Ruby glitters for Mardi Gras
Ruby Rose will join other queer celebrities Louie Spence, Matthew Mitcham and Courtney Act plus token hetero Charlotte Dawson in hosting Foxtel’s live coverage of the Mardi Gras Parade on Arena from 7.30pm on March 5.
“I’m massively excited to be part of it again. I did it in 2009 and it is still one of the most exhilarating, challenging, emotional experiences I’ve had front of the camera — all rolled into one gig,” Rose told the Star Observer.
“The incredible energy from the people lined up either side of Oxford St — I just want to bathe in positive vibes.”
Having grown up in Melbourne, Rose admitted the Parade wasn’t “massively on her radar” as she was growing up — in fact, her first Mardi Gras experience came as the 2009 Foxtel host.
“What an introduction — I laughed, I cried, I was scared, I was thrilled. It was a huge experience for me, so I’m really looking forward to it again — except I’m going to try not to cry on national television this time,” she laughed.
Rose said she feels the Parade is still as important as ever.
“It’s still the single biggest celebration in this country of standing up proud and loud as a gay person. I think it’s great to celebrate people from all age groups and all walks of life just being allowed to be themselves — no judgement, no restrictions.”
Once again the parade telecast was a total cringe. After all these years one might think someone in the organising committee would realise that serving the same old undirected crap does not pass for any type of TV offering. It does not do justice to the entrants, nor does it do justice to the gay community and is just an insult to anyone watching it- straight or gay.
One might expect an ongoing commentary on each float as it passes by might be appropriate- but no, instead we get a few token celebrities that few people have heard of doing their own “cringe thing” while floats like the Polly’s (historically important to Sydney’s gay culture) don’t even get mentioned let alone seen. Little wonder year after year, the MG parade telecast remains the worst covered event of the year- a total embarrassment.
When are the organisers going to wake up to the fact that we don’t need to even see the commentators if it is being done as it should be. They don’t have to look far for an example of how it should be done- just look at the telecast of the Anzac march every year on ABC. Every group gets a mention and the real spirit of the event is translated to the viewers. MG on TV has never presented us as anything other than a group of way out cavorting bunch of brainless whacko’s going over the top. It is a disgrace and does nothing for our community. No wonder some of the straight community still holds MG in contempt.