Clover Moore to lead epic City of Sydney march for Mardi Gras

By Heaps Gay Staff

The City of Sydney has made a vow its entry in this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, ‘Let’s Get Married Australia!’, will be its biggest and best in more than a decade’s involvement in the parade.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said no other city in the world celebrates its LGBTIQ population with the enthusiasm of Sydney.

“It’s high time Australia caught up with the rest of the community, and many countries, states and cities globally, and legalised same sex marriage,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The march has long championed equality – but while the community’s on board, we’re still falling behind countries across the globe that have legalised same sex marriage.

“Sydney’s Mardi Gras is the biggest night-time celebration of LGBTIQ pride in the world and we’re extremely proud of it. It gives us the chance to celebrate with our gay and lesbian communities, their families and friends and an opportunity to see the best of Sydney — its diversity, energy and love of a good time.

“This is my thirtieth year of involvement in Mardi Gras and while a lot has changed in that time the parade is as relevant and fantastic as ever. The glamour, wit and sense of outrageous fun – nothing matches the experience.”

Up to 100 City of Sydney staff, family and friends will participate in the City’s parade entry, dancing in a choreographed performance along the parade route, supporting the Mardi Gras theme of ‘Momentum’.

The participants will highlight the need to maintain the momentum towards equality using signs to highlight key moments in the City of Sydney’s move towards LGBTIQ rights and marriage equality.

“As a long-time champion of LGBTIQ rights, our City will keep fighting for the right for all Australians to have full equality, including marriage equality, as equal members of our diverse community,” the Lord Mayor said.

In 2003, the former South Sydney City Council introduced the Partnership Register, offering an opportunity for the LGBTIQ community to have their relationships formally recognised. Following the merger of the City of Sydney and South Sydney City Council in 2004, the City introduced a new Relationships Declaration Program in 2004.

In 2008, the City unanimously called on the federal government to end all discrimination against same-sex couples. Two years later in 2010, the NSW Government began to allow Civil Partnerships under the Relationships Register Bill and in 2011 the City unanimously supported marriage equality.