wbr au The Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia s biggest tourist drawcards 14 with the parade and dance party attracting many international and domestic tourists It is New South Wales second largest annual event in terms of economic impact 15 generating an annual income of about A 30 million for the state The event grew from gay rights parades held annually since 1978 when numerous participants had been arrested by New South Wales Police Force 16 The Mardi Gras Parade maintains a political flavour with many marching groups and floats promoting LGBTQIA rights issues or themes 17 Reflecting changes since the first Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras participants in the Mardi Gras Parade now include groups of uniformed Australian Defence Force personnel police officers from New South Wales Police Force as well as interstate and federal police officers firefighters and other emergency services personnel from the Australian LGBTQIA communities Marriage equality was a dominant theme in the 2011 Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade with at least 15 floats lobbying for same sex marriage 18 In 2019 Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras submitted a bid to host WorldPride 2023 competing against Montreal Canada and Houston Texas InterPride chose Sydney Australia to host WorldPride 2023 at their Athens October 2019 Annual General Meeting of three hundred delegate organizations the first time WorldPride will be held in the Southern Hemisphere or Asia Pacific region 19 20 21 Contents 1 History 1 1 The term Mardi Gras 1 2 1970s 1 3 1980 to 1999 1 4 2000 to 2009 1 5 2010 to 2015 1 6 2020s 2 Resources 3 Events 3 1 Mardi Gras Parade 3 2 Mardi Gras Party Post Parade 3 3 Mardi Gras Festival 3 4 Mardi Gras Fair Day 3 5 Mardi Gras Awards 4 WorldPride Sydney 2023 5 Support 6 See also 7 Footnotes 8 References 9 External linksHistory editThe term Mardi Gras edit The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras or Sydney Mardi Gras is a celebration of LGBTQIA history and culture 22 The term Mardi Gras derives from the celebration on Mardi French for Tuesday when Gras French for fat is eaten prior to the Christian abstinence period of Lent preceding Easter 23 1970s edit On 24 June 1978 at 10 pm as a night time celebration following a morning protest march and commemoration of the Stonewall riots 24 organised by the Gay Solidarity Group more than 500 people gathered on Oxford Street in a planned street festival calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals in employment and housing an end to police harassment and the repeal of all anti homosexual laws 25 The figure rose to around 2 000 as revellers out for the Saturday night at Oxford Street bars and clubs responded to the call Out of the bars and into the streets 26 Although the organisers had obtained permission this was revoked and the parade was broken up by the police After the parade was dispersing in Kings Cross 53 of the participants were arrested 27 Although most charges were eventually dropped The Sydney Morning Herald published the names of those arrested in full leading to many people being outed to their friends and places of employment and many of those arrested lost their jobs as homosexuality was a crime in New South Wales NSW until 1984 28 Only two people who were arrested were fined 29 The rest were released without bail and the charges dismissed The police response to a legal local minority protest transformed it into a nationally significant event which stimulated gay rights and law reform campaigns 26 A documentary Witches and Faggots Dykes and Poofters produced by Digby Duncan in 1980 tells the story of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 30 31 The second Mardi Gras Parade occurred in 1979 despite opposition by gay media businesses and groups The 1979 parade in recognition of the Stonewall Riots and commemorating the riot of the previous year was attended by 3 000 people In that same year the Labor Government of New South Wales led by Neville Wran repealed the Summary Offences Act 1988 NSW under which the arrests in 1978 were made 29 The second Mardi Gras had the theme of Power in the Darkness 29 While there was a large police presence there were no arrests made Senior elected officers 1978 Garry Bennett Spokesperson 1981 82 Brian McGahen Chairperson 1982 83 Brian McGahen Chairperson 1983 84 Brian McGahen Director 1984 85 Bill Whittaker Chairman Damian Furlong Chairman 1985 86 Bill Whittaker Chairman 1986 87 Bill Whittaker President until September 1986 Murray McLachlan President from September 1986 1987 88 Murray McLachlan President 1988 89 Murray McLachlan President 1989 90 Cath Phillips President 1990 91 Cath Phillips President until November 1990 Colin Fawcett President until June 1991 Richard Cobden President from June 1991 1991 92 Richard Cobden President 1992 93 Susan Harben President 1993 94 Susan Harben President 1994 95 Rob Patmore President Source A history of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 32 Poster designers 1978 Chris Jones 1979 Fine Arts Workshop Sydney University 1980 Prue Borthwick 1981 Sheona White printed by Lucifoil Posters 1982 Andrew Short 1983 Allan Booth 1984 Allan Booth 1985 Peter Tully Parade Allan Booth Party Phil Jacobs Festival 1986 David McDiarmid 1987 Michael Fenaughty 1988 David McDiarmid 1989 Phillip McGrath 1990 David McDiarmid 1991 Geoffrey Gifford 1992 Phillipa Playford 1993 Kendal Baker 1994 Glenn A Moffat 1995 Pierre et Gilles 1996 Darian Zam Illustration Brendan Williamson Design 1997 Suzanne Boccalatte Art Direction and Design 1998 David Corbet Andrew Medhurst and Bryce Tuckwell Design Nation 1999 Wendy Neill and Tanja Dunster 10 Design 2000 Marita Leuver Leuver Design 2001 Marita Leuver Leuver Design 2002 Norman Edwards 2003 trigger design Greg Anderson 2004 Brett Bush 2005 Guy Campbell 2006 Guy Campbell 2007 Francisco Fisher 2008 Joel Wassermann Gwarsh 2009 Lewis Oswald 2010 Scott Elk season creative Helen White Photography Lewis Oswald designer 33 2011 Ethel Yarwood design concept Techa Noble and Benja Harney artwork Lewis Oswald designer 2012 Lewis Oswald 2013 Lewis Oswald 2014 Lewis Oswald creative director Peter Novotny season creative Source A history of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 32 1980 to 1999 edit nbsp 1996 Drag Races at Bondi Beach In 1980 after the third successful Mardi Gras parade at community consultations decisions were made to move the parade to the summer 25 In 1981 the parade was shifted to February with the name changed to the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras 27 An increasingly large number of people not only participated in the now summertime event but a crowd of 5 000 came to watch it 34 1981 s event saw a split develop between lesbian and gays over the inclusion of floats representing businesses For most of the decade many lesbians excluded themselves from the event 29 A large post parade party was held in 1982 which 4 000 people attended This would continue to become an integral part of the Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras 1983 saw 44 floats participate with 20 000 onlookers 29 Footage of the 1984 event appeared in the music video for the Cold Chisel song Saturday Night In 1987 an estimated 100 000 people came to watch the parade 35 The mid 1980s saw considerable pressure placed to the Mardi Gras Committee following media controversy regarding AIDS Despite calls for the parade and the party to be banned the 1985 parade went ahead with the theme Fighting for Our Lives In 1988 the parade was renamed the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras at an Extraordinary General Meeting 25 1991 saw the eighth annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Film festival a Mardi Gras event included in a national film festival for the first time In this year the parade had become the largest ever held in Australia 35 In 1992 the festival lasted for four weeks making it the largest gay and lesbian festival in the world 35 Also in 1992 Fiona Cunningham Reid filmed a documentary about the history of the Mardi Gras called Feed Them to the Cannibals 36 37 By 1993 the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade had become the largest night time outdoor parade in the world 35 Mardi Gras Economic Impact Study found that the total Mardi Gras impact into the Australian economy was around A 38 million 38 In February 1993 an Umbrella Event of the festival was the play Nothing Personal designed by Arthur Dicks In 1994 Mardi Gras Festival adopted the theme We are Family a nod to it being International Year of the Family That year there were 137 floats in the parade with 600 000 spectators 29 For the first time the parade was filmed by the ABC TV and shown on Sunday 6 March at 8 30 pm It won its time slot and earned ABC TV its highest ratings in history 25 The 1997 parade was covered by Libbi Gorr s current affairs show McFeast on ABC TV 39 In 1988 Aboriginal Australian dancers Malcolm Cole 1949 1995 and Rodney Junga Williams 1962 2011 in collaboration with artist Panos Couros enacted the story of the First Fleet with Cole as Captain Cook and Junga Williams as Joseph Banks the first ever Aboriginal float entry in the parade A boatful of black sailors was pulled by a white man 40 with this leading float commemorating 218 years after Cook s landing and claim on the land 41 Cole died of HIV AIDS and in 2024 his twin brother Robert recreated his costume in order to march again in the parade to commemorate his life 42 Criticism of the Sydney Mardi Gras was perhaps at its strongest during the early years of the AIDS crisis and flared again when in 1994 the national broadcaster ABC telecast the parade for the first time 27 In 1996 there was criticism over the inclusion of bisexuals and heterosexuals as members of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras It was claimed that the subsequent requirement for those people to correctly answer specific questions created two classes of membership namely 1 gays lesbians and transgender people and 2 bisexuals and heterosexuals 43 In 1997 a small group of people who were part of the 1978 events contributed to planning the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1998 This group became known as the 78ers and has led each year s Mardi Gras parade since 1998 44 2000 to 2009 edit nbsp Drag queen Carmen Geddit from Sydney Drag Royalty 45 dressed as Anthony Tick Belrose Mitzi Del Bra Hugo Weaving 46 from the film The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert during the 2007 parade The 2001 Parade was broadcast on Network Ten and had a theme of gay and lesbian parenting 39 The 2002 event saw a loss of A 400 000 47 In August the organising company was bankrupt 48 In 2003 the festival organisers responded to claims that the event was becoming too commercialised by implementing a scaled down grassroots approach 49 The 2009 performance figures indicated about 9 500 participants and 134 floats were part of the parade making it the largest ever 50 Up to 300 000 spectators from Australia and overseas turned out in 2011 for the celebrations 51 Mardi Gras at different times has attracted criticism from its own members LGBTQIA communities and a variety of religious and political groups Some argue Mardi Gras is inherently subversive to traditional Christian Islamic and Jewish values 29 Each year the event is held Fred Nile a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and a former minister of the Uniting Church in Australia leads a prayer for rain on the event 52 In January 2008 Robert Forsyth the Anglican bishop of South Sydney condemned Corpus Christi for opening the Mardi Gras because it depicted Judas seducing a gay Jesus as well as Jesus administration of gay marriage between two apostles Director Leigh Rowney accepted that it would generate discussion on Homosexuality and Christianity and stated I wanted this play in the hands of a Christian person like myself to give it dignity but still open it up to answering questions about Christianity as a faith system Playwright Terrence McNally a gay man received death threats when it was played in the United States 53 2010 to 2015 edit nbsp Australian Defence Force 2013 54 In early 2011 members of the organisation unanimously voted to include intersex formally into the organisation at the Annual General Meeting and adopt the formal use of the LGBTQIA acronym To allow for greater inclusion of the LGBTQIA community it represents including those identifying as bisexual transgender queer intersex and asexual on 17 November 2011 the festival and event organisers changed the event name to Sydney Mardi Gras On the same date the organisation reverted to its former name Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras from New Mardi Gras 55 as more than 9 100 participants joined in the 2012 Parade on 134 floats 56 In 2011 Mardi Gras came under fire from LGBTQIA communities for removing the words Gay and Lesbian from the festival s name 57 The organisation s board confessed that they did not adequately consult the community in such an important decision The organisation was also criticised for focusing on the requests of corporate sponsors and allowing their floats rather than maintaining its original sense of identity 58 This followed the 2010 season in which the Mardi Gras Parade and Party were held on separate dates for the first time in history During the rebranding in 2011 Mardi Gras Chairman Peter Urmson said I think that whilst we are first and foremost a GLBTQI community organisation we also are very open to all of our friends that do not necessarily identify within that alphabet soup 59 Many community members were offended by the change including former Mardi Gras president Richard Cobden who said that the group did not have the authority to make such a change adding For 20 plus years we have been able to force the mainstream media to call it the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras They had to say the words For a long time they did not want to but we made them That has been thrown away 60 The name of the festival was subsequently restored as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras when In 2013 the New South Wales Police were accused of police brutality after a video shot by a bystander showing a handcuffed man thrown to the ground by an officer 61 The man repeatedly kicked police officers before being handcuffed 62 By 2014 all charges against the bystander were withdrawn by police and the officer concerned was facing disciplinary proceedings 63 Disciplinary proceedings against the officer were withdrawn 64 On a number of occasions there have been controversies with and bans of the UFO related Raelians participation in the parade A Raelian spokesman said the bans were unfair as the Raelians support non discrimination and have gay and lesbian members 65 66 67 68 In 2012 Mardi Gras organisers faced the issue of having a Sydney Polyamorists float in the parade whilst also promoting same sex marriage for couples Particularly as the 2012 Mardi Gras theme was universal and infinite love some polyamorists felt discriminated against 69 The issue was resolved 70 with a polyamory float based on the theme Queer Polyamory 71 In the 2014 Mardi Gras there was another float Polyamory Sydney Birds of a Feather love together the infinite love Nest 72 In 2015 some members of the LGBTIQ community argued that the Mardi Gras perpetuates gay stereotypes and excludes other members of the LGBTIQ community 73 2020s edit In 2020 the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was held just prior to the COVID 19 pandemic in Australia NSW Health advised there was no evidence of community transmission of the virus at that time 74 British singer Dua Lipa debuted her single Physical at the event 75 In 2021 as a result of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic the parade held on 6 March 2021 was relocated to the nearby Sydney Cricket Ground as a paid ticketed event with 36 000 spectators and was televised live on the Special Broadcasting Service 76 77 After the alleged murder of Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies around 20 February by serving NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre the Mardi Gras board decided to ban members of the force from participating in Mardi Gras Owing to sensitivities in the LGBTQIA community and recollections of past poor treatment by NSW Police However this decision was reversed on 28 February and it was agreed by both the board and Police Commissioner Karen Webb that the Force could participate but not in uniform They would march as a group without a float 78 79 Additionally in 2024 Malcolm Cole s twin brother Robert recreated his 1988 Captain Cook costume in order to wear it in the parade to commemorate Malcolm s life 42 Resources editThe Australian Queer Archives City of Sydney Archives Pride History Group citation needed and the State Library of New South Wales hold an extensive collections of material related to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras including oral history interviews organisational records personal papers posters clippings and photographs 80 Events editMardi Gras Parade edit External mediaImages nbsp 2016 ParadeVideo nbsp 2005 Parade nbsp 2012 Pool Party nbsp Participants 2012 81 The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival culminates in the renowned Sydney Mardi Gras Parade an LGBTQIA rights protest and celebration of sexuality The parade features more than 12 500 entrants in colourful costumes and elaborate floats who represent a community group topical theme or political message Parade entrants include members of Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays the Australian Defence Force Amnesty International Australia Australian Marriage Equality City of Sydney Fire and Rescue NSW Taronga Conservation Society and DNA among many others Each parade starts with approximately 200 Dykes on Bikes riding up Oxford Street 82 It is often accompanied by fireworks displays which are launched from the rooftops of buildings along the parade route Approximately 300 000 spectators watch the Parade as it snakes 1 7 kilometres 1 1 mi through the Sydney CBD and Darlinghurst 18 83 The parade travels along Oxford Street before turning into Flinders Street and finally into the bus lane that runs parallel to Anzac Parade to the parade end These roads and others including some around Hyde Park are closed to traffic for the duration of the parade and for a few hours after as clean up operations proceed Each year a Chief of Parade Grand Marshal is chosen by the organisation New Mardi Gras as someone who represents the values and spirit of Mardi Gras This honourable title has previously been awarded to 2004 Monica Hingston former nun and cousin of Cardinal George Pell 84 2007 Rupert Everett gay actor 2008 Margaret Cho bisexual American comedian 2009 Matthew Mitcham Australian Olympic gold medalist world record holder and 2008 Australian Sports Performer of the Year 2010 Amanda Lepore transgender model performer 2011 Instead of a single Chief of Parade leading the march eight high profile heroes were chosen to lead the Parade These were Lily Tomlin lesbian actress and comedian Peter Tatchell a world renowned gay rights campaigner Don Baxter Executive Director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations at that time Bev Lange chief executive officer of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation at the time a former President of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and a former co chair of the Sydney Gay Games Lex Watson and Sue Wills Campaign Against Moral Prosecution s CAMP first Co Presidents and Hannah Williams and Savannah Supski who had recently protested against the ban against same sex couples at Hannah s Melbourne school formal 85 The same year Ignatius Jones consulted as Artistic Director to oversee the creative production of the Parade 2012 Shelley Argent the national spokesperson for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and 2011 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year 86 The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is extensively covered by the media In 2011 it was broadcast on radio by Joy 94 9 FM Melbourne and 2SER 107 3 FM Sydney The Parade was also shown live on Foxtel s Arena in its entirety The Arena broadcast was presented by hosts Louie Spence of Pineapple Dance Studios Charlotte Dawson Ruby Rose and Matthew Mitcham The Parade was also broadcast on radio live by various community radio stations via the CBAA s Community Radio Network satellite In 2012 Optus a corporate sponsor broadcast a delayed and edited highlights of the parade via www mardigrastv org au In 2014 SBS TV broadcast delayed and edited coverage of the parade highlights hosted by Tom Ballard Patrick Abboud and Heather Peace 87 Despite its name Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is not held on Mardi Gras Shrove Tuesday or indeed on a Tuesday at all 88 In recent years the Mardi Gras Parade has been on the first Saturday of March with a festival of events going for approximately three weeks preceding it The parade running order for 4 March 2017 89 Mardi Gras Party Post Parade edit nbsp Kylie Minogue 2012 90 nbsp Conchita Wurst 2016 91 The post parade party is one of the largest ongoing party events in the country citation needed Mardi Gras Party attendances at Sydney s Hordern Pavilion Royal Hall of Industries peaked in 1998 with 27 000 tickets sold 92 In the years since 17 000 to 20 000 tickets are consistently sold an increase over the first Parade Ball held in 1980 at the Paddington Town Hall a BYO event which attracted 700 guests 93 Although by the late first decade of the 21st century ticket sales has begun to fall with the 2012 post parade party selling out at 15 300 tickets 56 and ticket sales a little lower again in 2013 87 The 2010 party was not held on the night of the parade and was later described by the organisers as human error during scheduling Several well known local and international artists have performed at the Party and include 94 1990 Sam Backo Marcia Hines 1991 Tina Arena 1994 John Paul Young Kylie Minogue 1995 Boy George 1996 Trudi Valentine Thelma Houston 1997 Chaka Khan Village People 1998 Jimmy Somerville Kylie Minogue Dannii Minogue 1999 Dannii Minogue Marcia Hines Erin Hamilton Jimmy Barnes 2001 Vanessa Amorosi Sheena Easton Christine Anu 2002 Human Nature Bardot Deborah Cox Lorna Luft 2003 Suzanne Palmer Joan Rivers Brandon Gaukel 2005 Tina Arena Nicki French Darren Hayes Courtney Act 2006 Baby Marcelo Jimmy Somerville Mary Kiani Xenza 2007 Young Divas Boy George Dannii Minogue Log Log Binks 2008 Cyndi Lauper Walter Hanna Olivia Newton John 2009 Alison Jiear Tina Arena Miami Horror 2010 George Michael Kelly Rowland Adam Lambert Amanda Lepore 2011 Wynter Gordon Calvin Harris Alexis Jordan Frankie Knuckles Larry Tee Bob Downe 2012 Kylie Minogue RuPaul Sneaky Sound System Shauna Jensen Sam Sparro 2013 Loreen Delta Goodrem Heather Small The Presets Jake Shears 2014 Tina Arena Courtney Act Samantha Jade Marcia Hines Nathan Mahon Adam George 87 2015 Dannii Minogue Nick Jonas Jessica Mauboy Jake Shears Betty Who Rufus Wainwright Courtney Act 2016 Conchita Wurst Deborah Cox Courtney Act 2017 Client Liaison The Veronicas Steve Grand Nat Conway Greg Gould 2018 Cher 95 Starley 96 Seann Miley Moore 97 2019 Kim Petras Jake Shears Leiomy Maldonado PNAU Courtney Act Paul Capsis 98 2020 Dua Lipa Kesha Pabllo Vittar Sam Smith 99 2021 Rita Ora 2022 Darren Hayes Vanessa Amorosi 2023 Sugababes Agnes Mardi Gras Festival edit By 1987 the festival included 35 events 41 The 1998 festival was estimated to contribute 99 million to the Sydney economy 48 Multi disc Mardi Gras compilation albums were released in 1995 35 1997 2002 and 2003 The festival s live entertainment includes cabaret comedy music and theatre The Mardi Gras Film Festival showcases international and local gay and lesbian films There are many literature and arts events forum and conferences to attend between the many social activities Individual and team sports have always been a big part of the festival Mardi Gras Fair Day edit nbsp Fair Day 2007 Sea of Hearts by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby 100 In 1979 an Alternative Lifestyle Fair as part of a week of activities around International Gay Solidarity Day During the early 1980s the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association held an annual Fair Day which was brought into the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras program in 1985 From 1985 to 1988 the Business Association continued to run the Fair which was subsequently run by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from 1989 The event is the kick off event for the official Mardi Gras season in Victoria Park Sydney for Sydney s wider LGBTQIA communities and their friends and family Up to 70 000 people routinely turn out to sit on the grass browse the stalls and catch up with old friends or make some new ones Fair Day 2011 saw record numbers of attendees Entertainment came from the Foxtel Main Stage and included a set from Zoe Badwi and Garcon Garcon and one of the biggest ever Mr and Mrs Fair Day competitions 101 Approximately 250 volunteers assisted with 220 stalls made up of many LGBTQIA community groups 101 In 2017 Mardi Gras Fair Day was held at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park on Sunday 19 February 102 Mardi Gras Awards edit Hall of Fame winners 1992 Brian McGahen Bruce Belcher David Wilkins Kimberly O Sullivan Lance Gowland Peter Tully Ron Muncaster 1993 Colin Fawcett Leggs Galore Robyn Laverack and Cath Phillips 1994 Barry Cecchini Peter Macdonnell and Bruce Pollack 1995 Ron Austin Murray McLachlan and Bill Whittaker 1996 Corby Beard Brent Beadle Richard Cobden 1997 Kathy Pavlich and Susan Harben 1998 Margaret McMann and Stephen Alkins 1999 Gillian Minervini Phillipa Playford Tony Crewes Rodney Thorpe 2000 Bill Morley George Petersen David McDiarmid John Marsden 2001 Brian Hobday Gary Leeson Ron Smith 2002 Dr Richard Liddy Jade Snow Kemety Katrina Marton Doris Fish Richard Wherret Source Hall of Fame amp Lifetime Achievement Award Winners 103 The Mardi Gras Awards are presented to organisations and individuals who made an outstanding contribution to Mardi Gras and the gay and lesbian community 32 WorldPride Sydney 2023 editInterPride at their October 2019 Annual General Meeting of three hundred delegate organizations held in Athens Greece chose Sydney Australia to host WorldPride 2023 the first time WorldPride will be held in the Southern Hemisphere or Asia Pacific region Sydney received 60 of the vote ahead of the other bid contenders Montreal Canada 36 and Houston Texas 3 19 20 21 WorldPride 2023 coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the first Australian Gay Pride Week 45th Anniversary of the first Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras and 5th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Australia According to the bid document the stated objective of WorldPride Sydney 2023 is to celebrate the diversity of culture and identity in the Asia Pacific region while shining a light on widespread human rights abuses 104 WorldPride Sydney 2023 was held between 16 February and 4 March during Australia s summer and consisted of a 17 day combined 45th Anniversary Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras WorldPride 2023 Festival 104 The centrepiece was a three day LGBTQIA Human Rights and Health Conference focusing on LGBTQIA people s experiences of violence torture abuse discrimination and persecution in the Asia Pacific region and more broadly Other stated signature events included Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country WorldPride Opening Ceremony 45th Anniversary Mardi Gras Parade 45th Anniversary Mardi Gras Party Interpride Reception Bondi Beach Party Mardi Gras International Arts Festival 30th Anniversary Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival WorldPride First Nations Gala Concert Sissy Ball Grand Final WorldPride March WorldPride Closing CeremonySupport edit nbsp In 2017 Qantas displayed its Mardi Gras sponsorship on an Airbus A330 300 dubbed the Gay330 or PrideRoo 105 nbsp Rainbow Crossing at Taylor Square Political support has come from a number of local and federal politicians such as former Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja 106 and current Labor Senator Penny Wong 107 Members of the House of Representatives Tanya Plibersek 108 and current Prime Minister since 2022 Anthony Albanese 109 former Leader of the Opposition and Labor Party Bill Shorten 108 Former Premier Barry O Farrell 110 as well as the present Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore 111 In 2023 Albanese became the first Prime Minister to march in Mardi Gras while in office 109 In 2024 Chris Minns became the first Premier of New South Wales to march in Mardi Gras 112 As Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attended the 2016 Mardi Gras but did not march There was a movement by some Mardi Gras members to disinvite him in 2017 due to lack of action on same sex marriage and his cuts to the Safe Schools program 113 however the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board subsequently rejected the move 114 Hundreds of thousands of Australians and international guests come out in support of the Parade with many lining up for a viewing spot from early in the afternoon By the 7 45 pm Parade kick off crowds are usually ten people deep 115 Though it has rained on several Mardi Gras parades notably with heavy downpours prior to and drizzle during the parade in 1995 and heavy rainfall during the parade in 2004 this has never stopped the parade The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is regarded internationally as one of the world s biggest and best LGBTQI marches and festivals and has been described as an absolute once in a lifetime must for every travelling gay man 116 Mardi Gras is featured in the programmes of tour operators which target the gay market 48 In the 2000s the Mardi Gras organisation struck financial trouble and collapsed This was attributed at the time to poor financial management and a downturn in international tourism following the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City while another explanation was given as Australia s ongoing public liability crisis which has seen massive insurance premiums impose a significant burden on community and public events if not preventing them As a consequence of the impending collapse of the organisation there was a groundswell of concern and support within Sydney s LGBTQI communities for the continuation of the work and events of Mardi Gras A series of crisis meetings culminated in the creation of a reformed organisation New Mardi Gras being formed to continue the Parade the Festival amp the Party 117 In 2008 it was announced that the Government of New South Wales would provide funding for Mardi Gras as it had become part of the state s Master Events Calendar 118 Limited funds have also been sourced from the Sleaze Ball party held in Sydney towards the end of the year Mardi Gras still receives significant public support and the event now receives some limited government funding In 2013 a temporary rainbow crossing was created by City of Sydney Council as part of the 35th anniversary celebrations 119 The rainbow crossing proved popular with tourists and when it was removed as part of a condition with Roads and Maritime Services when the rainbow crossing was built DIY rainbow crossings emerged and was picked up by the local and international media 120 In 2018 the rainbow crossing was reinstated 121 See also edit nbsp LGBT portal nbsp Transgender portal nbsp New South Wales portal LGBT rights in Australia List of LGBT events Mardi Gras Film Festival Tourism in Sydney Culture of Sydney Ron Austin one of the founders Lance Gowland one of the founders Footnotes edit As of June 2019 New York City s NYC Pride March is North America s biggest Pride parade For Stonewall 50 WorldPride NYC 2019 up to five million took part over the final weekend 2 3 with an estimated four million in attendance at the parade 4 5 Sao Paulo Brazil s event Parada do Orgulho GLBT de Sao Paulo is South America s largest and is listed by Guinness World Records as the world s largest Pride parade starting in 2006 with 2 5 million people 6 They broke the Guinness record in 2009 with four million attendees 7 They have kept the title from 2006 to at least 2016 8 They had five million attend in 2017 9 10 As of 2019 it has three to five million each year 11 As of June 2019 Spain s Madrid Pride Orgullo Gay de Madrid MADO is Europe s biggest it had 3 5 million attendees when it hosted WorldPride in 2017 10 As of June 2019 the largest LGBTQ events include in Asia it is Taiwan Pride in China s Taipei 10 in the Middle East it is Tel Aviv Pride in Israel 10 in Oceania it is Australia s Sydney Mardi Gras Parade 12 in Africa it is South Africa s Johannesburg Pride 13 References edit a b c d 2019 Annual Report PDF Retrieved 11 January 2020 Allen Karma Katersky Aaron 2 July 2019 Millions more attended WorldPride than expected ABC News Retrieved 9 July 2019 Caspani Maria Lavietes Matthew Millions celebrate LGBTQ pride in New York amid global fight for equality organizers Reuters Retrieved 8 July 2019 O Doherty Cahir 4 July 2019 Irish march at historic World Pride in New York City IrishCentral com Retrieved 9 July 2019 Lynch Scott Photos Massive Turnout For Euphoric NYC Pride March Gothamist Gothamist Archived from the original on 3 July 2019 Retrieved 9 July 2019 Ripardo SERGIO 28 May 2008 Guinness exclui recorde da Parada Gay 28 05 2008 Folha Online Retrieved 9 July 2019 Lawler Opheli Garcia 18 June 2017 Brazil Holds World s Largest Pride Parade The Fader Retrieved 9 July 2019 Sheets Cassie 1 June 2017 10 Things You Didn t Know About Pride Pride com Retrieved 9 July 2019 Petrov Arkady 30 June 2019 2019 LGBT Parade in Sao Paulo Raised R 403 Million for the City The Rio Times Retrieved 22 July 2019 a b c d Pride 2019 The world s 15 biggest LGBTQ celebrations from New York to Tel Aviv USA Today Travel 10 June 2019 Retrieved 8 July 2019 Nomadic Boys 11 June 2019 South America s best Pride parades Lonely Planet Retrieved 9 July 2019 Duffy Nick 20 February 2019 Glitter has been banned from Australia s biggest Pride celebration PinkNews Retrieved 9 July 2019 Mohamed Amarra 6 June 2019 Pride in Pictures Johannesburg s Pride parade is the biggest in Africa amp there s a reason why www lgbtqnation com Retrieved 9 July 2019 Sames Christine 7 March 2004 Statements and sequins on parade The Sun Herald Retrieved 25 February 2010 Mardi Gras marchers push for gay marriage Australia ABC News 6 March 2011 Retrieved 8 April 2011 Peoples History of Australia 9 April 2020 People s History of Australia Podcast Episode 7 The 1978 Sydney Mardi Gras The Commons Social Change Library Retrieved 1 March 2023 Ross Liz 3 April 2023 Revolution Is For Us Gay Liberation Unions and the Left in the 1970s The Commons Social Change Library Retrieved 5 July 2023 a b Samandar Lema 5 March 2011 Sydney Mardi Gras focuses on gay marriage Ninemsn News Archived from the original on 3 May 2011 Retrieved 8 April 2011 a b Nguyen Kevin Collins Antonette 21 October 2019 Sydney we re coming for ya baby Australia wins WorldPride bid for 2023 ABC News Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b The gay Olympics Sydney wins bid to host 2023 WorldPride event SBS News Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Peter Hackney 20 October 2019 Sydney wins bid to host WorldPride 2023 Star Observer Retrieved 23 October 2019 About Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Archived from the original on 7 June 2014 Retrieved 8 June 2014 Mardi Gras Definition amp Meaning Merriam Webster Mardi Gras George Negus Tonight Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1 March 2004 Archived from the original transcript on 18 June 2008 Retrieved 7 July 2008 a b c d Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras Information Kit 1997 a b Irving Terry Cahill Rowan 2010 Radical Sydney Places Portraits and Unruly Episodes Sydney Australia UNSW Press pp 326 327 ISBN 978 1 74223 093 1 Retrieved 17 November 2011 a b c Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Australian Museum Archived from the original on 20 July 2008 Retrieved 7 July 2008 New South Wales Year Book 1998 Australian Bureau of Statistics 25 January 2001 Retrieved 18 June 2013 a b c d e f g Watson Sophie 1999 City Politics In Pile Steve Brook Christopher Mooney Gerry eds Unruly Cities London Routledge pp 218 221 ISBN 0 203 98353 X Retrieved 17 November 2011 Australia National Film and Sound Archive of 13 May 2021 Witches and Faggots Dykes and Poofters Owning terms www nfsa gov au Retrieved 13 May 2021 Matilda Graphics 1980 Witches and faggots dykes and poofters poster digital sl nsw gov au Panacea Press Retrieved 13 May 2021 a b c Carbery Graham 1995 A history of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Melbourne Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives Inc p 245 ISBN 0 646 23788 8 Retrieved 14 January 2013 1 Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras 1993 Information Pack a b c d e Smith Melanie K 2003 Issues in cultural tourism studies London Routledge pp 151 152 ISBN 0 415 25637 2 Retrieved 17 November 2011 Paul Hallam The Book of Sodom p 61 at Google Books Harvey Dennis 24 June 1993 Feed Them to the Cannibals Variety Retrieved 6 September 2018 Marsh Ian 1993 Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras An Evaluation of its Economic Impact a b Best Gary 2005 Media Makes Mardi Gras Tourism Mecca In Crouch David Jackson Rhona Thompson Felix eds The media and the tourist imagination Converging cultures Oxon United Kingdom Routledge pp 34 36 ISBN 0 415 32625 7 Retrieved 17 November 2011 Malcolm Cole Blak History Month 24 July 2021 a b Smith Melanie K 2003 Issues in cultural tourism studies Routledge p 151 ISBN 0 415 25638 0 Retrieved 19 March 2012 a b Mockler Richard 1 March 2024 Twin brother pays tribute to Malcolm Cole s 1988 Captain Cook at Sydney Mardi Gras parade ABC News Australia Retrieved 2 March 2024 Gelber Kath 22 May 1996 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras membership controversy Green Left Weekly Retrieved 22 February 2023 78ers Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd Archived from the original on 10 June 2019 Retrieved 21 June 2019 Sydney Drag Royalty The Entertainment Queens Carmen Geddit Sydney Drag Royalty The Entertainment Queens Retrieved 4 February 2020 rebecca williams 20 February 2017 Undressing Priscilla www nfsa gov au Retrieved 4 February 2020 Binnie John 2004 The Globalisation of Sexuality London Sage Publications p 86 ISBN 0 7619 5935 1 Retrieved 17 November 2011 a b c Hughes Howard L 2006 Gay and Lesbian Festivals Tourism in the Change from Politics to Party In Picard David Robinson Mike eds Festivals Tourism and Social Change Remaking Worlds Channel View Publications p 242 ISBN 1 84541 048 3 Retrieved 19 March 2012 Falconer Delia 2010 Sydney Sydney Australia UNSW Press p 190 ISBN 978 1 921410 92 5 Retrieved 17 November 2011 Economic woes fail to rain on Mardi Gras parade Australia ABC News 9 March 2009 Retrieved 17 June 2009 Sydney Mardi Gras focuses on gay marriage Ninemsn News Australia 5 March 2011 Archived from the original on 3 May 2011 Retrieved 13 May 2011 The power of one The Sydney Morning Herald 5 January 2008 Archived from the original on 3 March 2024 Retrieved 20 November 2011 Mardi Gras effortlessly survives his prayers for rain Row erupts in Australia over gay Jesus play report Agence France Presse 19 January 2008 Archived from the original on 4 November 2011 Retrieved 20 November 2011 via Google News Australian Defence Force to march in uniform in Mardi Gras 2013 Mardi Gras circle of love Sydney Star Observer Retrieved 17 November 2011 a b Mardi Gras awash with love Star Australia 5 March 2012 Retrieved 6 March 2012 Mardi Gras regrets name change cheat 17 December 2011 Archived from the original on 17 January 2012 Retrieved 15 January 2013 Take the gay out of mardi gras and it s over 20 November 2011 Mardi Gras festival goes straight and loses the alphabet soup ASMH 18 November 2011 Retrieved 15 January 2013 Is Sydney Mardi Gras Going Through Ex Gay Therapy Queerty 21 November 2011 Retrieved 15 January 2013 Police accused of Mardi Gras brutality as cuffed man slammed on ground 6 March 2013 Levy Megan 7 March 2013 You ll make it worse for yourself new footage shows Mardi Gras teen kicking at officers The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 3 March 2024 Jamie Jackson Reed brutalised by constable at Sydney Mardi Gras court finds Australia ABC News 6 February 2014 Retrieved 7 March 2014 Taylor Josh 3 June 2020 Police took three years to make finding against officer who slammed teen to ground at 2013 Sydney Mardi Gras The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 3 March 2024 Raelians protest Mardi Gras rejection Star Observer 20 April 2008 Retrieved 17 June 2014 Mardi Gras alienates Raelians Star Observer 20 April 2008 Retrieved 17 June 2014 Raelians plan debaptism ceremony after Mardi Gras ban Gay News Network 2 March 2012 Archived from the original on 14 July 2014 Retrieved 17 June 2014 Second ban prompts group to speak out against Mardi Gras Gay News Network 5 February 2013 Archived from the original on 14 July 2014 Retrieved 17 June 2014 Akersten Matt 4 February 2012 Polyamorists defend parade spot Same Same Archived from the original on 8 March 2014 Retrieved 8 March 2014 Noonan Andie 12 February 2012 Poly conflict resolved Star Observer Retrieved 8 March 2014 Every float every group Mardi Gras Parade2012 revealed Same Same 24 February 2012 Archived from the original on 15 December 2013 Retrieved 8 March 2014 Mardi Gras Parade 2014 All the floats you ll see Same Same 27 February 2014 Archived from the original on 7 March 2014 Retrieved 8 March 2014 Mardi Gras Not a Perfect Rainbow BULL Magazine Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 News Important Message about COVID 19 ahead of Mardi Gras 29 February 2020 Sydney Mardi Gras Sam Smith appears in surprise float Dua Lipa performs Physical for the first time NME 29 February 2020 Retrieved 6 May 2021 LGBTQI communities rise for historic Mardi Gras Parade Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd 9 March 2021 Archived from the original on 9 July 2021 Retrieved 3 July 2021 2021 s Mardi Gras Parade will be at the SCG www mardigras org au Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd 5 November 2020 Retrieved 3 July 2021 Tregenza Holly 28 February 2024 NSW Police officers will be allowed to march in Sydney s Mardi Gras parade but not in uniform ABC News Retrieved 2 March 2024 Beazley Jordyn Ittimani Luca 28 February 2024 NSW police to march in plainclothes at Sydney Mardi Gras after deal reached The Guardian Retrieved 2 March 2024 LGBTQI collections State Library of NSW 11 January 2023 Retrieved 2 March 2024 Equality the message of 2012 Mardi Gras 5 March 2012 Dykes on Bikes at Sydney Mardi Gras retrieved 6 August 2023 Lema Samandar 5 March 2011 Sydney Mardi Gras focuses on gay marriage The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 18 June 2013 Barney Zwartz 4 March 2004 Cardinal Pell s cousin to lead Mardi Gras The Age The Age Company Retrieved 4 March 2012 Cook Henriette 10 November 2010 Girls interrupted same sex couple banned from ball The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 15 May 2011 Shelley Argent OAM for Sydney Mardi Gras Chief of Parade Press release Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2012 Archived from the original on 17 March 2012 Retrieved 6 March 2012 a b c Akersten Matt 3 March 2014 Aussie stars shone at kaleidoscopic Mardi Gras 2014 Same Same Archived from the original on 7 March 2014 Retrieved 7 March 2014 Mardi Gras 2009 Parade New Mardi Gras mardigras org au Archived from the original on 7 June 2011 Retrieved 17 January 2009 All 183 floats marching at the 2017 Mardi Gras parade Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Archived from the original on 6 March 2017 Showgirl returns 13 February 2012 The Queen of Austria will perform at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras official party 14 January 2016 Pinkboard Mardi Gras History 90s Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Pinkboard Mardi Gras History 80s Archived from the original on 16 May 2008 Pinkboard History of Post Parade Parties Party details including poster artwork for each party Archived from the original on 2 July 2012 mardigras org au 15 February 2018 2018 Sydney Mardi Gras Party Archived from the original on 15 February 2018 Retrieved 15 February 2018 Andrews Marc 28 February 2018 Mardi Gras Stage Starley Meet Cher DNA Magazine Archived from the original on 3 December 2020 Retrieved 28 February 2018 Complete Mardi Gras Party line up revealed Sydney Gay amp Lesbian Mardi Gras 22 February 2018 Retrieved 28 February 2018 Mardi Gras Party 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd Archived from the original on 22 March 2022 Retrieved 22 March 2019 Sam Smith Is Heading To Sydney To Perform At Mardi Gras KIIS 1065 Sydney Retrieved 21 January 2020 Push for equal rights 20 April 2008 a b Fair Day Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 16 November 2010 Archived from the original on 13 November 2011 MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Archived from the original on 16 February 2017 Retrieved 16 February 2016 Mardi Gras Hall of Fame amp Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd Archived from the original on 15 May 2019 Retrieved 15 May 2019 a b Sydney s Bid for WorldPride 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd Archived from the original on 20 October 2019 Retrieved 23 October 2019 Munro O Brien Jodie 14 February 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras honoured by Qantas Rainbow Roo The Courier Mail Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Bartlett Andrew 4 April 2000 Senator Andrew Bartlett speaks about Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Adjournment Speech Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 6 February 2024 The Democrats float in this year s mardi gras parade included participation by a number of Democrat parliamentarians including our federal colleague Senator Brian Greig the first gay activist to be elected to the Australian parliament me as the Democrats spokesperson on these issues and the party s Deputy National Leader Senator Natasha Stott Despoja who also participated in another event as part of the gay and lesbian mardi gras festival a hypothetical about the invention of a test for a gay gene which raised some interesting issues Ireland Judith 1 March 2014 Mardi Gras Penny Wong joins the parade The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 6 February 2024 a b Mardi Gras 2016 Same sex marriage on the agenda as Sydney cleans up ABC News 6 March 2016 Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 6 February 2024 Labor leader Bill Shorten marched with party supporters in the parade accompanied by local federal MP Tanya Plibersek as well as Anthony Albanese a Mardi Gras veteran and member for the progressive nearby seat of Grayndler a b Anthony Albanese makes history as first sitting PM to march in Sydney s Mardi Gras parade AP SBS 25 February 2023 Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 6 February 2024 Liberals pledge support to grow Mardi Gras New Mardi Gras Archived from the original on 13 July 2011 Gay and Lesbian Issues Clover Moore Political Website Archived from the original on 29 September 2011 Costin Luke Gramenz Jack 3 March 2024 Mardi Gras parade sparkles through sorrow and tension AAP Archived from the original on 3 March 2024 Retrieved 3 March 2024 Saturday s parade was also the first to feature a state premier with Chris Minns accompanied by ministers Penny Sharpe and Rose Jackson in Rainbow Labor s contingent Bouris Catherine 13 November 2016 Members vote not invite PM Malcolm Turnbull to Mardi Gras Star Observer Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 15 November 2016 Brook Benedict 13 November 2016 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras re invites Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to 2017 parade despite lack of marriage equality news com au Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 28 February 2017 Massive crowds line Oxford St for Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Australian Associated Press 28 February 2010 Archived from the original on 19 February 2012 Retrieved 15 May 2011 via news com au Markwell Kevin 2002 Mardi Gras Tourism and the Construction of Sydney as an International Gay and Lesbian City GLQ A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies 8 1 2 81 99 doi 10 1215 10642684 8 1 2 81 S2CID 54997571 Star Observer Staff 20 April 2008 The Man Who Saved Mardi Gras Star Observer Retrieved 6 December 2017 Tim D 1 October 2008 Mardi Gras Gets Government Funding Same Same Archived from the original on 4 November 2010 Retrieved 12 June 2012 Moore Clover Item 3 1 Rainbow Crossing Oxford Street PDF Minute by the Lord Mayor 25 February 2013 City of Sydney Archived from the original PDF on 29 October 2013 Retrieved 19 April 2013 Hicks Megan 2016 Sydney s Rainbow Crossings Dictionary of Sydney Dictionary of Sydney Trust Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 6 February 2024 The removal of the Taylor Square rainbow crossing created an even bigger stir than its original installation To mark its passing people attached unofficial rainbow flags to poles in Taylor Square and tied rainbow ribbons to safety fences But performer and activist James Brechneyhad a fresh idea for an alternate location that somehow captured the zeitgeist A few hours after the official rainbow crossing was removed Brechney with the help of friends chalked a rainbow across a laneway near his house in Surry Hills The photograph they took that afternoon went viral his friends started chalking their own rainbows and the next day he started a Facebook page DIY Rainbow Crossing soon changed to DIY Rainbow for simplicity Within two days the page had more than 7500 likes and counting Leighton Dore Samuel 21 June 2018 Sydney is getting a brand new permanent rainbow crossing SBS News Archived from the original on 6 February 2024 Retrieved 6 February 2024 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sydney Mardi Gras Official website Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 1978 2018 interactive Timeline on Google Arts amp Culture Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives holds extensive collections relating to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras including records photographs publications posters artwork T shirts badges etc Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival coverage on SBS Garry Wotherspoon 2008 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Dictionary of Sydney Dictionary of Sydney Trust Retrieved 5 October 2015 CC By SA 33 52 50 S 151 13 02 E 33 88068 S 151 21719 E 33 88068 151 21719 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras amp oldid 1220502867, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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