Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras theme sees passion in fashion

PARTICIPANTS in next year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will be encouraged to display their “desire for anything” with the festival theme announced as “Passion”.

Unlike last year’s “Kaleidoscope” theme, which was revealed to the world at an official launch event, 2015’s idea was quietly released online over the weekend.

The Parade entry kit for 2015 explains passion as an “intense emotion, compelling enthusiasm or desire for anything”.

It also states: “Passion is all-encompassing and leaves no room for apathy.”

Mardi Gras said they encouraged visitors to find, feed and fire their passions.

“Shout it from the rooftops and let that sound be the music we dance to, the combined beats of our passionate hearts driving us forward and to a better place together – a truly beautiful rhythm,” they said.

Expressions of interest are now open for floats in the Parade with entries from LGBTI groups tackling any subject matter welcome.

However, organisers say applications from non-LGBTI organisations must be centered on LGBTI issues in a move designed to head off a previous controversy when an animal rights organisation were denied a space on the Parade.

Entry costs for the Parade start from $55 for up to five participants and head up to $650 for businesses.

Floats can include a maximum of 100 people and one vehicle and, according to the Parade entry kit, “must constantly move forward at the pace of 38 metres per minute”.

Mardi Gras will be hoping there will be more passion for ticket sales in 2015 with this year’s season recording at $178,000 loss largely due to lower-than-expected numbers at the party and cost blow outs on decorations.