Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

18 February - 6 March 2022

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United we Shine

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UNITED WE SHINE

Our LGBTQI+ communities shine brighter when we rally together

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Parade

Parade

Our world-famous Parade returns to the SCG for the 2022 season

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Worldpride

Sydney WorldPride 2023!

Are you ready to be part of this once in a lifetime event?

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News

Mardi Gras comes to Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre for a fabulous Super Saturday

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) have joined forces for a fabulous Super Saturday vaccination drive at Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre this Saturday.

Mardi Gras Parade returns to the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2022

A dazzling display of pride and self-expression will descend on the Sydney Cricket Ground once more.

Love Your Bookshop Day

Today is Love Your Bookshop Day, an initiative of the Australian Booksellers Association which aims to celebrate bookshops across the country.

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN EXPRESS

American Express will today commence an exclusive three-year principal partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Additionally, the company will partner with Sydney WorldPride in 2023 - tipped to be the largest event held in Sydney since the 2000 Olympic Games and a southern hemisphere first.

CEO UPDATES - SEPTEMBER 2021

We want to ensure LGBTQI+ artists and entertainers can get back to work, LGBTQI+ small businesses are thriving and importantly, inject a much-needed dose of vitality back into Oxford Street.

CEO UPDATES - ONE NATION'S BILL

It’s time for our political leaders from all sides of politics to join together to emphatically reject the findings of the report and oppose One Nation’s bill.

CEO UPDATES - AUGUST 2021

In 2023, Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride will introduce the world to our glittering LGBTIQ+ communities.

SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE REVEAL

Sydney Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride 2023 reveal festival dates, new logo and official theme.

THE BOOKSHOP DARLINGHURST

The Bookshop Darlinghurst buyer Graeme Aitken (his/him) has selected five new and recent Australian titles that would make ideal lockdown or winter reading.

CEO UPDATES - JULY 2021

It is the time of the month where we share what’s been happening at Mardi Gras HQ.

FOLLOW @sydneymardigras

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We simply couldn't do it without them 🙌 Mardi Gras relies on thousands of volunteers to make our world-famous festival and events the success that they are each year.

When you volunteer with Mardi Gras, you’ll be making not only a difference for the organisation but also the wider community for which we serve.

Volunteer opportunities for Mardi Gras 2022 are now open. Link in bio for more information.

Happy International Pronouns Day! 🌈 Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another person based on the person’s appearance or name. Asking and correctly using someone’s pronouns is a positive way to respect them and create inclusive spaces.

If you realise that you've made a mistake after a conversation has ended, apologise privately and move on. You can also jump-start the overall learning curve by educating yourself and others around you!

As Sydney prepares to host WorldPride in 2023, the world’s eyes will focus on the state’s record on LGBTQI+ rights. It’s a significant opportunity to push for changes to laws to achieve full equality for our communities.

🌈 We're joining forces with @equalityaustralia and NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby to ensure our movement for equality is stronger than ever, sending a clear message to our leaders that every person in NSW deserves to live, work and study in dignity and respect.

Join us to demand NSW politicians #ActForEquality. Link in bio for more information.

It's happening! Mardi Gras is returning in 2022 🌈✨

Each year, for 44 years, nothing has stopped us from gathering to celebrate together, to call for change and to remember those who came before us. The @ourscg gives us the best chance for the Parade to proceed safely, no matter the COVID situation next year.

Tickets go on sale Monday 15 November. Join our waitlist to receive a reminder about tickets and ensure you’re front of the queue once they become available!
https://www.mardigras.org.au/ticket-waitlist-2022

Today we're celebrating the milestone of every LGBTQI+ person who decides to openly live as their authentic self.

On #nationalcomingoutday, we’re also reaffirming our support for every member of our community, wherever they are on their journey.

Sometimes coming out as LGBTQI+ can be a lifetime process and it’s completely fine if you’re not ready to the take the next step.

Just a reminder, you aren't alone. It gets better! 🌈

Today is Love Your Bookshop Day, an initiative of the Australian Booksellers Association which aims to celebrate bookshops across the country. Here at Sydney Mardi Gras we give a shout out to Sydney’s LGBTIQ+ specialist @bookshopdarlo which will celebrate its 40th birthday in business next year.

The Bookshop Darlinghurst buyer Graeme Aitken (his/him) is making the browsing easier by recommending five new Australian titles that he has read or which are proving popular in-store.

✔ This Much is True By Miriam Margolyes
✔ Tank Water By Michael Burge
✔ Anything but Fine By Tobias Madden
✔ All About Yves: Notes from a Transition By Yves Rees
✔ A Secretive Life By Sara Hardy

Link in bio for more details!

Chase the rainbow! 🌈 This week Randwick City Council councillors voted unanimously to make Coogee Beach's rainbow walkway permanent!

The 50-metre rainbow walkway was painted in time for the opening of Sydney Mardi Gras earlier this year. Randwick City Council said that it’s in support of the LGBTIQI+ community to keep celebrating pride, diversity and inclusiveness.

This is the third rainbow installation in a large public space in Sydney. Prince Alfred Park in Surry Hills also unveiled its rainbow path in the lead up to Mardi Gras this year making a tribute to Australia's marriage equality. In Darlinghurst, the rainbow crossing was permanently installed in 2019 and it’s still shining today!

Rising against One Nation’s damaging education bill 🚫 This time we're joining NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby to continue our efforts to stop One Nation from harming our education system and the wellbeing of our LGBTQI+ youth.

The Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill is:
✔️ discriminatory and cruel
✔️ incompatible with existing laws and protections
✔️ injurious to fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression
✔️ harmful to teachers, students and education in NSW
✔️ unnecessary and, in some areas, incoherent

We’ll keep you informed once we have more updates!

Restoring our night-time gaybourhoods 🌃🌈 Recently, we were invited to participate in the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Advisory Group, which has been tasked with re-investing in Sydney’s night-time economy, once restrictions are lifted.

We are committed to restoring the vibrancy of our night-time gaybourhoods and ensure our community doesn’t get lost in the conversation.

We want to ensure LGBTQI+ artists and entertainers can get back to work, LGBTQI+ small businesses are thriving and importantly, inject a much-needed dose of vitality back into Oxford Street!

Podcast in the making! 🎙️🌈 While we are well known for our annual Parade and Festival in Sydney, the work we do never stops!

We're working on our very first podcast series and we couldn't be more excited! As always, we'd love your input and thoughts on this project.

👉 What topics would you find interesting to hear about in our podcast? We would love to hear all your suggestions. Please head to our stories or leave your comments here.

Today is the 14th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognises and protects the rights of tribal cultures worldwide including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2007. This was the culmination of more than 20 years of negotiation between the Indigenous peoples and governments of the world. The Australian Government announced its support for the Declaration in 2009.

Over the coming months, Sydney Mardi Gras will be announcing a range of initiatives to create more opportunities for greater visibility of the incredible First Nations community.

Further updates will follow soon 🌈

Today is @ruokday! 🙌 Do you know how the people in your world are really going? Life's ups and downs happen to all of us. So chances are someone you know might be struggling. Your genuine support can make a difference whatever they are facing, big or small.

While many sexuality and gender diverse people live happy, healthy and productive lives, there are a range of preventable experiences of mental distress which affect a disproportionate number of people in the LGBTQI+ communities compared to the general population.

Look out for yourself and those around you. If you are in need of extra support, call QLife (1800 184 527) or Lifeline (13 11 14) for urgent help and suicide prevention.

We’re supporting @equalityaustralia to stop One Nation's harmful bill. Head to the link in bio to tell our leaders we're standing together to reject the bill.

Every student in NSW should have the opportunity to reach their potential, to learn with their peers, and feel a sense of belonging in their school 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

The NSW Parliament’s education committee has handed down its report into One Nation’s education bill, and as expected, it’s bad news for our community.

The bill and report are an attack on the safety and inclusion of trans and gender diverse young people in schools, and will prevent young people from learning about the world they live in!

Every year the First Nations float showcases the beautiful diversity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQI+ community.

Sydney Mardi Gras is committed to creating more opportunities for LGBTQI+ First Nations people to raise their voices and celebrate their stories now and for the future generations.

Over 30 years ago, eight dykes on motorcycles joined the Mardi Gras parade for the first time. Drawing their inspiration from Pride marches in San Francisco and New York, Dykes on Bikes in Sydney was formed 🏍💥

These days, @sydneydykesonbikes go from strength to strength and look forward to many more Mardi Gras Parades where they get to strut their stuff while showing support for the LGBTQI+ community 🌈

Today is Wear it Purple Day! And we’re here to start the conversation 💬

Let’s encourage our community members and allies to openly talk about LGBTQI+ issues and share their own experiences so we can gently educate and help empower young people 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Head to our Insta Stories #starttheconversation #keepitgoing #wearitpurpleday

We extend our heartfelt support to the Afghan community in Australia and the LGBTQI+ people, women, human rights defenders and minorities in Afghanistan who are in danger.

Australia’s response to the situation in Afghanistan must be inclusive for LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced people.

We stand with the @agmcinc, @amnestyaustralia, @fdpn.lgbtiq and the @refugee_council supporting their initiatives urging our leaders to take immediate action to provide safety and leadership as the situation in Afghanistan evolves quickly.

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Ready, set, go! In case you didn't know, Copenhagen 2021 WorldPride & EuroGames @cph2021 have kicked off bringing thousands of LGBTQI+ people to Copenhagen and Malmö for the most important pride event ever held in Scandinavia 🌍🌈

The Human Rights Conference will be one of the most significant LGBTQI+ events in 2021. Human rights defenders and activists from all over the globe will gather physically and digitally in Copenhagen between 17-19 August.

Hear from the brave activists at the forefront of these campaigns working to ensure LGBTIQ+ people are free and equal in rights and dignity.

Digital attendance is free. Link in bio.

We have teamed up with @aconnsw in an effort to encourage people in our communities to stay safe and get vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated protects you and helps to protect friends, the people you love and our whole community 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we can get back to doing the things we love!

More information about COVID-19 and our communities available at acon.org.au. Link in bio.

Our glittering Parade and Festival are a demonstration of the amazing power of passion, creativity and community.

Over the years we have proved that, in the face of adversity, the LGBTQI+ community can get attention, we can drive debate and we can change opinions, laws, lives, hearts and minds.

We are all capable of infinitely more than we believe 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

📸 by @rocketweijers

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First Nation

First Nation Logo

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, who are the traditional owners of the land on which our celebrations are held on.

We pay our respects to elders past and present and extend that respect to other First Nations peoples.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

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