It’s hard to believe festival time has rolled around already, but it’s time to get out and about and experience everything the LGBTI community has to offer.
This Sunday, January 15 sees the start of Melbourne queer arts and cultural festival Midsumma — which the Star Observer is proud to be sponsoring – kicking off on the banks of the Yarra River at Birrarung Marr.
A host of queer arts events from theatre, visual arts and music will be staged around Melbourne over the next three weeks, with the annual Pride March in St Kilda on February 5 marking the festival’s end.
The community scarcely has time to draw breath before Mardi Gras hits from February 12 to March 4; Mardi Gras Film Festival from February 16 – March 1; ChillOut in Daylesford from March 9 – 12; and Melbourne Queer Film from March 15 – 25, among others.
A provoking media article last year challenged the existence of having ‘queer’ arts festivals – namely that it further marginalises and devalues queer artists – while Mardi Gras is regularly forced to fend off claims of its relevance.
In my mind the challenge of ensuring relevance is squarely in the hands of festival programmers to make sure these festivals do remain cutting edge. After all, if a queer festival can’t muster a bit of sparkle and outrage worth seeing, we’re all in trouble.
But there is a wider need, I believe, for festivals such as Midsumma, Mardi Gras and everything in between. Taking a look around at Midsumma Carnival Day last year I was struck with the diversity of the crowd. It really was a complete mix of everyone. For most queer people it’s the only connection with the LGBTI community they have, except perhaps a few tipsy nights at a gay bar.
It’s important that a few times a year the LGBTI community does get together to have a good time and celebrate the fact they can.
It’s worth remembering it wasn’t so long ago in Australia’s history that events like Mardi Gras didn’t exactly consist of carefree days of relaxed drinking in the sun.
And, with the drop in gay nightspots around town, festivals like these are arguably even more important. Either way, it’s a great excuse for a party.
So from all here at the Star Observer, have a safe and fun-filled festival season – I’m sure we’ll see you ‘round.
