Last Saturday (2 March), the streets of Sydney were ablaze with the spirit of pride and diversity as the 46th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade returned to Oxford & Flinders Streets and Anzac Parade.
An estimated 250,000 spectators gathered in unity and celebration, bearing witness to a spectacular march of more than 12,000 participants who lit up the night with their creativity, advocacy, and unapologetic pride under the theme Our Future…
“The Parade was a vibrant testament to the strength and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. As we marched under the banner of Our Future…, we not only honour the past 45 years of history and progress but also took a bold step toward shaping a more inclusive and diverse future,” said Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Gil Beckwith.
“Sydney has always been a beacon for LGBTIQA+ communities and that pride is most spectacularly on show during Mardi Gras,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO. “This year’s March was another triumph of sequins and spirit.”
“These past few weeks have been particularly hard for our LGBTIQA+ communities but tonight we all came together for a wonderful celebration of queer love, culture and struggle. When the biodegradable glitter settles, the fight for equality will continue.”
This year’s theme, Our Future…, served as a powerful call to action, inviting parade participants and spectators alike to envision and contribute to the path forward for the LGBTQIA+ community.
It was a night that melded the legacy of protest with the joy of celebration, featuring 200 floats, led by the beloved Dykes on Bikes, First Nations and 78er floats.
The Parade was a dazzling display of the community’s creativity, with each float bringing to life the shared dreams and aspirations for Our Future... The streets were filled with a kaleidoscope of colours, music, and dance, symbolizing the unity and diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies.
For more information about the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, visit: www.mardigras.org.au for details.
Image: 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade – photo by Jordan Munns