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That’s it for Mardi Gras 2023
By Mary Ward and Angus Thomson
And with that, Kylie Minogue’s Celebration is blasting through the speakers, volunteers and organisers come marching down Oxford Street and the 2023 Sydney Mardi Gras parade has come to a close.
The street has erupted into dancing —a shame no one tried to orchestrate an attempt at the “most people doing the YMCA” world record — as the crowd looks to their next plan. Have they scored a ticket to the official after party? Will they be trying their luck getting in somewhere around here?
We saw prime minister Anthony Albanese make history, a portaloo strapped to the front of a truck, and enough sequins and streamers to stretch from Oxford Street to the Hordern Pavilion a dozen times over.
I’ll leave you with a gallery of pictures from Flavio Brancaleone and Nikki Short. My name is Angus Thomson, thanks go to Mary Ward and Amber Schultz for their hard work throughout the day and of course, to all who followed along. No matter what you have planned tonight, we hope you are surrounded by loved ones and, most importantly, stay safe.
Happy Mardi Gras!
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Now, the after-party...
By Angus Thomson and Ben Grubb
The parade may be over, but for some, the party has only just begun.
The official festivities now head to the Hordern Pavilion for the after-party featuring international icons including the Sugababes and Agnes.
The Herald’s Ben Grubb caught up with both acts on Oxford Street. British trio the Sugababes said they were thrilled to be back in Australia after a 20-year absence.
“We were kids when we were here the last time, so we’re so lucky to be back,” said founding member Keisha Buchanan.
Swedish singer Agnes, who will also perform at the after-party, said it had been amazing soaking in the atmosphere on the streets of Sydney.
“You can really tell it’s a whole celebration across the whole city.”
‘Most inclusive group’ raise awareness through Māori dance
By Amber Schultz
Coming up towards the back of the convoy is the Haka for Life group, which promotes men’s mental health and suicide awareness through Māori dance, have 80 members marching this year.
Organisation founder Leon Ruri said it was the “most inclusive group” the organisation had ever had, with people flying in from all over the world to participate.
“We’ve got First Nations people, people from America, Spain, France, Indonesia, Australia and Kiwis as well,” he said. “We’ve got gay, bi, lesbian, queer and trans people joining along with our allies.”
In 2021, the group won Best Choreography and Ruri encourages those marching to participate in the Haka, teaching them some respectful choreography.
Participants take part in the 45th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
“Our focus is to make sure people learn culture, that we learn about each other and that they have fun.”
The float has been painted by Indigenous Dharug artist Venessa Dyubigili Possum representing the waterholes and pathways across Dharug Country.
LEGO lends a hand
By Mary Ward
The LEGO-inspired “LESO” costumes worn by the Itty Bitty Titty Committee have come together against the odds.
It took a few tries to find the perfect glove design for the EVA lego hands each of the marchers are wearing.
Then the sewing machine of a mother of one of the marchers who was sewing their hot pants broke, leaving the remainder of the spangly shorts to be painstakingly sewn by hand.
Participants take part in the 45th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Despite the name, organiser Jane O’Keefe said breasts of all sizes were welcome in the group (she came up with the name on a whim while entering a “Snow White and the Seven Dykes” float with her friend in 2005).
“I saw it on a t-shirt and just thought, oh, well that’s me,” she said.
Matching hardhats, pink vests and ... a portaloo?
By Amber Schultz
With a portaloo strapped to the front of their float, the Gay Tradies have arrived in a flash of neon colour, wearing orange, yellow and pink vests, white shorts and matching hardhats. They’ve been working hard on their choreography, performing to Dancing in the Rain by Ruth Lorenzo.
Boys on Bikes lead the parade earlier in the evening. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Group founder Geoff Hitchon said this year was their “biggest and best float ever” to honour World Pride. He said he wanted to spread the message that gay people exist everywhere, including in construction and building sites.
“It was pretty hidden before … but it’s not like it used to be,” he said. “Hopefully, seeing gay tradies in the parade every year has had some impact.”
Sex workers arrive on scene
By Amber Schultz
The Queer sex worker community has arrived in a swarm of red, with members adorned in sequins wielding bright red umbrellas – the international symbol of sex worker’s rights.
Others hold umbrella-shaped placards with messages including, “Blow jobs are real jobs”; “f*** you pay me” and “queer whore power”, with the equal sign painted on others symbolising the interconnectivity of the queer sex worker community.
The float has been co-organised by the Australian Sex Workers Association Scarlet Alliance and the Sex Workers Outreach Project.
SWOP co-CEO Chantell Martin said the night was an opportunity for the queer community and sex workers to “come together and celebrate unity, solidarity, who we are and what we do”.
“It’s hard for us to be who we are because of the stigma and discrimination attached to the sex industry … and LGBTQIA+ sex workers experience a double stigma,” she said. “We will always rise up against stigma and discrimination and fight for what we believe in.”
A stony welcome for the Liberals
By Amber Schultz
The Liberal Party arrived to little fanfare — notably missing NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who said he had a prior commitment — and federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Instead, Liberal senators Simon Birmingham and Andrew Bragg took the helm, walking with a large banner reading “Happy Mardi Gras” while waving rainbow flags.
Doctors and dentists march for ‘better health, better world’
By Mary Ward
Marching for their 10th year, the Association of LGBTQIA+ Doctors and Dentists was founded by emergency doctor Dr Bhushan Joshi in 2013 after he migrated from the UK and discovered there was no float for health professionals in the parade.
Marchers in the 2023 Mardi Gras parade.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
“What started off as a small group of friends is now a beautiful community organisation that represents and advocates for the diverse LGBTQIA+ healthcare work force and the patients they serve,” Joshi said.
Their theme this year is “better health, better world”, inspired by the parade sitting in the middle of the Sydney WorldPride festival.
“We wanted a global health theme and a celebration of the diversity that entails,” Joshi said.
The story behind the Sydney Gaymers’ incredible outfits
By Amber Schultz
The Sydney Gaymers have opted to arrive on foot instead of float this year, marching in matching handmade costumes of video game character Kirby.
Group organiser Eves Dryden said volunteers made each of the 60 costumes by hand using foam purchased from a furniture retailer sprayed with a pink rubber coating.
It took a team of six 10 consecutive weekends to build the costumes before they were given to participants to personalise.
“The scale of it was challenging,” Dryden said. While the team had some experience designing Cosplay outfits, “mass-producing something was a lot harder than making one for yourself”.
The theme is “infinite potential unlocked”, showcasing the identities of participants.
“In previous years we focused on the float and making the truck stand out,” Dryden said. “This year, we wanted to focus on the people rather than a spectacle behind it.”
‘Visibility for our families who can sometimes be unseen’
By Mary Ward
The Rainbow Families group and their inflatable unicorns are responsible for three floats this year: Gay Dads, Rainbow Families and the Rainbow Families Playgroup.
They are led by Sydney drag queen Joyce Maynge, who has become known for hosting drag queen storytimes at local libraries in the city.
The families held an involved craft session in which kids and parents made mini unicorns for that extremely understated dress you can see Joyce has on.
“This theme is about visibility for our families who can sometimes be unseen,” said organiser, Ashley Scott.
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2023-02-25 12:30:28Z
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