"Mardi Gras makes our city sparkle like no one else can.
The final Sleaze filled the Forum and the Dome at Fox Studios, with shows by Zoe Badwi and Mary Kiani. It had become ‘the fundraiser that didn’t raise funds'. George loved Sydney so much he stayed for several weeks after Mardi Gras season ended.Ģ010's 'Decadance' Sleaze Ball in October attracted almost 5,000 people and was the last one staged to date. George Michael, Kelly Rowland and Adam Lambert were the star headliners at the 2010 Party. 10,000 Parade participants and Mardi Gras members partook in a special outdoor carnival event in Moore Park after the procession. The festival featured the first Queer Thinking day of talks at the Seymour Centre, an evening with Tipping the Velvet author Sarah Waters, dinner at Taronga Zoo, and Drag Races on Bondi Beach with Vanessa Wagner.Ĭhief of Parade was New York transgender fashion icon Amanda Lepore. An air bridge and podium brought the performers down into the cheering crowd!įor the first time in Mardi Gras’ history the Parade and Party were on different Saturday nights – the Party had been accidently booked for the wrong weekend! Nicki French, Darren Hayes, Tina Arena and Courtney Act were on the massive multi-level stage at the Party. The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation’s new Glamstand took its place on Flinders Street, and three massive video screens along the Parade route – nicknamed Kylie, Britney and Madonna – projected all the action to the crowds. The family had been featured on a ground-breaking episode of the ABC’s 'Play School'.Īnother float acknowledged our LGBTQI families in over 80 nations where homosexuality remains illegal – and in many cases punishable by death.įloat entries included a giant green serpent with the face of John Howard, 146 Fran Dreschers dancing to the Nanny theme song, and a show-stopping finale production of Believe by Cher impersonator Candi Stratton. An Aboriginal Float was leading the Parade for the first time, with a banner saying 'WELCOME TO COUNTRY'.Īlso in the Parade were Vicki Harding and Jackie Braw with their daughter Brenna. In a major win for gay rights, a bill in New South Wales parliament passed in May to reduce the age of consent for gay men from 18 to 16, bringing it in line with the heterosexual and lesbian age of consent.Īn estimated 450,000 people lined the path of the Parade, which was structured around four themes – Freedom, Family, Passion and Joy. Parade floats included the satirical anti-war ‘Madame Saddam and her Weapons of Mass Seduction’. It was a profound experience."Ģ003 was an election year in New South Wales, so Mardi Gras volunteers donned t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "We're Here, We're Queer, We Vote". Lots of them, including myself, were bawling their eyes out at the sense of relief and completion that it had all happened. The Board, volunteers and everyone who'd made this happen came together for one last dance. The 10am show's backdrop were the posters of the past 25 years. "We'd all seen this event we cared so deeply about dying, and coming back. "At the Party (Co-Chair) Stevie Clayton and I gave a short speech, which concluded with 'Together we created a new Mardi Gras' and the roar from the crowd was enormous," remembers Michael Woodhouse. The revived grassroots Mardi Gras festival enjoyed significant success, making a profit of almost $350,000.