STAR OBSERVER WEEKLY NEWS WRAP UP
TINA ARENA ANNOUNCED FOR MARDI GRAS PARTY
EXCITEMENT for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is building after it was announced today that Tina Arena would perform at the official Party.
It won’t be first time that Arena has graced the Party stage, having previously performed in both the 2005 and 2009 Mardi Gras parties | Read more
MARDI GRAS SAFE FROM LOCKOUT, ONE-PUNCH LAWS EFFECTIVE FROM WEEKEND
THIS year’s Mardi Gras will remain safe from new nightlife lockout laws but mandatory sentencing laws for one-punch fatal attacks will come into effect across NSW this weekend.
From April, the legislation will see most venues in Sydney’s CBD, including LGBTI venues on Oxford St, have to abide by 1.30am lockouts and a new rule preventing the sale of alcohol after 3am. Bottle shops across NSW will also be forced to close by 10pm each night | Read more
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA HONOUR FOR A PIONEER IN THE HIV RESPONSE
COMMUNITY pioneer in the response to HIV and AIDS Don Baxter has been appointed a member of the Order of Australia, highlighting the role Australia played in defining the global response to the epidemic | Read more
‘SERVED JUSTICE’: POLICE DROP CHARGES AGAINST MARDI GRAS REVELLER JAMIE JACKSON
NSW Police has dropped all charges against Jamie Jackson almost a year after he was charged with assaulting police officers during the 2013 Mardi Gras parade night | Read more
TGA REJECTS BLOOD DONATION BAN REDUCTION FOR GAY MEN
A REJECTION of moves to have the waiting period for blood donations from men who have sex with men reduced to six months has been met with criticism from the LGBTI community | Read more
MARDI GRAS RETURNS TO FREE-TO-AIR TV
THE Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will return to free-to-air TV after a 12-year hiatus with SBS securing broadcast rights last weekend.
SBS 2 will have a Mardi Gras special on Sunday, March 2 at 8.30pm, which will capture the best of the parade from the previous evening | Read more
OPENLY-GAY SYDNEY SWIMMER CROSSES THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
SYDNEY swimmer Marty Filipowski is proof that age is no barrier after celebrating his 50th birthday last year by doing what only a few have achieved – swim across the English Channel | Read more
DISNEY INTRODUCES FIRST GAY PARENTS
DID Disney introduce its first gay male parenting couple with the 2013 release of Frozen? A possible hint that this may be the case was the scene when lead male character Kristoff entered the sauna, to be met with the big and burly Oaken. | Read more
