Mardi Gras wants feedback on names
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have launched an online survey to seek community opinions on the names used for the organisation and its events.
Last year the organisation changed its name back to 'Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' after ten years as 'New Mardi Gras'.
They also dropped the words "gay and lesbian" from the festival, naming it simply 'Sydney Mardi Gras'.
The latter move caused controversy with proponents arguing it was more inclusive while opponents said it undermined the visibility of the LGBTI community.
"The survey aims to capture the views of a broad cross-section of the community about the names of the organisation, festival and annual parade, with the results to be compiled in a report that will be published prior to the Annual General Meeting in August," the organisation said in a statement.
"At the AGM, members will be able to vote on a motion regarding what names will be used going forward."
The survey can be found at mardigras.org.au/survey
The survey will be open until close of business on Friday, July 6.
- Tags: LGBTI community, Mardi Gras, New Mardi Gras, online survey, SX, Sydney, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Comments (4)
Will submissions be published online using the transparency seen in the "It's Your Parade" consultation? A healthy thing for democracy and the community would be a genuine public debate over the issue in the months leading up to the vote. The debate shouldn't be relegated to an in-house New Mardi Gras 'consultation' process.
Removing the ‘Gay and Lesbian’ from the name of the Parade is not a cosmetic issue, not a matter of mere branding. The identity of the event will be changed over the long term and it will have an influence on the future of the Gay and Lesbian community in Sydney. A proper debate beyond the tactics of branding and PR that New Mardi Gras has so far engaged in is necessary.
Darren, there is no "consultation". It's all a white-wash. Mardi Gras was destroyed a long time ago through our own corruption.
Oh dear, a consultation put together by the proponents of the name change followed by a vote at the Annual General Meeting...
The last time there was a contested election for the Board at an AGM votes by proxy outnumbered members voting in person 2 to 1. Most of those proxy votes were garnered by people who now support the name change that deletes 'Gay and Lesbian'. At the time they used those proxy votes to remove those with an Arts Administration background from the Board even though the organisation needed their expertise more than ever as it implemented decisions flowing on from the "It's Your Parade" consultation to improve creative content of the parade.
How about, "NMG, RIP"?