Thousands of people are lining along Sydney’s Oxford Street for this year’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
More than 150 floats are taking part in the parade alongside 9,000 marchers to dance, sing and bedazzle the two-kilometre route, which was recently heritage listed on its 48th anniversary.Â
A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony opened the parade, but it was the inaugural humming of engines from Dykes on Bikes that marked the start of this year’s Mardi Gras.
Among the sea of leather and pride flags were keffiyehs and signs calling for a free Palestine.
First Nations float Blak Joy followed bearing both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags made entirely of sequins.
The 78ers, the pioneering LGBTQIA+ activists who participated in the inaugural Sydney Mardi Gras, march on Oxford Street. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
The 78ers demonstrated against police violence. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
The 78rs, who took part in the very first parade, marched proudly, displaying a banner reading: “Stop Police Attacks on Gays women and Blacks.”
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, went all out, leading her float aback an open-top luxury blue convertible, alongside independent MP Alex Greenwich.
Clover Moore travelled in style. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Lots of smiles on the parade route. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
As Trans Pride Australia reached Taylor Square, fireworks were set off from the roof top of queer institution Kinselas.
With social cohesion the forefront of national debate, the Order of Perpetual Indulgence used their march to make a political statement.
The Order of Perpetual Indulgence used the parade to denounce right-wing groups. (ABC News: Miriah Davis)
Dressed as nuns while donning signs of jailed Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell sucking a baby’s dummy, marchers told the ABC, “We simply say to everyone: No to the far right.”
The crowd turn out was noticeably smaller compared to last year despite an increased police presence.
Bright colours were on full display. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
A sea of gold at the parade. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Wedding kicks off celebrations
This year’s theme, Ecstatica, promises a mix of “pride, passion, and glitter-fuelled resistance” by lighting up Oxford Street in Darlinghurst through to Anzac Parade at Moore Park.
The happy couple tied the knot at Hyde Park before the parade. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
As people gathered in Hyde Park before the start of the parade, there were cheers, claps and tears as Jessica Luna and Carolina Andrade tied the knot in an impromptu wedding.
Celebrant Steven Christie was present to oversee the nuptials, with the newlywed couple telling the ABC the Mardi Gras wedding was completely last-minute.
“We were just gonna sign the papers and then do our ceremony later,” Ms Andrade said while patting away tears.
“We’re still going to do a proper ceremony,” Ms Luna said.
“But the date just kind of aligns, and you’re like, what would be, like, better than just celebrate our love in this beautiful event, you know?”
Daniel Martinuzzo (left), Scott Cowdell (centre) and Michael Mastro (right). (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Daniel Martinuzzo is marching with Midas Creations alongside his partner Scott Cowdell and cousin Michael Mastro.
Mr Martinuzzo said he was celebrating the fact that this year’s afterparty had been cancelled.
In the weeks leading up to parade night, organisers pulled the plug on the much-loved Mardi Gras party, saying the $2 million bash was a major contributor to “significant financial loss”, amid major sponsorship withdrawal.
“I totally understand where they’re coming from,” he said.
“When they come back, they’ll come back bigger and better.”
This year’s parade promised “pride, passion, and glitter-fuelled resistance”. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Aurora Arsenic’s mother made her fabulous outfit. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Meanwhile, Aurora Arsenic said her mother made her outfit for the parade, and that Mardi Gras meant she was able to “be myself”.
“It means I’m surrounded by people in the community,” she said.
Anthony Bansemer said he was “feeling very excited” about the parade.
“I’m feeling very honoured because Phoenix is my fiancé and him being an Aboriginal man and me being Thai,” he said.
Phoenix James (left) and Anthony Bansemer (right) travelled from Adelaide for the parade. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Marchers for Qtopia are donning pins bearing the image of late drag veteran Maxi Shield as part of their float to honour her long-standing legacy in Sydney’s queer community.
The drag performer Kristopher Elliot died earlier this week after being diagnosed with cancer last August.
Marchers for Qtopia are donning pins of late drag veteran Maxi Shield. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Jeremy Smith, Qtopia’s artist ambassador, said they were coming out “big and loud” in celebration of such an “incredible personality”.
“I feel like this is very much, a tribute to Maxi, and their indelible mark, she was such an icon.”
People gathered at Hyde Park before the parade. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Extra security for paradePride in Protest float excluded from Mardi Gras over ‘offensive’ posts
The Bondi terror attack on December 14 means security is bolstered in the CBD and surrounding areas, with police confirming they will be patrolling the parade with long-arm rifles.Â
Despite citing “no immediate threat”, assistant commissioner Stephen Hegarty said additional police presence was to “reassure the community, support crowd movement and target criminal and anti-social behaviour”.
There will be a strong police presence at the parade. (ABC News: Shannon Corvo)
Less than 24 hours before the parade, the board of Mardi Gras made a decision to expel Pride in Protest over a series of comments and social media posts about the Jewish LGBTQ organisation Dayenu.
Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson called the comments “offensive” and said they went against “the code of conduct and the values” of the event.