HERE COMES THE PARADE
What to expect in 2019. Photography by Jeffery Feng.
…and the Party! Yes, it’s Mardi Gras time!
THE SYDNEY Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras is a two-week festival of film, theatre, arts, parties and community events. However, the most high-profile event is the Parade up Oxford Street from the Sydney CBD to the Showgrounds in Moore Park, where the massive after-Party is staged.
The first Parade was in the winter of 1978 and ended in violence and the arrest and brutalisation of over 50 people by the New South Wales Police. Times have changed. These days, the police march proudly in the Parade. They are just one of approximately 200 floats and over 12,000 participants on foot.
“Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras is the largest LGBTIQ event of its kind and promotes Sydney to the world,” says New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Adam Marshall.
According to Events NSW figures, Mardi Gras attracts 8,000 international visitors, 20,000 from interstate, and a further 10,000 intra-state from around NSW itself. In 2018, visitors spent an estimated $40 million.
The Parade is a vibrant, exciting and rowdy celebration of LGBTIQ rights and a tangible expression of Australia’s socially progressive values. It sends a clear message to our nearneighbours like Indonesia and Malaysia, who seem intent on further oppressing the basic human rights of their LGBT people.
In this year’s Parade, expect to see some of our less-friendly politicians and institutions lampooned. Bob Katter, Cory Bernardi and the Catholic Church are all likely to come in for a serve.
You’ll also see a diverse range of Parade entries celebrating First Nations peoples, the trans community, bisexual visibility and rural and remote LGBT groups. Other awarenessraising entries will address disability, mental health, HIV/AIDS health, and gay conversion therapy. LGBT people of faith will be present as will those concerned about the discriminatory “religious freedom” movement.
With Fearless as the theme, expect plenty of floats recognising those fearless individuals and groups who have represented us and helped achieve our civil rights.
HOW TO SEE THE PARADE
Without doubt, the most exciting place to view the Parade is from its starting point at Whitlam Square on Oxford Street. But be warned: 300,000 spectators are expected, so you must be there by early afternoon to secure a good vantage point, and the Parade doesn’t officially start until 7.30pm. It’s a long wait.
It’s somewhat easier to see the Parade closer to its end on Flinders Street, before the Showgrounds. But this lacks the high-energy of the start of the Parade and many of the floats and marching groups are exhausted and a bit bedraggled by this point.
There are seated options along the Parade route, however, these will already be sold out. Book early for 2020!
A live stream of the parade will be available on SBS On Demand and the SBS Twitter account on Saturday 2 March, hosted by Joel Creasey, Patrick Abboud, Zoe Combs-Marr and Narelda Jacobs. SBS Arabic 24 will report live to Arabic-speaking audiences around Australia.