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1 Mar 2010

Diversity leads the way at 2010 Mardi Gras parade

As the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras becomes truly more diverse, is it time to drop the gay and lesbian tag line? Justin Ellis reports from Sydney. All images by Nat Cagilaba

Mardi Gras went totally ‘trans’ this year with head of parade Amanda Lepore (top of page) waving her way down Oxford Street in a convertible Mercedes wearing a rhinestone g-string and leaving much to the imagination.

And while previous parades have been more ethnically, religiously and globally diverse, the feeling on the street this year was that the parade has now more than ever become an extravaganza for the every man and woman, regardless of sexual orientation.

This transition perhaps completes the life cycle of what started as a revolution and is now a non-confrontational pageant peppered with current political messages that has become a barometer of mainstream, and gay and lesbian issues.


South Asian representation in Sydney

Diversity rules the day

But having Amanda Lepore as head of parade is more than just a token gesture to the transsexuals that participate in Mardi Gras. It underscores the evolution of the parade and how it has brought diverse genders and sexual orientations to the fore, helping to destigmatise them in the process.


Cara Wilson from the Transsexual Empire Strikes Back float 

Marching with the Transsexual Empire Strikes Back float was Cara Wilson, who says having a transsexual as head of parade is in line with the changes in perception of transsexuals throughout society. “The depiction of transsexuals as psychopaths and deviants has changed and destigmatisation of the community is definitely in progress. I think we really are seeing a greater diversity in the parade than ever before.”

And while this very public celebration of diversity makes its way down Oxford Street each year, squabbles continue behind the scenes and occasionally spill over into the international media. The animal rights proponents denied a float at this year’s parade, actors allegedly paid to be on the Ikea float in 2008, and corporate sponsors ANZ Bank blasted for their human rights record. On top of this, sponsorship by the New South Wales government purportedly further diminishes the parade’s community focus and grass roots history.

But this is 2010 and priorities have shifted. The squabbles will undoubtedly change from year to year but the elation on the faces of the 9,000 paraders on the 130 floats this year, and the excitement in the crowd indicates that the parade will definitely go on.

But for who and under what banner?

The political relevance of the parade fluctuates depending on the agendas of the day, but isn’t it time to consider a more inclusive catch cry that encompasses the breadth of people who participate in this annual spectacle?


Hong Kong makes an entrance

And with other events such as Chinese New Year beginning to jostle for pride of place on the Sydney events calendar, has Mardi Gras become another event, just the one with the most sequins? It felt like it this year, but that perception didn’t diminish the messages of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance that are still at the heart of what the parade is all about.

Sydney and Australia spend this one special time of the year celebrating diversity in all its shades – gay, lesbian, transgender, transsexual, bisexual, queer, intersex, and straight, but what we continue to share in common with minority communities the world over on a daily basis is the hypocrisy of politicians. For while they clamour to be in the limelight of the parade, they sent a very clear message of non-support to the gay and lesbian community last week when the senate rejected same-sex marriage.


2010 marks 10 years since Dayenu's inception and first appearance
in the Mardi Gras parade, which caused outrage amongst sections
of the Sydney Jewish community.

History of the gay world

This year’s parade was titled History of the World and there was much excitement about the firsts that the parade achieved this year. A rainbow flag was raised over Sydney Town Hall, the parade marshalling area was moved away from Hyde Park behind 6-foot high fences to shielded paraders from the drunken crowd that amassed in the park last year, and the party and the parade were split. Just another day in the life of the Sydney Mardi Gras.

Australia

读者回应

1. 2010-03-01 21:48  
It would have been fantastic to have been there. Thanks for the great coverage!
2. 2010-03-01 22:10  
Ahh, that was my first time there. It was an awesome experience. Thanks for the coverage!!
3. 2010-03-01 23:41  
I watched it last year and this year too. I must admit Mardi Gras 2009 much better and more colorful then this year. This year, too much politics.. too many commercial things... and most people agree that 2010 Mardi Gras not too "fantastic". not many people come and enjoy the parade.
and the parade it self... somehow very ordinary...
but most people happy that finally Asian boy Marching Band & Friend jump on the queue again, even tough only few of them.
Go Rainbow flags... Go Asian in Australia... i am proud that i ever watched this wonderful parade.
proud to be Gay, proud to be Asian and proud to be part of Gay and Lesbian Sydney Mardi Gras Parade.

sorry for my bad English and all of that only my personal though.
4. 2010-03-02 02:01  
I wish i was there, i know the experience would have been awesome
5. 2010-03-02 05:22  
Way back in the mid 90s, Mardi Gras was the best, was on the Sydney's leather pride float with my ex back then....was also part of Kylie Minogue's Better the Devil You Know dancing boys...it was all so FUN back then!
6. 2010-03-02 12:18  
It was my second time marching in the Parade with the Amnesty International float. This time I was doing it with my partner, so for that reason it was much better this year! We both enjoyed it very much, it was great. Don´t miss the opportunity if you are in Sydney next year
HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

PS: Don´t forget all the brothers and sisters that risk going to prison or even their lives just for being gay or lesbian. I hope, one day in the future, they will be able to celebrate too
7. 2010-03-02 16:19  
I'm not one to fly the rainbow flag and proclaim GLBT pride because I believe that sexuality is not an achievement, regardless of whether one is straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, intersexed or transgender. But, the mardi gras parade makes me very proud of being a member of the LGBT community. I applaud everyone who marched, who watched, who endured hours to get a spot on the side of the street, who celebrated the spirit, and of everyone else who are involved in this exemplary display of tolerance and diversity.
8. 2010-03-02 22:05  
DUMP THE WHOLE THING ALTOGEHER, seriously I fail to see how a shambolic one off event of a motley assortment of queers faggoting their pansy ass’s down the main drag benefits me, oh yeah I know it’s a good laugh for straights to go see it reinforces their cherished long held stereotyped impressions of us and it makes money for the local economy and hundreds of homo ordinaries go home thinking they actually made some statement over and above entertaining straights and reinforcing their long held stereotypes, seen it all before the same conceptually dated themes just different faces, once homosexual men actually aspired to lead the creative world now they are largely followers believing their own vain propaganda, remember so did Hitler and look what happened to him.
9. 2010-03-03 06:50  
A very Happy post-Mardi Gras to everyone! I just happen to be the Creative Director of the Asian Marching Boys and Friends float for this year. While our numbers were a little bit down on previous years, we have had extremely positive feedback from the audience, New Mardi Gras, and the media. We hope you all enjoyed our Oops... We Did It Again! Comeback float, we certainly had a fabulous time on the night. Hopefully a couple of of you can join us next year!

What gives me great pleasure in working with a float like the Asian Marching Boys and Friends during Mardi Gras is seeing the gay and lesbian community come together to promote gay visibility, knocking down the stigmas of homosexuality and gender inconformity, and to give awareness of gay and lesbian issues to the greater public, such as same-sex marriage and sexuality discriminating legislations. That is what Mardi Gras is all about to me. The joyous spirit of the parade, although fleeting for a single night, is a wonderful time for all involved, where people can truly express themselves for who they are, without fear of aggression or derision. To see the positive support and approval of the crowd adds an incredible energy to the night, and this is the reason why we spend hours and hours of preparations and thousands of dollars into floats.

Thank you again to all who marched, volunteered, organised, watched, or otherwised supported the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras!
10. 2010-03-03 11:26  
can a hobbits like me join in?
hehehe
11. 2010-03-03 15:49  
i just want to say it was great, i had no interest in attending before, but my partner talked me into going, so we travelled up from melbourne and we got a spot right up against the barrier, the atmosphere is great in the hours leading up to the parade, everyone is happy and gets along so well, it was truely a highlight.
12. 2010-03-03 15:51  
YEAH SYDNEY KNOWS HOW TO PARTY !!!
13. 2010-03-04 22:54  
It is sad that some people are bitter and angry about a parade that means a lot for people who participate and who view.

It was my 20th parade, and this year I marched again. Each year is something different - and the stories of the 9000 participants are all important. For each person who marches for the first time, it can be a deeply meaningful experience.

Regarding stereo-typing, it seems that perhaps no one has spoken to the straights. Most of them couldn't really care one way or not about the Mardi Gras Parade - and actually, most would probably not even come near the event.

The parade is important to me, and thousands of others & I hope that I am around for another 20 years to see how it's evolved.

Bring it on & HAPPY MARDI GRAS!
14. 2010-03-05 01:30  
The sentiment this reporter projects is sweet, however is misplaced. Mardi gras is a gay and lesbian event, there is nothing wrong with a seperate event for this group of people, just like many striaghts have their own events. The support it recieves from the straight community is fanastic and I hope it garners more support from this group of people in the continued future. Wh should the tag line be dropped. Miss America didn't drop its line or Miss Universe, we have created is Mr Gay America...their is nothing wrong with that... groups need to celebrate their commonalities. In this gay world commanality is also supportive of diversity, evolution is not dropping the tag line, evolution is support and harmony...keep the tag!
15. 2010-03-05 02:42  
Time to completely revamp MG. It's little better than a tourist attraction. After 30 years, it bores me to tears. An example of how it's lost its way - years ago, the Asian Marching Boys group was formed to give ASIAN guys a visible presence as a group - an excellent idea. Now it's been diluted as the AMB and Friends - another politically correct idea to allow non-Asians to join it, thus subverting the original idea.
16. 2010-03-10 20:11  
or maybe they can't get enough to march with them.

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