Our Partners
At Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG), our partnerships are vitally important to us, and we value the active engagement of our partners with our LGBTQIA+ communities. Our partnerships enable us to hold more events, make our events more accessible and allow us to pay our staff, artists, and creatives.
All partners of SGLMG must align with our values and be approved through our Ethical Charter Framework.
SGLMG at its core aims to promote and advocate for all LGBTQIA+ human rights, equality, and inclusion across the nation. This value informs all our work, including our partnership agreements.
We look to our values and ethical charter when we are considering a potential partner, and we expect those partners to meet us and maintain this ethical standard and values alignment.
All our partners must show an ongoing commitment to our LGBTQIA+ communities within their organisation and externally within the broader community.
A meaningful and authentic commitment to LGBTQIA+ equality and inclusion cannot be viewed through a siloed lens that excludes other human rights and equality issues, our ethical charter and framework relating to partners reflects this and speaks to the partners commitment to the wide spectrum of human rights, social justice, and equality causes.
If you would like to discuss partnership opportunities at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, please contact our Partnerships Team: partnerships@mardigrasarts.org.au or (02) 9383 0900.
Our Ethical Charter
Our vision and values
- Working with our communities
- Celebrating diversity and inclusion
- Building and maintaining strong relationships
- Ensuring safety and wellbeing
- Honouring our history
Our principles
- Openness and Transparency
- Integrity
- Strengthening the global Pride network
- Building agreements that help us work together
- Contributing to the sustainability of LGBTIQ+ communities
Our promises
Our promises bring to life our values and principles, explaining how these are to be lived in relation to our stakeholder communities.
Living our promises
We live our promises through the actions we take, and our three key focus areas support our role in promoting visibility and the rights of LGBTQIA+ people globally.
Partner alignment with values
Through the questions we ask and the information we collect we assess the degree of alignment of each partner’s values with those of our own.
Openness and Transparency
The purpose of our shared Ethical Charter is to serve as a compass
for our people to make decisions that are aligned with our vision, values,
principles and promises. Decisions we can feel confident about.
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Principal partner
American Express
American Express’ dedicated PRIDE+ Network is committed to raising awareness and advancing changes that allow all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to be respected and valued. Through this new partnership, American Express looks forward to bringing these values and actions into the wider community.
Strategic partner
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NSW Government
The NSW public service strives to be a reflection of the community it serves. We actively promote employee networks and campaigns that encourage understanding of inclusion and diversity, and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.
Government partner
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City of Sydney
The City has demonstrated its commitment to LGBTIQ residents and visitors through partnerships, consultations with the community, advocacy work against homophobia, our financial and in-kind support of the ‘Yes’ campaign (2017) and of course our continued support for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and Parade.
Presenting partner
Coles Group
Coles Group is committed to attracting and employing people that represent the communities they work in – building a safe and supportive working environment for all team members, regardless of age, disability, race, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, family responsibilities or cultural background. Coles provides LGBTQIA+ inclusion training to all teammembers to create a workplaces where everyone feels like they can be their authentic selves at work.
Premier Network partner
Optus
Optus has long supported and empowered their LGBTQIA+ employees to foster greater inclusion through visibility, awareness and support and be a place where their people can bring their full selves to work. Internally Optus has an employee-led volunteer group called Express Yourself that was formed by a team of passionate employees advocating for Marriage Equality in Australia.
Official Broadcaster & Major Media partner
ABC
The ABC is proud to be the host broadcaster of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride, having always championed on-screen representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia, including being the first broadcaster to televise the Mardi Gras parade in 1994.
Media partner
oOh!media
oOh!media has become the official Out of Home media partner for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride 2023 after signing an exclusive three-year partnership.
Major partners
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Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, with more than 28 million accommodation listings in over 160,000 destinations worldwide, plus booking opportunities for attractions, cars and flights.
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Deloitte
In 2020, Deloitte launched the third Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders Report in partnership with Google and EnergyAustralia, dedicated to share the impactful stories of LGBTI+ role models and further inspiring our entire community to work towards creating more inclusive workplaces and communities.
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Google Australia
Google’s mission is to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, and our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of this: to increase access to opportunity by breaking down barriers and empowering people through technology.
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Little Creatures
The partnership between Little Creatures and Mardi Gras reflects the brand’s passion for connecting with consumers and contributing to community and culture in a positive, vibrant and sociable way – the way that Sydney Mardi Gras has been doing so for over 43 years.
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Meta
As part of an ongoing partnership, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Meta Australia announced earlier this year the return of the Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Events Grants program; an initiative to support hospitality venues, small businesses, and LGBTQIA+ artists and performers around Australia.
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Minter Ellison
Minter Ellison has proudly been the pro bono legal adviser for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for more than 25 years. As a law firm, the activities and services of Minter Ellison contribute to the positive wellbeing of all its people, clients and communities.
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Procter and Gamble
P&G is a proud partner of SGLMG since 2021, and continuing through to 2025 at least, in parallel includes annual sponsorship of Minus18 with objective to leverage P&G reach alongside SGLMG and Minus18 community expertise to educate and support the LGBTQIA+ youth of Australia.
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Qantas
Qantas wants to build an inclusive workplace, to ensure each and every employee feels comfortable to bring their whole self to work every day regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification.
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TikTok
TikTok is proud and honoured to be partnering with The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2021. The foundation of TikTok has always been about providing a place for people to express their ideas through creative, joyful and engaging content. The result is a vibrant, inclusive, global community that celebrates and embraces diversity and self-expression.
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W Hotels
W Hotels celebrates Pride with three-year Mardi Gras sponsorship. As part of celebrations in 2022, 2023, and 2024, W Hotels will host a variety of experiences to celebrate diversity and inclusion – values that the company are intrinsic to them.
Supporting partners
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Absolut
Since the early 1980s, Absolut has been a devoted and proud ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrating equal love and freedom of self-expression.
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Archie Rose
Archie Rose is back as the now three year Official Gin Partner to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras!
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Canva
Diversity and inclusion are an incredibly important part of Canva’s mission to empower the world to design, and its value as a company to be a force for good. Its global team has rapidly grown to more than 2,5000 people and the richness of its culture relies on having dynamic and varied personalities of all backgrounds throughout the organization.
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Coca-Cola Australia
The Coca-Cola Company supports and celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality through the workplace culture, community partnerships and policies the company has across the globe.
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Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Casamigos, Smirnoff, Baileys and Don Julio.
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Durex
Durex exists to unleash the freedom to be your true sexual self, and fight against shame and stigma. For many years Durex has partnered with Mardi Gras and other Pride festivals around the world, promoting and providing products which raise awareness of sexual health and protect against STIs.
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MECCA MAX
MECCA MAX is the vegan and cruelty-free MECCA-owned makeup brand that celebrates self-expression through colour, leading the company’s partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
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Oreo
OREO is committed to nurturing greater visibility, acceptance and belonging for LGBTQIA+ communities globally, and is now the Official Snacking Partner of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
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Red Bull
Red Bull Australia has been working with Mardi Gras since 2017, with its foundational support of the festival’s outstanding Ballroom culture event Sissy Ball. Red Bull is also a cornerstone partner/supporter of other LGBTQIA+ events including Heaps Gay and Poof Doof, along with venues like Universal, the Stonewall Hotel, Connections Nightclub in Perth and the […]
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Solotel
The Solotel Group of diverse restaurants and bars is going into maximum party mode as a proud supporting partner for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride 2023.
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Squealing Pig
Squealing Pig, the official wine partner of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras , celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and believes that our strength comes from our vast and varied backgrounds, ideas, cultures, genders and voices.
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Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport is an official supporting partner of Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Festival partners
Art Gallery NSW
Art Gallery NSW’s mission is to serve the widest possible audience as a centre of excellence for the collection, preservation, documentation, interpretation and display of Australian and international art, and a forum of scholarship, art education and the exchange of ideas.
Queer Screen
A celebration of the diversity of sexualities and gender identities through queer storytelling on screen, by inclusive and respectful communities full of creativity, inspiration and pride.
National Art School
In 2022 NAS celebrates 100 years teaching art at this location, but its history dates back to 1843, when regular art classes were held by John Skinner Prout at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts in Pitt Street, Sydney.
The Potts Point Partnership
The Potts Point Partnership is the local business and community Chamber of Commerce supporting and promoting businesses in Potts Point, Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay and Woolloomooloo. The second most densely populated urban area in Australia.
The Darlinghurst Business Partnership
The Darlinghurst Business Partnership is a volunteer, members-based organisation focusing on marketing, advocacy and business development in the greater Darlinghurst area. They have a dedicated DoDarlo website to showcase local independent, creative businesses.
The University of Sydney
Education for all. The University of Sydney has a proud history of progressive thinking, breaking conventions and challenging the status quo – improving the world around us.
Community partners
ACON
Established in 1985, ACON’s early years were defined by our communities coming together to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in NSW, and ACON remains committed to ending HIV for everyone.
Out For Australia
Out For Australia is an organisation that provides role models, mentors, events and support to aspiring LGBTIQA+ professionals.
Rainbow Families
Rainbow Families Inc is the peak organisation supporting LGBTQ+ parents and their children.
Minus18
Minus18 is leading change, building social inclusion, and advocating for an Australia where all young people are safe, empowered, and surrounded by people that support them.
Blaq
BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation is committed to empowering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ community through innovation, inclusion, understanding and advocacy.
People with Disability Australia
People with Disability Australia is a national disability rights, advocacy and representative organisation that is made up of, led and governed by people with disability.
Equality Australia
Equality Australia’s work ensures that LGBTIQ+ people are equal in Australia. We share information and resources to support LGBTIQ+ people.
Twenty10
Twenty10 provides a broad range of specialised services for young people 12-25 including housing, mental health, counselling and social support.
ANTRA
Australia & New Zealand Tongzhi Rainbow Alliance Inc. (ANTRA) point-of-contact and support for Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking LGBTQIA+ community members, particularly migrants, international students and other newly arrived diasporas.
JOY Media
JOY Media is an LGBTQIA+ Melbourne-based community radio station committed to providing a voice for the diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, enabling freedom of expression, the breaking down of isolation and the celebration of our culture, achievements and pride.
Proud members of
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia was born out of a growing need for a more holistic view of LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing.
Australian Festival Association
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) was formed to represent the shared interests and importance of the Australian festival industry.