Lively forum hears Mardi Gras admit ‘stuff-up’
At what was at times a lively and robust affair that at one point almost descended into a stand-off, a community forum held last night to discuss the future of the Sydney Mardi Gras heard from a number of individuals and groups concerned about increasing corporatisation and sanitisation of the annual parade celebrating LGBTIQ rights.
Held at the Redfern headquarters of Scarlett Alliance on Thursday evening, the meeting drew about 50 people, many of whom were upset about criteria placed by parade organisers, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG), which they claimed was limiting freedom of expression and identity.
During the meeting, SGLMG board member Damon Hartley also admitted that the organisation’s decision to drop the words ‘Gay & Lesbian’ from the Parade title without proper consultation was a “stuff-up”.
Jane Green, a sex worker activist and part of the Scarlett Alliance float at this year’s parade, said it was disconcerting that organisers were attempting to monitor queer identity.
“It seems there’s a push for the gay community to sanitise its image,” Green said.
“The whole business has become just that – a business. Mardi Gras has become so focussed on commercialism.”
Jarel, a spokesperson from ARAMIS (the Raëlian Association of Sexual Minorities), who were banned from this year’s parade over a banner that was deemed offensive, echoed similar sentiments.
“It is not your mandate to control us and limit our freedom of expression ... You are not mandated to be the thought police of this community,” he said.
“Mardi Gras is a fantastic opportunity to voice our concerns to the elite and to the outside world.”
Steve, a protestor at the first Mardi Gras in 1978, suggested that controversial messages still needed a home at Mardi Gras.
“If we toned down what we had written on posters and placards eventual law changes in 1984 may never have happened,” he said.
Former SGLMG board member, Siri May, who was a part of the team that developed this year’s Parade criteria said it seemed the “implementation became quite rigid”.
“There does have to be a process for the parade but that process should involve more dialogue,” she said.
“Mardi Gras offers a platform for difference. It shouldn’t favour one opinion over another.”
Hartley, who was present at the meeting alongside Amanda Keeling from SGLMG’s community engagement team, apologised to groups such as Poly Pride and Scarlett Alliance for how they were treated in the lead-up to this year’s Parade.
“It was a great forum and lots of notes taken and opinions duly noted to assist further work we all need to do,” he told SX.
- Tags: ARAMIS, Damon Hartley, Elena Jeffreys, Jane Green, Raëlian Association of Sexual Minorities, Scarlett Alliance, Siri May, SX, Sydney, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Mardi Gras
Comments (13)
Shame on Mardi Gras for banning Scarlet Alliance and challenging their GLBTI credentials. We heard from at least one queer Scarlet Alliance member prepared to discuss their work.
It's Mardi Gras bending over backwards to please its corporate sponsors who's the real prostitute.
SS, you're spot on. Homosexuality is all about "families" and straight values. It's become so homogenised.
The problem with many members of the gay 'community' is that they want to be straight. There was a struggle to acknowledge we are different. Now we battle to prove we are the same.
pride be warned about that lgbtiq group i have no nice things to say about them sorry there really on the strights side there influeanced from strights marriage to gay people to stop gay couples from marrying i just recently learnt alot about this group and you are right stick with pride so watch them very closely if you let them into mardi gras be very carefull good luck girls u know me
Me (love it), $150,000. That's how much Spencer Tunick cost to run. There's your commercialization, of the human body.
It should be better commercialized - and upgraded - ditch the daggy floats and amateur hour costumes - raise the funds from corporate sources - maximize the pink dollar - upgrade the event and raise funds for charity - and at least attempt to remain somewhat relevant in terms of furthering our cause politically and legally - we still have a few issues to settle . It should focus on gay and lesbian issues and not try to be something for every letter in the alphabet - it simply dilutes the issues and confuses the masses and gives every fringe element a desire (and some kind of misguided right?) to be involved. Let them start their own parade.
To those that critise Mardi Gras for being commerical, have you thought about how much it costs to run an event such as this? Have you thought about where that money comes from?
The parade is free to attend and requires significant time, effort and money to run.
Without some relevent sponsorship and corporate support this event risks going broke again.
Corporate support from organisations with relevant products, diversity policies and track records of supporting our community should be encouraged.
Their financial support provides critical funding for this event.
Mardi gras lost the plot at least 2 decades ago.
We have become so commercialised now.
Mardi Gras has not represented the gay community for years. It is about the corporate sponsors and marketing.
We as a community have taken second place. We are just a commodity for mainstream.
I can count on one hand how many times I have watched it, let alone the party, which I have been to 2. As I have never been able to relate to it at all.
Our voice is being silenced now that we have become mainstream and inclusive. Have to look at our press. Everything we write about now is censored, especially by the other one.
Don't want upset our inclusion into mainstream society.
As for Mardi gras. Do we still need it today?? Unless it gets back to it's routes of what Mardi Gras means, it has no purpose today.
Well it wouldn't be a true mardi gras if there wasn't a whole lot of post event bitching! We are very good at criticising our own!
Glenn, the parade was never for me. But that's ok. I've given up on it. As for volunteers, it was one of them that threatened to call police if I didn't leave fairday. Fancy that, being thrown out, not by straight people, but your own.
It was interesting to see they apologised after the fact, but it should never have happened in the first place. They need to remember that this parade is for everyone not just the people that think they are running it. By the way the volunteers need to be looked after more. My partner was a volunteer and he couldn't even get a bottle of water and wasn't treated very nice by the person that was supposed to be his superior. To the lead up to next years parade they need to hold a forum or survey as many people as they can every month to see what needs to be done. Ask us what we want, don't push it on us.
My partner and I volunteered to help at maradi gras and we never heard anything again! I'm assuming they have enough help so in future they won't need me to volunteer again.
I went last night and was disappointed. I commend PolyPride, Scarlet Alliance and the Raelians for trying to be included in Mardi Gras. However, I feel the organization has simply moved too far to the right and is no longer a vehicle for freedom of expression.