what will you remember?

In 2014 Sydney Mardi Gras celebrates the 35th anniversary of the festival, with the first march taking place on 24th June 1978 and unfortunately it was met with unexpected police violence. Mardi Gras was Sydney’s contribution to the International Gay Solidarity Celebrations which had developed as a result of the Stonewall riots in New York. Mardi Gras was a key step in a series of events by the Gay Solidarity Group to promote the forthcoming National Homosexual Conference and to offer support to San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day. It was also intended as a protest against the homophobic Festival of Light campaigner Mary Whitehouse who was visiting the city.

 

Several hundred members of the LGBT community and straight supporters gathered at Taylor Square and paraded down Oxford Street to Hyde Park. As festival goers joined in, the police harassed the lead float and eventually confiscated the truck and arrested the driver. Powered by anger, the festival goers diverted up Darlinghurst Road which had been closed by the police and at this point the police violently arrested 53 men and women, many of whom were beaten in cells. During the course of the next few months more protests and arrests took place and the action of the police was seen as unnecessary and heavy handed.

 

By 1979 the parliament of New South Wales appealed the NSW Summary Offences Act legislation that had allowed such arrests to have been made and created a new Public Assemblies Act which meant that residents of Sydney no longer had to acquire a permit for demonstrations and just simply needed to inform the police. As a result the first Mardi Gras march after this was a major civil rights milestone in the LGBT community. Over 3000 people marched without incident.In 1981 the decision was made to move the event forward to summer to take advantage of the weather, the face of the modern Mardi Gras had started to take place.

 

Throughout the 1980’s the event benefited from extensive media coverage and the crowds continued to grow from 200,000 in 1989 to over half a million in 1993. International and domestic tourists had also started flying into Sydney for the event generating an estimated AUD$38 million for the Sydney economy.

 

The mid nineties saw the event move into the mainstream with edited highlights being screened by ABC, some saw this as controversial but the show gave ABC its best ever Sunday night ratings. In 1997 Channel Ten became the first commercial broadcaster to cover the event.

 

The success of Mardi Gras continued throughout the nineties and the early part of the 21st century, in terms of tourist numbers, event quality and scope. The event now has its own full time members of staff and in 2006 Conde Naste traveller named it as one of the top ten costume parades in the world and PlanetOut named the festival the best in the world.

 

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras remains a truly global gay festival and a uniquely attractive escape from the Northern hemisphere winter.

 

Our Top 3 Events:

 

1. Sunset Cruise

Join us on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Sunset Cruise, where you’ll be able to get up close and personal with icons like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from the comfort of the amazing cruising vessel ‘Sydney Glass Island’.

 

It’ll be all hands on the roof deck as the sun sets over the world’s most beautiful harbour. Then the party continues after dark with pumping tunes courtesy of DJ Spin off winner Jimmy James, and fabulous oh-so-Sydney commentary and nautical-themed drag shows from Cruise Captain Summer Salt.

 

The cruise leaves from the Man O’ War Wharf next to Sydney Opera House at 6pm, and returns to port at 10pm. Complimentary champagne and canapés will be served on arrival, and a full cash bar and food will be available. And remember – what happens at sea, stays at sea!

 

2. The Parade

 

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is one of the world’s largest and best-loved LGBT celebrations, a chance for all of the colours of the kaleidoscope to come together, to commemorate, celebrate, and communicate the universal message of diversity, equality, and infinite love.Join hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the route, as 10,000 people parade with pride along Oxford and Flinders Streets in an explosion of creative and political expression, a captivating extravaganza of lavish floats, satirical statements, spectacular costumes and showstopping moments.

 

3. Rainbow Run

 

This Mardi Gras show your support for Equal Love by joining us for a Healthy Habit Fitness event, The Rainbow Run on Saturday the 8th of February, in the beautiful Sydney Park at 10am. The 6km run is a family friendly community event, open to anyone who wants to help fundraise for the support of Equal Love.

 

As well as fundraising efforts, proceeds from the event will also be donated to Equal Love initiatives in Australia.We will have a special live DJ set broadcasted throughout the run to keep participants motived, as well as other surprises in store for the day.