The City of Sydney will proudly show its support for the LGBTIQ community with an entry in this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade that celebrates the festival’s 2019 theme, ‘fearless’.
Complete with flashing LED lights, dance music and neon-costumed dancers, the City’s float will involve more than 80 staff and friends taking part in the 41st Mardi Gras parade on Saturday 2 March.
Themed ‘Uniting the World at Our Party’, the parade entry features a high-energy choreographed routine to a soundtrack by leading Sydney DJ Dan Murphy. The global focus complements this year’s theme, which calls on the LGBTIQ community be strong, brave, and fearless – and unite in celebration at Mardi Gras.
“Every year, people from around the world travel to Sydney to be a part of Mardi Gras,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a wonderful three-week festival, but the Mardi Gras Parade along Oxford and Flinders Street is the proud and fearless focal point of the festival – an opportunity for us to show off our city at its diverse and inclusive best.
“I am proud to see this year’s City of Sydney float align with Mardi Gras’ environmentally friendly commitments, glitter-free but colourful as ever.”
Performing a routine choreographed by Sydney director Sophie Gospodarczyk to a mash-up of dance anthems, the City’s entry promises to be fun and humorous as it makes its way along the parade route.
Sydney’s Mardi Gras began as a protest march in 1978 and has evolved into a powerful celebration of Australia’s colourful gay and lesbian culture.
More than 10,000 people will take part in the parade, with a further 100,000 people lining the streets to cheer on the 197 participating floats.
As well as supporting the festival through its parade entry, the City is flying the rainbow flag – the international emblem of LGBTIQ pride – above Sydney Town Hall and at Taylor Square, joining the recently unveiled rainbow crossing at Campbell and Bourke streets.
The City of Sydney is a proud supporter of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, this year supporting the festival with $289,700 in cash and value-in-kind for the event.
