Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and supporting partner Google have announced the recipients of the SGLMG Community Parade Grants Program. The program is designed to fund and support a diverse range of community ideas and provide grants to individuals, community groups and not-for-profit groups to help lift their parade entries to a completely new artistic level.
“We had a wonderful response to our call for applications and are really happy to announce that with Google’s support we’ve been able to support 17 community floats through the Grants Program,” said SGLMG CEO Terese Casu. “We’re looking forward to seeing these incredible floats on Parade night.”
The 2017 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Grants Program recipients are:
- Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia Inc. (AISSG) – AISSG is a peer support and advocacy group for people affected by AIS and/or related intersex variations, and their families. Their float hopes to raise the visibility of people with an intersex variation, and that show they are not ashamed, but happily maintaining their identity, their bodies, families and communities, and one another in wholesome support.
- Selamat Datang – Supporting GLBTIQ Indonesians – Selamat Datang was created to show support for GLBTIQ people in Indonesia and their struggle for acceptance in Indonesian society. Selamat Datang helps to fundraise for GLBTIQ organisations in Indonesia including safe houses for young GLBTIQ people and fundraising for people living with HIV/Aids in Indonesia.
- People with Disability Australia (PDA) – Founded in 1981, People with Disability Australia seeks to provide people with disability with a voice of our own. We have a cross-disability focus representing the interests of people with all kinds of disability. We are a non-profit, non-government organisation. With their float PDA want to highlight that Disability Pride and LGBTIQ Pride are one in the same.
- Lifesavers with Pride – Lifesavers with Pride are an advocacy group within surf lifesaving. Our role is to be the link between the LGBTIQ community and the lifesaving community. They represent their LGBTIQ members, by promoting lifesaving as a diverse, welcoming and progressive organisation that supports people of all sexualities.
- Trans Sydney Pride (TSP) – TSP is a Sydney based social and support group founded by binary transpeople for binary, non-binary and gender-queer transpeople. Their vision for their Parade float is to provide visibility to the trans community and show that they are strong, diverse and beautiful.
- Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council & Departure Lounge with special guests the Tiwi Island SistaGALS – The Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC) and Departure Lounge present Territory Stars – a showcase of the unique LGBTQI Community in the Northern Territory and their supporters. Special guests on this float include the Tiwi Island SistaGALS, a group of Trans women who started a crowdfunding campaign last year to attend their first ever Mardi Gras.
- Psychedelic Love – Is made up of a diverse group of friends, a mixture of LGBTIQ and family and friends and supporters who want their float to celebrate their love for one another and for the community in which they live.
- Sydney Women’s AFL – With women’s teams from across all states and territories, Sydney Women’s AFL is made up of a mixture of straight, gay, trans, Muslim, Catholic, Christian participants who all support each other for who they are. The group will take to the streets to show that their is no place for discrimination in sport. There is no place for discrimination in life.
- The Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) – GLADD are an open LGBTQI friendly group of Doctors, Dentists, and allied healthcare workers – who organise a parade entry for Mardi Gras each year as well as other community events such as socials and wine tours throughout the year.
- Wett Ones Sydney Swim Team – The LGBTIQ Masters Swimming Club will walk the Parade to celebrate their diverse membership of different sexualities, genders, ages. They hope to demonstrate that although their members come in all shapes and sizes they are united as a team and that everyone is given an equal playing field (or swimming pool).
- Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) – ICLC has been providing free legal services for people in the inner city area for thirty-five years. The Centre provides a range of free legal services to people in the Sydney. Their float will communicate the support of the community legal centre sector for LGBTIQ justice and its continuing campaign for creating equality.
- DAYENU – Sydney’s Jewish LGBTIQ Group – Dayenu has been running for 16 years and had their first Mardi Gras float in 2000. Their message this year goes out to the gay community to promote diversity and religious tolerance.
- Gay Tradies – This group is made up of gay trades and their friends and supporters. They hope their float will highlight that there are LGBTIQ people everywhere, including the trades and services industry.
- Oceania Rainbow – This group’s mission is to create safe spaces and support networks for young Pacific Islander LGBTIQ in Sydney. With their float they hope to increase their visibility in the community as Pacific People who are proud of identities.
- Flourish Australia – Flourish Australia supports people on their mental health recovery journey and helps to reconnect with the community to live a contributing life. By participating in the Parade, they hope to show their support to the community and deliver the message that everyone has the freedom to Flourish in their own way.
- Different Strokes Dragon Boat Club – Different Strokes is a Sydney-based dragon boat club that was formed in 2008, with the aim of providing a social and fitness-focused sporting outlet for the LGBTIQ community. With their float design they want to show a future where creating equality is not a question, but a reality.
“It was fabulous to witness the enormous diversity of groups that make Mardi Gras so special,” said Tea Uglow, Creative Director of Google’s Creative Lab in Sydney. “To be able to make a difference to their participation through our contribution felt the right way for us to support SGLMG”
To be held on Saturday 4 March 2017, the Mardi Gras Parade is the largest LGBTIQ parade of its kind in the world attracting more than 12,000 participants. For more information, visit: www.mardigras.org.au for details.
Image: Lifesavers With Pride – photo by Ann-Marie Calilhanna