Sydney Mardi Gras is one of the largest festivals of the world related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex. The two week festival is celebrated in Sydney every year and attracts a large crowd from across the Australia and other parts of the world. The festival has emerged over a long period of time which was initially started as a remembrance of New York’s Stonewall’s Riots of 1969. This paper discusses the Sydney Mardi Gras and other related aspects of the event.
This event was organised for the first time in the year 1979 when a protest march was held to remember the events of previous year in which several protestors were arrested by the local administration. The previous year incident was seen as an effort to oppress the LGBTQI and people from across the country raised their voices against this suppressive step. The theme of the protest of the year1979 according to the protestors was the power in the darkness. It was a successful and peaceful protest without a single arrest. The parade was not organized next year but after that it is organized regularly and becoming more beautiful and vibrant every year.
The festival of 2012 faced a couple of changes in the schedule and considering the interests of bigger community the name of this event was changed to Sydney Mardi Gras festival now champions for the collective rights of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Queer and the Intersex. Apart from this many celebrities from across the world came and Kylie minouge rocked the audiences with her stunning performance. One more thing to observe was the crowd which was just uncontrollable yet much disciplined. This time a huge increase was reported in the visitors from almost every part of the world. Like every year a representative was selected and this year it was Shelly Argent, the spokes person of Friends and Parents of Lesbians and Gays. Some incidents of protests were also reported but they are not enough to discourage the lively spirit of the participants.
There is an array of colorful Event including Sydney Mardi Gras Parade and party along with events like Harbor party and Mardi Gras Film Festival. Apart from the LGBTQI, Thousands of visitors come to just watch the magnificent events of this festival. This event is not only important for the people who are directly related to this event but simultaneously it has a big importance for the local socio economical structure. The event is two week long and visitors start coming to the place much before. All the hoteliers and people related to the tour- travel industry earn a handsome profit during the festival. The festival has been emerged as a unique example of cultural tourism. Now the festival as well as this movement is getting support from the politicians also along with other sects of the society. The spirit of the participants and organizers indicates that this event is going to be more vivacious and attention-grabbing in coming years.
It is good to conclude the discussion saying that this cultural festival, which is basically a movement by the LGBTQI people, is a unique example of the expression of feelings. The festival was started as a protest but now it symbolizes the life, beauty, energy creativity and etiquettes. The number of increasing spectators suggests that the event has succeeded in its mission.
References
Binnie, J., 2004. The Globalisation of Sexuality. London: Sage Publications.
Falconer, D., 2010. Sydney. Sydney, Australia: UNSW Press.
Smith, M.K., 2003. Issues in cultural tourism studies. London: Routledge.
