I’m really too young to understand but I still acknowledge the Sydney Mardi Gras History. The fresh face, bright eye horny late teens of today’s Annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will understand less than I. Dare I say, they will not really acknowledge the history of today.
Instead they will see the glitz and glamour, the mostly naked bodies with barely concealed cocks, open asses. Exposed tits and barely concealed bikini lines. I was born in the late 80’s and by the time I discovered dicks and asses and had begun to explore my sexuality I had escaped the majority of the legal persecution of homosexuals.
Whilst Sydney experiences its Annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras we must remember as to the actual history of the Mardi Gras and how the roots of its histories are entwined with protests, support and a determination towards equality.
Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall Riots were a community response against repeated police raids against gay clubs. Police had raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich in the early hours, however unlike usual raids This raid did not go to plan.
Perhaps it was due to the lateness of the raid, or perhaps the right people had congregated in the right spot at the right time. Regardless of the speculation it is clear it did not go to plan. Paddy wagons did not arrive in time to quickly put people who had been arrested in. The people who were permitted to leave out the back door did not dissipate.
When the wagons arrived, it was a culmination of suspected beatings still occurring in the club. People being forcibly thrown into the back of the wagons that threw the burgeoning crowd into a mob-like frenzy.
Stonewall was not an organised riot.
Reports suggest that the community had simply had enough against the police brutality and violence. Gays, Lesbians, Queers, Dykes and Fags were treated as sub-human. Laws were ridiculous, that women had to wear three pieces of feminine clothing or be labelled as a transgender and be thrown into a prison.
Police were receiving pay-offs from the clubs to not have them raided. It was what Fader describes a reclamation as to what the people had lost. The emotions of ‘outrage, anger, sorrow, and everything combined’.
It was 45 minutes of chaos, of violence and of police humiliation. It is speculated that the police were horrified and humiliated that the most marginilised members of the community had fought back.
With the police force in larger numbers, and no longer retreating they detained everyone they could. Despite the crowd fighting back furiously.
The crowd had formed small dancing lines (Kick lines)
Police responded with night sticks. The crowd sang songs of merriment, mockery and tomfoolery. Police responded with night sticks. It’s heartbreaking and devastating.
Yes, the crowd reacted against the authorities. But they had spent so long being persecuted, hunted and villifed that they had simply had enough. The next night, the ‘Gay’s’ and their friends came out. They displayed affection on the streets, they rioted, they reclaimed what had been taken from them – openness and the ability to live normal lives.
It wasn’t prim and proper and it angered many gay activists who had thought that the sensationalised violence, songs and fires undermined the message that they had wanted; that Queers were no different than the heterosexuals.
First Gay Pride March
The first gay pride march occurred the following year in 1970 and has been growing ever since. Stonewall Riots are the pivotal defining moment in Queer History.
Yet, unlike school, it’s a history that is not taught, not told and not passed on. Queers of today, the young ones (which I still feel I am a part of. Just) have not faced fear, have not faced persecution.
They face modern age homophobia. It’s a different world now. They/we are, for the most part, supported by the law, supported by the authorities and have an abundance of support networks.
Yes, it needs improvement, yes there’s more work to do.
But the fear that our elder Queers faced is not something that we have faced, nor could we possibly understand what they went through in the dark years of the 50s to the 70’s. Stonewall riots are epitomised as the moment that the queers fought back. Immortalised as a symbol for the ongoing struggles that queers face.
Sydney Mardi Gras History
The initial Sydney parade occurred on June 24th in 1978 and it was a response to the International Gay Solidarity Celebrations that had been established with the Stonewall Riots in mind. I understand that Queer Pride has lots of glitz and glamour, I sometimes feel that the ‘spectacle’ overshadows the intention, the history and the struggles that we have faced.
It’s a touchy issue and immediately electrifies both sides of the fence.
How many of the patrons would know why the Stonewall Hotel has been named such?
You would hope that they know the histories and the legacy.
Today is a day of celebration, today is a day we celebrate diversity, queerness and continue to fight the world for equality.
Today is also a day of sadness as our histories, potentially, slowly disappear.
Mardi Gras Events 2017
I have never been to the Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia. But this year will be my first year that I am going! I had a look online to find out the day it would begin and found out it’s just around the corner. The celebrations for the LGBTQI community would begin on the 17th of February till the 5th of March with over 80 amazing functions.
That is two whole week of celebrations before the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade 2017 which will begin on the 4th of March. Here is a list of just some of those amazing events.
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Mardi Gras FAIR DAY 2017
Mardi Gras fair day is first even that come on Sunday, February 19, 2017 and starts at 10 am till 8 pm at Bicentennial Park in Glebe. Fair day is one of the most-loved events in Sydney and attracts over than 80000 people.
Also, you can enjoy all the entertainment such as dance at the lounge all day, the different selection of international cuisine while perusing wares from local community vendors and learning more stuff about LGBT community.
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Koori Gras Exhibition
Falls on 21st of February 2017 to 26th February 2017 located at 107 Redfern Street in Redfern from 11.00am – 7.00pm. The exhibition is about shared stories and history nationwide for the first gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, sistergirl, brotherboy, intersex and queer community from their partners and families views.
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Queer Warhol
At the Art Gallery of New South Wales Art Gallery falls on 25th February 2017 from 1:00pm till 3:00pm.
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EqualiTea Party
A tea party brewing with ideas as the 2017 theme of equality gets poured through the tea strainer of discussion. It falls on the 26th of February 2017 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1 pm till 3pm.
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Mardi Gras Pool Party: Mardi Gras Pool Party
One of the luxuries poolside venues every year for Mardi Gras. Falls on 27th of February from 2pm till 11pm at the Ivy Pool Club, George Street, Sydney. It has secret enclave of extravagance.
It features gently swaying palm trees, private cabanas, high-end cocktails and pool side DJs, the Pool Club is the zenith of summertime glamour. Sexy lifeguards watch on you, I mean what more can you ask for. Unfortunately, all tickets have been sold out maybe next year guys.
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Queer Art After Hours
Falls on 1st of March 2017 at Art Gallery of New South Wales from 6pm till 9pm. It is a celebration of Mardi Gras that is a free event with a bar and pop performance.
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DIAMOND CLUB
4th of March 2017 at Taylor Square 195 Oxford St Darlinghurst from 6pm till 11.30pm.
It makes Mardi Gras perfect with raised platforms plus access to a private bar, gourmet food, private bathrooms and party. There are DJs and no bustling crowds without stress. What else can you ask for?
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Parade Sideshow
Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Flinders St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 from 7pm till 11.30pm. Go to the Parade Sideshow If you are after good time and some of the most entertaining shows in the world. Rock up with you tickets to get access to bars, great food stalls, lives screens, bathrooms and seats so you won’t miss a moment of the action.
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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade 2017
Saturday, March the 4th at Oxford Street and Flinders Street Darlinghurst, NSW from 7pm till 11.30 pm. A lot of people from Australia and around the world to celebrate with pride. It brings the city to standstill with hundreds and thousands of people lining the streets in support of equality, pride with dazzling spectacle of sparkles and self-expression.
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2017 Mardi Gras Party
The biggest out of all the events with more than 12000 party goers from all the around the world will be there. From all the walks of life and all the world gathered to celebrate the acceptance and freedom of the LGBTQI. It falls on Sat, Mar 4, 2017 and Sun, Mar 5, 2017 at the Hordern Pavilion (Playbill Venues) Lang Road Moore Park, NSW, 2021 at 10pm till 8am. Don’t miss this event to party all night.
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LANEWAY
A farewell for Mardi Gras and falls after the big day (pride) Sunday Mar 5, 2017 2:00pm until Monday, Mar 6, 2017 1:00am at The Beresford Hotel 354 Bourke Street Surry Hills. Enjoy the live music, pop up drag shows, world class DJs and a diva. Also, powerhouse vocalist Peyton is visiting from Ibiza and Victorira Anthony, Haylenise and Amanda Louise is going to be the DJ.
Celebrate and party all night long at the Mardi Gras Sydney Australia. Remember to have fun, stay safe and grab some sex toys.
Meet Stephen, a bold and opinionated cis-gendered gay advocate for gender equality and sexual education. Join him on the Adultsmart blog for fearless insights.
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