Dennis Altman’s Righting my World tells the story of his long history in activism, over 50 years, beginning with the gay liberation movement of the 1960s.
Articles on Mardi Gras
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It’s easy to assume the latest opposition to NSW police taking part in the annual festival is a response to recent events. Really, it’s the result of a long, painful history.
In March, Albanese joined 50,000 people to march in support of queer rights. At the same time, in another part of the world, Uganda passed a string of draconian anti-gay laws.
Lidia Thorpe’s temporary blocking of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday night has again brought to the surface discussion on the role of protest and police discretion.
Loneliness is more common among lesbian and gay older people who are disconnected from LGBTQ+ communities.
Sydneyphiles remounts Yang’s 1977 exhibition, documenting mainstream Sydney and the illegal gay party scene.
Rather than a sanitised spectacle at the SCG, the Mardis Gras Parade works best when disrupting everyday routines.
From the “goo goo” boys mocked for their love of theatre to cross-dressing troops and “trouser women”, Australia has a rich queer history.
For many extremist groups, a primary goal is to spread their ideology. Costumes and uniforms – even ridiculous ones – are a form of spectacle that can garner attention and interest.
The annual Carnival rituals subvert traditional French notions of family and sexuality.
Research shows awareness-raising days can have long-term impact if they have a clear call to action, leverage the passion of those involved, or target policy-makers.
If intelligently managed, festivals attract substantial numbers of LGBT tourists to regional and rural destinations, injecting additional income into the local economies.
On the Sydney Mardi Gras march of 1978
The Conversation, CC BY31.7 MB (download)
On a cold Saturday night in Sydney on June 24, 1978, a number of gay men, lesbians and transgender people marched into the pages of Australian social history. I was one of them.
Every festival in Australia sends countless bits of glitter down the drain (and into the ocean). But you can still shine on – in bio-glitter.
Each Mardi Gras, 25 million pounds of beads hit the streets of New Orleans. One researcher went to the Chinese factories that make them – and spoke to the workers who believe the beads will be given to royalty.
Western leaders and activists should show humility and allow themselves to be guided by local organisations if they wish to be effective in promoting same-sex rights.
Is a formal apology to the 1978 Mardi Gras marchers warranted? Some understanding of the oppressive social conditions affecting the lives of sexual minorities in Australia in that era is required.
Dykes on Bikes have been starting Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade since 1988 – and many for many participants, the yearly ride to Sydney is as important as the parade itself.
Top contributors
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Adjunct Professor, Southern Cross University
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English for Academic Purposes Specialist, Anthropologist, Centre for English Teaching, University of Sydney
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Dennis Altman is a Friend of The Conversation.
Vice Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow, Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University
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Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Newcastle
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Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University
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Lecturer, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey, University of Glasgow
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Distinguished Professor of Design History, UTS, University of Technology Sydney
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Instructor of English, Arizona State University
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Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, School of Modern Languages, Cardiff University
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Professor of Social Work, Southern Cross University
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Professor of Performance and Visual Culture, Head of School of Art and Design, UNSW
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Adjunct professor, Queensland University of Technology
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Senior lecturer, Charles Sturt University
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Lecturer in Ornithology, Charles Sturt University
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Associate Professor in Peace Studies, University of New England