Mardi Gras TV broadcast out

The 25th anniversary Mardi Gras parade will not be shown on television this year.

New Mardi Gras co-chair Michael Woodhouse told the Star a one-hour made-for-television documentary called Continuing The Dream would be made in the place of a live broadcast, and would be shown after the parade.

Woodhouse said the documentary would allow for more of a significant story to come out of the parade, and give parade organisers more control.

The documentary’s focus would be on the different generations marching in the opening Generation Youth and 78ers float.

The parade will feature 140 floats including the three lead entries -“ Generation Youth, a spectacular tribute to Mardi Gras costume legend Ron Muncaster and an entry from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

New Mardi Gras will make its own pre-NSW election political statement on the T-shirts of the 1,200 parade volunteers, -˜we’re here, we’re queer, we vote,’ parade co-chair Liz Dods said.

The pre-parade will be led once again by Dykes on Bikes, who are entering for the 15th time. They will be joined for the first time by the Road Runners, a group of queer bike boys.

Organisers are advising an estimated 500,000 spectators to head to the Flinders St and Moore Park Rd end of the parade route, and to avoid Taylor Square because of extensive excavations. They have also asked people to use public transport and not bring glass bottles or milk crates.

Reserved seating in the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation stand is still available. Details are available online at www. bgf.org.au. More parade details are available online at www.mardigras.org.au.