Message to the world
The Mardi Gras parade was a sea of political celebration this year, showing the iconic Sydney event still had plenty to say even after 31 years.
Organisers claimed 2009 was the largest ever parade with 134 floats and 9700 participants, led by Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham.
The Nations United theme was represented by seven divider floats based on the world’s continents and each symbolising an issue still facing the gay and lesbian people of world: youth, HIV, closets, politics, religion, marriage and the future.
It wasn’t just the estimated 300,000 spectators crammed into Oxford and Flinders streets who got to witness the magic live, with Foxtel broadcasting the parade on Australian television for the first time since 2002.
New Mardi Gras chairman David Imrie promised it would be cheeky, sexy, serious, poignant and more, and the community delivered.
That wasn’t by accident. We had frequent feedback over recent years that Mardi Gras has become less political and more about entertainment than making a statement, so we very strategically pushed it into a different direction and it’s been very well received, he told Sydney Star Observer.
Tribute floats honoured the first Mardi Gras driver Lance Gowland and Victoria’s bushfire victims and volunteers. Dozens of community and sporting groups showed their pride, and the number of government and official agencies involved increased further.
Satire played a smaller role than in previous years as floats focused on the recent gay law reforms and raised questions about anti-discrimination and relationship recognition, with no shortage of prospective brides and grooms.
The Australian Human Rights Commission took part for the first time to celebrate the boom in gay rights.
What better place to celebrate this historic achievement for gay and lesbian people and for equality than in the Mardi Gras parade, Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes asked.
Violence, drug and alcohol abuse were no worse than previous parades according to early reports from NSW Police, St Vincent’s Hospital and drug rovers at the official party.
Police arrested 28 people on the night for alcohol-related incidents, but Assistant Commissioner Cath Burn praised the good behaviour of most.
While the spectators and participants enjoyed a relatively incident-free night along the parade route, there were a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime that occurred in Hyde Park and the surrounding area during and after the parade, Burn said.
Approximately 17,000 turned up to the official after-party, close to a sellout, where Tina Arena was the surprise guest and sang No More Tears (Enough is Enough) with Alison Jiear. Katherine Ellis and Natalie Bassingthwaighte also performed.
Imrie said the organisation went with a broader musical footprint this year including Las Vegas-style shows and international DJs Paul Oakenfold and the Freemasons.
We were really surprised that all our major events sold really well, Imrie said.
I know a couple of the smaller festival events didn’t sell to capacity, but all the major festival events and parties sold really well.
The only drama appeared when Joan Rivers pulled out of her Melbourne show following a ticketing dispute between two American agents.
Have your say: Share you Mardi Gras memories online at starobserver.com.au
“David, I said in Australia, where nearly 80% of all AIDS is related to homosexual sex – always has been.”
Well, Peter (you can’t stay away, can you?),that’s rather parochial for a supposed Christian. Don’t you care about other people who contract HIV? Or maybe the problem is that they don’t fit in with your ideological framework and so they don’t count. Or perhaps it’s a case of innocent victims versus the guilty.
I don’t know about your God (if you really have one) but my God is not judgemental nor cares about people’s sexuality and loves closet homosexuals as well. Perhaps you need education in Christian philosophy as well as HIV/AIDS and sexuality.
David, I said in Australia, where nearly 80% of all AIDS is related to homosexual sex – always has been.
Yes, we have pages on homosexuality, we also have many pages on many other issues – perhaps you did not notice those because you are obsessed with your homosexuality.
As for an excuse – if a football team does not know how their opponents play the game they have no chance of winning on the field.
Yes Chris, we have lost many battles but one day society will wake up to its foolishness – eventually it always has to face reality.
AID’s, -œa managable (sic) illness, Chris?
Tell that to those who die at 45 instead of 75. And ask yourself who is paying for the “manageable” drug cocktail and what are the side effects? All because people, and not only homosexuals, indulge in dangerous and unnatural anal sex.
I note nobody, except me, has gone anywhere near John’s question about mardi gras exaggerations – I wonder why?
Poor old Peter Stokes..lol..these must be sad times for him.. Mardi gras going from strength to strength , with messages of support from The Prime Minister , the Premier and The Lord Mayor…all the discriminatory financial laws removed by act of Federal Parliament…HIV in most cases now a managable illness .. gay marriage sweeping the Western world and inevitable in this country….no wonder he is such a sad and pathetic little teapot (sorry i meant saltshaker..lol)
For a self-styled Christian with a supposed aversion to homosexuality to host a website with heaps of “information” on gays certainly demonstrates a morbid and worrying obsession with homosexuality (not to mention trawling this website – I’m gay what’s your excuse?).
Homosexuality does not cause AIDS. Unprotected penetrative sex does where HIV is present and deaths from AIDS are typically caused by heterosexual transmission. Perhaps you need to educate yourself about how HIV is spread.
. . . awww bring back Fred Nile so we can put his head on a silver platter again p l e a s e ?
David – I much prefer your sensible comments, such as those made about drugs (Police claim mardi gras drug haul). Your rather pathetic answer to my call for accountability and truth is as bad a people talking about alcohol when discussing drugs -“ a good point you made on that blog.
Perhaps if the glrl and nmg told the truth about numbers, and about people not being ‘born’ homosexual, as James did on the same blog, – then I could retire.
So I will make a deal – tell the truth and stop pushing your ‘learned’ behaviour in people’s faces, especially our young people, and stop demanding more and more acceptance, and I will buy a nice house in the country.
Finally, surely the “morbid obsession” is homosexuality itself – how many lives has it now destroyed through HIV/AIDS in Australia alone?
And I call on Saltshakers and their ilk to do something about their morbid obsession with the activities of gay people. I don’t care whether it’s therapy, drugs or a 12 step program. Clearly you lot need help before your condition gets worse.
John asks, -œHow could the parade be bigger this year? A very good question.
Another question is, -œWho is counting, and who are they counting?
Were there in fact even 9,700 in the parade? Did this include the estimated 2,000 volunteers? I estimate, from a careful count, that there were less than 6,000 in the parade not including volunteers. I call on Mardi Gras organisers to issue a list showing each group and how many people were in each group.
Then there are the spectator exagerations…
In 1998 mg organisers said there were 700,000 spectators; more recently 500,000; now they say 300,000 – LESS THAN HALF the 1998 figure????
They should also state how they estimate the crowd, which I contend has never been more than 100,000.
Falsely claiming exaggerated statistics is FRAUD because they are used to gain sponsorship and government funds.
Blessings all commentators. An active community concerned enough to voice valuable opinions. although having whines about the $85 for an hour of joan Rivers, all , volunteers, near-and-far fellow poofs & dykes are to be congratulated on this much anticipated Sydney event. Yes, there’s much to critisize (hopefully constructive) but much more to thank and be grateful for.
Dingo Vobiscum – MHH OPI (Sydney)
The Parade was great, and the After Party at Fox Studios was fantastic with the new improved Retro Music space. It was late starting though, at 1am, but was worth the wait with some hot original retro music from the 80’s, and some eye popping drag shows & male dancers.
Mardi Gras was fantastic, it was my first time (I’m from Perth) and I marched as well. Glen’s posts are rather contradictory – we face being disowned by our families and can’t live openly but we should only let people know on a need-to-know basis and we don’t need big demonstrations of who we are? That’s a recipe for no change at all! People coming out has been one of the most important tools in the fight for our rights. Closets are clothes, hooray for Mardi Gras!
Glen says “When you will you guys finally get the picture some of us can not live openly gay lives through fears of disownment from family and friends and even issues at work.”
Well Glen, isn’t this exactly why we need demonstrations such as the Mardi Gras parade? Clearly gay rights demos are have not reached their used-by date.
Glen, many tens of thousands of us choose to live as openly gay people and do not find Sydney a dangerous city.
Mardigras is fantastic coming from a tiny town each year i visit sydney spend around 4,000 dollars i love the atmosphere.Im so sick of hearing the moaners ,complainers,winers that have nothing better to do with there lives.These people that complain i bet have no idea how difficult is is to host any gay festival,yet there so quick to MOAN get a life guys and girls.Mardigras is sensational,its brilliant.Just got really disapointed this year with sniffer dogs and dogs in the party itself thats my only complaint.OTHER WISE WELL DONE TO ALL THE HARD WORK
When you will you guys finally get the picture some of us can not live openly gay lives through fears of disownment from family and friends and even issues at work. some gay couples are even to afraid to hold hands in public. Sydney is a dangerous city if you choose to be openly gay.
Leo how dare you comment about something you know nothing about when you live on the other side of the world.
Well put David Skidmore!
We do need the Mardi Gras to show the nation that we are here and we still have a long way to go to be treated equal.
Tradition is tradition. We should be thankful now we can live openly gay and have more rights than ever but let us remember the earlier generation and for those who are still not comfortable being gay or who are in the closest due to many reason. This is to show them that were here, theyre not alone. There’s hope. We stand united…and by the end of the day, its also good fun! I live here in Europe now and almost every European I know is a dream for them to see Mardi Gras and be part of our community. We are all entitled to our opinion, so be it. If you dont like it then dont watch it but dont kill it for the others. As you can see its not just us gay/lesbians there…there are also parents and supporters in our community! Mardi gras puts Sydney in the map as well esp in our community, it brings money to the economy, lively atmosphere and its tradition! Deal with it!
If you dont like Sydney come Mardi Gras time, please feel free to leave..
Thanks David Skidmore for brief word to the wise you have wasted your time. I will never support or understand the logic behind a mardi gras parade. Once again I think its just a way to make money and the way the world is now I feel its so sad.
Grow up Sydney
I agree with Glen. Having seen all the pictures from the parade and festivities, it truly separates us from the rest of society. Mardi Gras is well past its Use by date.
The Mardi Gras parade is still crucial. It’s a focal point for the gay community in Australia. This is important when it comes to human rights gains we are yet to achieve such as adoption and same-sex marriage. It lets the Australian public and politicians know that gays have not suddenly vanished and have significant numbers (and non-gay supporters).
Mardi Gras is also important in that it can highlight human rights violations against gays around the world. It is a beacon, if you like, for gays not lucky enough to live in a country where they can have a public gay pride parade.
So Glen, don’t be “embarassed” [sic]. Have some “principals” [sic].
I have to say. I think Mardi Gras ruins Sydney every year, its makes Sydney a dirty revolting city that I am embarassed to be gay in and also. I boycott the Parade on principal and from the feedback I have heard from last weekend. its turned straight to the extent that a lot of gay guys are to scared to even attend.
I am sorry but get with guys. We shouldnt need a parade of this proportion or really a parade full stop to say that we are gay. Its a need to know basis and the world doesnt need to know.
According to Surry Hills police there were approximately 500 more parade participants in 2009 than in 2008.
Hang on, last year Mardi Gras claimed there were 10,000 marchers – so how could the parade be bigger this year if it only has 9700 marchers?
Ummm … I’m all for talking the organisation up, but it is a bit hard to ignore something like that.
I note SSO uses the words ‘organisers claim’ .. they obviously remember last year’s massive march number as well.
Come on Mardi Gras, if you want to be taken seriously you need to either be a bit more honest or at least check your PR guff from previous years to make sure your message is consistent.
That said, I had a great time and I would like to pass on my thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time to make the season a success.