World Pride Meets Mardi Gras in the Heart of Sydney!

SANDY HOSIER: From gay sharks to gay bears, Sydneysiders were once again awash in the diverse colours of the 45th Annual Mardi Gras, this year, coinciding with the first World Pride event to take place in Australia. There was glitz and glamour as the world’s most protected and popular minority group painted the town with p ride, although many were unhappy about some of the messaging being displayed in their streets and questioned the true meaning of the celebrations in 2023. Larry Fillmore and Penny Hempsack were in the heart of Oxford Street to soak up the atmosphere and celebrate the sexual orientations of the random people around them. 

LARRY: [Music: “Love is in the air”] Oh yes, love really is in the air here Penny, isn’t it

PENNY: You can almost smell it Larry!

LARRY: That’s disgusting… Anyway, we’re here at the 45th Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia, and Oxford Street has once again been transformed from a sad, seedy, post-covid nightmare, into a fabulous wonderland and the heart of World Pride. 

PENNY: That’s right – InterPride has ensured this year’s event is bigger than ever, as it does with over 375 SOGIESC pride organisations in over 70 countries Larry. 

LARRY: Geez, what was THAT acronym?

PENNY: Haha, it’s the Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions, and Sex Characteristics communities that use InterPride to learn and grow with each other – You know, for funding – I’m surprised you haven’t learnt that one by heart yet Larry? 

LARRY: Oh, it’s a brave new world Pen – Ho Hoe! Looks like the party is about to kick off, as thousands of progressives line the streets behind us to the familiar sounds of that pop star from 35 years ago

PENNY: I can’t wait to jump onto social media and make sure all my friends know I’m supporting the cause – Whatever it might be

LARRY: Look there’s Albo, whose managed to inject himself into yet another cultural moment

PENNY: A man of the people – and the first Australian Prime minister to march in the mardi gras parade Larry.

LARRY: Incredible, is there anything outside of Parliament he won’t attend, ey?

PENNY: He certainly gets around – as the fabulous parade snakes its way past the now famous BDSM Bear mural, which Nine News described as “a Vladimir Putin with teddy bear mask drinking a white Russian in bondage straps” 

LARRY: Haha, great material Channel Nine! Of course, we should take a moment to condemn the heartless vandals who sprayed “leave our kids alone” over it earlier in the day, obviously misunderstanding the symbols of love, struggle and bravery it brought to the middle of this major thoroughfare. 

PENNY: And here come the first floats of this year’s parade of Rainbow Capitalism, brought to you by about a thousand corporate sponsors, and shown in prime time on our nation’s tax-funded broadcaster!

PENNY: And thank goodness for that. Here’s the Trans Float now covered in their own special Ice-Cream coloured flag

LARRY: Yes, and the kids are loving every minute of this, and what a range of fabulous and colourful merchandise they’ve had to pick from Penny? It’s no wonder so many kids around the world are deciding on their sexual orientation and gender years before they even reach puberty! 

PENNY: I wonder if those colours were chosen in honour of the world’s biggest trans advocate and ice cream fan Larry?

LARRY: Lizzo?

PENNY: No, no! Joe Biden

LARRY: Oh of course! I bet Justin Truedau doesn’t mind an ice cream either? Or Dan Andrews down in Victoria?

PENNY: It’s just amazing that so many of today’s leaders are removing tired old community events and pouring money into these more inclusive events for minority communities. It makes you wonder just how big this movement will get? 

LARRY: Well, that’s exactly what InterPride’s closed-door conferences are about this week Penny, and I think Australia will be following in lockstep with the US who dedicate an entire month to celebrating Pride

PENNY: Sure! More time for Drag Queen Story Time for primary school kids, and perhaps a bit of pole dancing to keep the mom’s dads and teenages fit and healthy? All the more reason for LGBTQQIAAP+ groups and their allies to hit the streets as often as possible and DEMAND more than just the 47 dedicated Pride days, the entire Month of June, the LGBT history month in October, and the Trans Awareness Month in November which the US have locked in to their calendars. 

LARRY: l couldn’t have said it better Pen – especially as a cis-gendered sock puppet myself… Well, that just about wraps things up for this years  for this year, and we haven’t even discussed what happened behind closed doors at the world Pride conferences that took place for a select group of people?

PENNY: Probably not HALF as much fun as what’s going to happen at the After party tonight?

LARRY: Woah, let me out of here, I’m a family man! But make sure I can slip through the back entrance again like the last few years…