Indigenous groups to shine

One year on from the apology, Mardi Gras has made its own moves to involve the Indigenous gay and lesbian community, with a range of events organised by ACON’s Aboriginal Project to unite and showcase the community.

For the first time Australia’s Indigenous community will be officially recognised in the Mardi Gras Festival through a number of events, including a symposium for the Aboriginal GLBT community to discuss future challenges. There will also be arts events under the umbrella title of House of BlackSTAR.

House of BlackSTAR founder Craig Greene hopes this year’s events will generate interest from both the Indigenous and wider community.

The House is about fostering a shift in the way that people see the Indigenous gay and lesbian community, and about us showing them what we have to offer, because if we start looking at the people rather than the colour of the skin that’s a good way to promote some change, he explained.

I think after the apology, Aboriginal people have been seen, generally, a little bit more positively and in a different light.

In terms of how the Aboriginal community is seen in the gay community, there have been issues of sexual racism which put added pressure on us, because we just want to be a part of this community.

Greene and other BlackSTAR organisers found inspiration and support from the queer black community of America, and in particular from two New York-based artists, Peppermint and The Ones, who will perform and run workshops for young Indigenous people.

For us, this is about showing the glamour and the beauty of our community, and going back to the basics to take the lead from our black brothers and sisters from New York, who back in the day in the ’70s created an underworld where all diversity was accepted. It wasn’t so much about tolerance but about acceptance.

Acceptance will provide the basis for this year’s Indigenous parade float, which Greene said would be on a grand scale.

The Mardi Gras theme is Nations United but we’re really the first nation, or the first Australians, and we have many nations in terms of our language groups. So our float is going to be big. It’s going to be glam, and it’s going to have a lot of bling to make it shine.

info: For more information on events look for House of BlackSTAR posters or contact ACON’s Aboriginal Project on 1800 063 060 or 9206 2000.