Sydney's Brave New Gay Worlds
By Dave Taylor
4 Mar 2008
Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras turned 30 this year. From its birth in 1978 when a small parade for International Gay Solidarity ended in police harassment and the arrest of many of the marchers, Sydney's annual Mardi Gras has become what is said to be one of the world's major gay and lesbian celebrations. The 2008 celebrations had the theme "Brave New Worlds".
The Mardi Gras is actually a month-long festival of parties, exhibitions, performances, concerts, competitions and a film festival. But it is best known by the night-time street parade which winds its way through inner Sydney to culminate in a post-parade dance party ending at 8AM. This year it was estimated that a crowd of 400,000 locals and international visitors watched the parade's 10,000 marchers and performers.
The parade is a both a celebration and a protest. The Gay and Lesbian community has come a long way in Australia – in fact, this year the Festival received a public message of support from Australia's new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd – but there is some distance to travel. This point was made quite dramatically by some of the parade's entries, including the Australian Human Rights Commissioner and those raising the issue of Christianity's attitudes towards homosexuality. Think of clergy in rainbow coloured vestments! But it was also thrilling to see members of the Australian Defence Forces, Federal Police, Emergency Services and New South Wales police participate in the parade, celebrating the joy of community and diversity.
Around 20,000 people attended the party, where Olivia Newton John and Cyndi Lauper were among performers entertaining a rather boisterous and happy crowd.
Australia is indeed a lucky country.
1 response
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John Linton gave props (18 Oct 2009):
Hell YEAH! Rad!
