A few clowns short of circus?
Everyone loves a parade, right?
At approximately 10pm on June 24 1978, we’d had enough. Protesters stood up to police crashing their perfectly harmless queer shindig. Many were arrested, named and shamed. A hefty price for being themselves.
And an epic fail for a backward nation that wouldn’t know fabulousness if it were slapped in the face with an Alexander McQueen glove.
This was the birth of Mardi Gras. A peaceful protest which later stripped down to a decadently tongue-in-cheek celebration — the biggest in the world. We grew in popularity, drawing crowds of thousands. Some came to leer, others to show support.
I once ached for the parade. Except the year an evil fag hag spiked my drink. I have a clown phobia. And so a sea of painted faces, feathers, and glitter bombs soon saw me assuming the foetal position.
More hetero onlookers rock up these days. Many argue it’s now a gaudy sideshow, an onslaught of tired stereotypes. Floats targeting the pink dollar, coercing a flurry of mindless consumerism — take out that home loan, pay for 10 eps of Jerry Springer a day. Spend, spend, spend!
Have we become complacent? Have we sold out?
The longstanding Animal Liberation float was denied participation this year, while other non-queer behemoths were given the thumbs-up. Allegations of media censorship ensued, and international press nabbed the story, as did SSO.
The corporate floats may keep NMG out of financial disarray. But to veto grassroots queer floats in favour of dollar signs makes me wonder. I do that sometimes.
I also wonder if police will be scurrying around with their sniffer dogs, or instead locking up the violent, homophobic dickheads who hit the streets for some good old-fashioned poofter bashing.
I’ve had enough of skanks throwing up on me. I’ve had enough of their angry ‘bi-curious’ boyfriends full of grog and ice. One year, one such douche told me if he was gay, I would have been his bitch. Lucky me.
I’m sorry, if it’s your first parade, Happy Mardi Gras — you’ll have a hoot. Just keep the ferals at a safe distance. And don’t let the clowns eat me.
In general I must concur…….the parade is larelgy emabarassing and of littel relevance to me……………friends march not for a reason, nor an ideology…just to put on some glitter…….they get assigned to a group……….no alleginace….just numbers………….where is the float of Kevin Rudd fuckin gay marraige????? Now that I would stand on a milk crate to see
Corporatization aside, animal rights is not a gay and lesbian issue. Let’s stick to our priorities.
Alan Michaels – Thanks heaps for the feedback, I’m never one to disregard constructive criticism – I shall take this onboard.
Berny – What can I say? Thanks for concurring with part of my comment. I would like to mention that whilst your opinion is noted (being a supposed free speech society) I think that the section pertaining to “heard of over fed hairy lesbians” is antiquated, narrow minded and discriminatory. I have been lucky enough to have known some delectable, sumptuously gorgeous lesbians that would put Angelina Jolie to shame with their looks and personality and some plus sized lesbians that have an infectiously divine personality. As a gay man I am proud to call the girls my sisters because of the respect that I have for them and the issues that they have had to face as well.
In conclusion, having perused the comments, my summary is this… why are we degrading each other when we should be standing together? Whether it is Stonewall in ’69, or Sydney in ’78, we still need to have respect for ourselves, respect for those that stood up for their rights back then which gave us the freedom to be who we are today.
How do we fix the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade? I don’t know. What I do know is this, rather than bitch about it why not make suggestions?
My final suggestion… Why not have a time line parade starting with 1969, followed by the birth of Mardi Gras in Sydney ’78, ending with a diverse group showing the world that we are still standing together and still fighting for equality?
Well now that the parade has passed I can say that it was the most traggic, mediocre, vissionless, spiritless load of crap I have ever seen!!!
a good article. but very diplomatic also. i will not bother adding my voice to the sentiment already expressed regarding berny howeveri believe nick is referencing the stonewall riots and not the roots of mardi gras in australia in 78 and whilst his idea for a candle lit vigil is touching after hearing how dull last nights parade was one must consider if we really want to make it any less appealing ?
Cheers for the comments.
Although Berny – if that is your real name – surely you can’t be serious? Your comments are just awful. They smack of internalised homophobia. That, or I suspect an alias for no other reason than to stir the pot. Meh, I’m actually embarrassed for you.
Not long now, everyone – Happy Mardi Gras!
xxd
My bet is that Berny is rather hairy and overfed himself, wake up to reality – we are not all stereotypes.
The reason we worry about the parade losing sight of the reason for its existance is that we still don’t have equal rights.
We still face discrimination and aggression simply for being who we are. So thanks Berny for throwing your homophobic mite onto the pile.
There is nothing more idiotic than a gay man who hates lesbians or a lesbian who hates gay men.
“overfed hairy lesbians”? Berny, your bigotry is stuck in anti-lesbian prejudices from the 1970s.
lol i heard they are having a float with 20 foot high giant clowns which spit glitter bombs at the crowd lol
– happy mardi gras –
berny u sound like ur a few clowns short of something…….. give it a rest dude
Pur-leeze, more bleeding heart CLAPTRAP. Are you people debating for the cessation of the parade or its continuance? Who wants to see the BORING chicken hatchling hippies anyway? I am confused as to the argument your forwarding, although I concur with Nick. I would rather see HUNKY marching BOYS than a heard of overfed hairy lesbians ANY DAY, so what if they are corporations. HMMMM? They are subsiding the WHOLE thing, proliferating your’re myopic idea of a good night out. Get over yourselves DRAMA QUEENS! That seem fair? Hmmm!!!!!!!!!
In agreeing with Damien I do believe that the main point of the march/demonstration back then was to show support for our brothers and sisters nine years prior, as well as to follow in their footsteps by standing up for themselves. We ourselves have not carried on their efforts.
It is such a pity to see that we have lost sight of the real cause/s and are so concerned with popularity, sequins, feathers, music and being a part of a cabaret style side-show for the world to see, with little relevance to the root causes.
Though the question of “Have we sold out?” is fantastic, I (personally) think that it should really be worded: “When did we sell out?”.
I would love to see, and be a part of, a march rather than a parade where one holds candles in memory of people, or signs advocating the vast array of equal rights issues pertaining to today…. there wouldn’t be any exuberant costs to that now… would there?
Every year there is increasing negativity about mardi gras. However this year I believe it is justified.
We have sold out and I agree with jallybeer that mardi gras has lost its relevance.
I am looking forward to seeing that old homophobic shock jock from the 7pm project there. Steve someone I think his name is ? Bring on the marching boys !
The actors I understand are straight, whilst the animal rights group is comprised of glbsgdq people
Here here!!!! At last some discussion about the elephant in the room. The exclusion of the animal rights group is a sad indictment…….. a parade with paid actors and corporate giants is not for me!! As we fasten down basic equality the parade has sadly lost its demonstration clout and become largely irrelevant.