Sydney gay and lesbian

Sydney Gay & Queer woman Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras Parade

When: 1 March

In , the Mardi Gras Parade returns to Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade, centred around the theme 'Our Future'. As always, the pride will be led by the beloved Dykes on Bikes, First Nations and 78er floats.

The parade is the biggest event of the festival, featuring more than 12, marchers and over floats captivating spectators with a spectacular display of colour, creativity and self-acceptance. There are free viewing areas all along Oxford Street, as well as premium viewing spaces and accessible viewing ticketed areas to view the spectacle from Hyde Park to Moore Park.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Pride , Sydney

More exciting events

There are plenty of other events to enjoy across the city throughout the festival, including performing arts, comedy, films and talks. Key celebrations include:

First Nations First Light: A Festival Welcome

When: 14 February

To commemorate the start of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras , head to the shores of Bondi Beach for a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and performances to welcome festival-goers onto the unceded and sacred Gadigal,

It takes balls to be a fairy, Sydney Lgbtq+ & Lesbian Mardi Gras , photograph by William Yang, courtesy National Library of Australia (-vn)This year is the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Same-sex attracted and Lesbian Mardi Gras and it has survived, and expanded, thanks to the determination of the city’s LGBTQI community.

Hear to Nicole and Nic on 2SER here

The first Mardi Gras parade in Sydney was held on 24 June , part of a worldwide International Lgbtq+ Solidarity day to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York that had happened in After a day of festivities, about people gathered at Taylor Square at pm to make their way down Oxford Street to Hyde Park. As the procession arrived at Whitlam Square, the police, who had given permission for the parade to take place, intervened, confiscating the clue truck and telling the crowd to disperse. The now angry crowd marched up William Street to Darlinghurst where they clashed with police and ‘a two-hour spree of screaming, bashing and arrests‘ followed, and 53 people were arrested amid many reports of police brutality. It wasn't until that a formal apology was made by the New South Wales police for the events of , and this year for the first

First gay Mardi Gras

Making history

Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives president Graham Willett describes the Mardi Gras as the ‘most dramatic moment of the backlash’ against the campaign for lgbtq+ rights. The parade started at 10pm and progressed down Oxford Street towards the city. The trouble began when they reached Hyde Park.

In an aim to get the crowd to disperse, the police confiscated the lead truck and loud speaker. The crowd, seeing that access to Hyde Park was blocked, headed towards Kings Cross. The police moved in and arrested 53 people.

According to Willett, ‘Many of those arrested were badly beaten inside police cells and the Sydney Morning Herald sank to new editorial lows by publishing the complete list of names and occupations of those arrested’.

Supporters began a ‘drop the charges’ campaign, which initially generated more arrests. However, due to public uproar about the arrests as adv as favourable media coverage, the first charges were dropped in October , and all charges were dropped by the close of Additionally, laws around obtaining permits for road marches and parades were liberalised.

As such, the first Mar

Thousands of revellers line capital streets for Sydney Homosexual and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade

Sydney's Oxford Street was buzzing on Saturday darkness as thousands of revellers clapped, cheered and danced to celebrate the 47th annual Mardi Gras parade.

More than 10, people marched with all of the favourites — disco balls, feathers, glitter, capes and sequins — on demonstrate across the floats from a range of group groups, charities and government organisations.

This year's theme "Free to be", which organisers said was a reminder the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights was far from over, resonated throughout the night.

Three-hundred Dykes on Bikes kicked off the festivities, lighting up Darlinghurst's Oxford Street, Flinders Parade and Anzac Parade with their trademark Harley Davidsons donned with rainbow flags.

The collective is the country's longest-running female motorcycle club, and one of the country's oldest LGBTQIA+ community groups which traditionally opens the event.

Opening marchers, the First Nations Community Group, carried plenty of First Nations flags, and feathers, while some participants held placards that read: "Always was always