Thursday 17th November marked the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras. There are two main changes that have taken place:

• The organisation has changed its name back to Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

This is after almost ten years as New Mardi Gras. The move to the old title is recognition that the event and brand remains owned by the city’s gay & lesbian community, even as it embraces involvement from the wider community.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras’ logo retains the Sydney Opera House image, paying respect to the heritage of the organisation.

• The event we all know and love that takes place in February will be called Sydney Mardi Gras.

It is presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

It’s a shorter name that reflects how most of us talk about the event and what people call it around the world.

It is also inclusive to reflect better the increasing diversity of what we stand for: our city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities as well as the many who do not like to label themselves.

For the first time, the event will have it own logo. Sydney Mardi Gras’ new symbol is the beautiful joining of hearts below. It goes hand in hand with a bold and ambitious new vision for the event: to inspire the world to love each other by celebrating the power and beauty of diversity. That is what we have always done, but we’re aiming even higher with this ambition.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras acknowledges the important work of over three decades of successful Mardi Gras events that have helped advance the law reform agenda, and at the same time, increased community respect and love for the LBGTQI community. There is more work to be done and we are confident these changes will make our organisation and the event even more effective in effecting change. We have also embraced others as part of our movement and our new vision reflects this.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is Mardi Gras changing the name of the organisation and the event?

The Board made the decision to change the names of our organisation to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the annual festival to Sydney Mardi Gras. We think both changes are very important and make it clear that Mardi Gras springs from the LGBTQI community with a message of hope for the world – infinite love for all. Mardi Gras contains a powerful message for everyone in our community, Sydney and the rest of the world. It is not just freedom from discrimination but that all people should be free to celebrate the loving relationships they have formed. Mardi Gras is strongest when it talks about both our rights and the world we want to live in.

Does this mean Mardi Gras is now a straight event?

No. These names show that Mardi Gras is an event organised by the gay and lesbian community that expresses our hope for ourselves, Sydney and the world.

Will the Parade criteria change?

The Parade criteria will continue to encourage entries from the LGBTQI community on any subject they choose and require entries without a connection to our community to express their support for our rights and celebrate our achievement.

How will Mardi Gras improve the visibility of LGBTQI people without gay and lesbian in the title?

We believe that the most effective strategy to improve gay and lesbian visibility is the content of the Parade and the Festival. That has not changed and is where we get lasting images of positive, happy lives of LGBTQI people; it’s where the full range of identities that make up our community get to take the spotlight and show the world how fabulous – and fabulously diverse – we all are.

What consultation did Mardi Gras do with the community?

The Board made this decision after reflecting on all of the feedback we have had from the community over the last two years. That included:

• The Parade community consultation that we held in 2010. The output of this was that two thirds wanted the Parade solely focused on LGBTQ issues and culture. The members at the 2010 AGM overturned this as and as a result the Parade criteria in 2011 included the ability for non-LGBTQ messaging
• Six months of direct engagement with a cross section of key individuals with both past and present involvement with Mardi Gras, and who sit across a range of identities
• A survey we ran with a mix of members and non-members. The output of this was an overwhelming majority said we should call the organisation Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, rather than keep it as New Mardi Gras. A substantial number also suggested other names, the lead being ‘Sydney Mardi Gras’ – with comments stating that it was a more inclusive and internationally recognised name, and that everyone knows it's a queer festival ·
• Feedback from newly-formed committees including Youth and Community Engagement · A unanimous vote at this year’s AGM from the membership, to formally acknowledge intersex people in the constitution of the organisation, and for the organisation to represent LGBTQI people

Was Mardi Gras asked to change the name to get Government funding or sponsorship?

No. The Government has never sought to control Mardi Gras in return for funding. Mardi Gras only ever partners with sponsors who demonstrate their genuine support for our community and their LGBTQI and diverse workforces. That has not changed.

Has Mardi Gras trademarked the new logo?

Yes, we have.

Isn’t the legal name of the organisation still New Mardi Gras?

The name Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a trading and registered business name for the legal entity and the company New Mardi Gras Limited. The legal entity has not changed, but the trading name has.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – ABN 87 102 451 785

New Mardi Gras Ltd – ACN 102 451 785