Mardi Gras faces community backlash
New Mardi Gras has rejected accusations it is putting profit ahead of the community after blocking a rival of its major sponsor Gaydar.com.au from taking part in Fair Day and the Oxford Street parade.
The accusation by lesbian personals website Pink Sofa came in the same week New Mardi Gras revealed a hoax caller was telling Fair Day stallholders their entries had been cancelled.
Pink Sofa will not be allowed to hold a stall at Fair Day on 18 February or march under its commercial banner in the 3 March parade because of New Mardi Gras’ three-year, $1.5-million sponsorship agreement with Gaydar.com.au.
Pink Sofa is a full-profit company, designed to make a profit, and is obviously a competitor of Gaydar.com.au, New Mardi Gras chair Bourget told Sydney Star Observer.
As Gaydar.com.au has the presentation rights to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, it precludes us from allowing competing websites to have that presence.
Pink Sofa members and other representatives of online competitors of Gaydar.com.au were welcome to participate as individuals, Bourget said.
But Pink Sofa chief executive officer Liz James said New Mardi Gras was losing sight of the community by blocking an organisation that had held a Fair Day stall for the past six years.
It’s a sad day when the little gay and lesbian businesses can’t participate on the biggest day of the year, James told the Star.
Mardi Gras has a responsibility to protect the core ethos of the organisation. I think they can still form lucrative sponsorship deals without going down this track.
James denied she wanted to take part in the season principally for commercial reasons.
It’s more about being out there and being a part of the community, meeting our members, acting as a meeting place, she said.
Bourget rejected the suggestion New Mardi Gras was neglecting the community.
Mardi Gras is staged by 1,300 volunteers giving up their time free to make Mardi Gras happen. That’s a sense of community, he said.
Saying that we’re hijacking the community is completely inappropriate. Mardi Gras is put on by the community.
Also this week, New Mardi Gras said it would allow other state tourism groups to take part in Fair Day alongside Tourism NSW.
Bourget said the previous exclusion of the non-NSW groups arose from a miscommunication by New Mardi Gras and had been lifted.
He said New Mardi Gras did not have an exclusive agreement with Tourism NSW, unlike its deal with Gaydar.com.au.
Meantime, New Mardi Gras has warned Fair Day stallholders about hoax calls relating to the Victoria Park event.
Earlier this week New Mardi Gras learned an unknown caller had contacted two Fair Day stallholders and told them their entries had been rejected.
New Mardi Gras is not making any such calls as we have already contacted all stalls and entertainers, Bourget said.
Anyone who has received a suspicious call should contact New Mardi Gras on 9568 8600.
The 2007 New Mardi Gras season begins this Friday with the Red Carpet Opening party at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The following day as many as 1,000 people are expected to gather near Sydney Harbour for the Flash Mob Launch, which is being promoted by mobile phone text message.
It’s on in the afternoon in the Circular Quay area -“ register for SMS details, Bourget said.
He remained coy on rumours Little Britain star Matt Lucas would appear at the event.
Yeah but no but yeah, Bourget said -“ a reference to Lucas’s small-screen alter ego Vicky Pollard.
To register for Flash Mob Launch clues send your name in a text message to 0429 920 370.
