Mardi Gras ponders name change

Organisers of Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras are preparing to consult with the community in an attempt to resolve ongoing dissatisfaction and confusion over the event’s name and future direction.

Mardi Gras bosses are hosting two public consultations regarding the festival’s controversial name change, which saw the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ dropped from its title in late 2011.

The festival – including the world-famous street parade – was officially rebranded, with the title ‘Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ shortened to ‘Sydney Mardi Gras’.

At the same time, the event’s organising body, previously known as ‘New Mardi Gras’, was officially renamed ‘the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’.

The confusing situation will be revisited at two public meetings, to be held at Paddington Town Hall on Wednesday, January 28; and Customs House, Circular Quay on Saturday, February 2.

Mardi Gras officials said the consultations were being held to forge a way through the mire, in response to community dissent.

“Following the name change, some members of the community voiced strong opposing opinions,” said Mardi Gras CEO Michael Rolik.

“A community forum and a survey was distributed last year to better understand community opinion on this matter. The forum and survey results showed strong opinions, but diverse ones, and it was decided further research and consultation was required.”

Mardi Gras ’78ers, who held the first Sydney Mardi Gras in 1978, have been among the most insistent that the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ be reinstated to the event’s name.

NSW Police brutally attacked participants in the first Mardi Gras, arresting 53 and injuring scores. The ’78ers are today regarded as the event’s elders and custodians.

Prominent ’78er Dr Jo Harrison said this week the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ must be reinstated.

“Nothing is ever gained by erasure. Nothing. We only lose. Erasure is not inclusivity,” she said.

“That was the case when we were bashed in ’78 and it is still the case now. The ‘no name Mardi Gras’ is not what others and I almost died for. Silence equals death.”

Gary Burns, another ’78er, said Mardi Gras had lost its way.

“Removing the words ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ has removed its meaning,” he said.

“Mardi Gras used to be a gay and lesbian civil rights movement, and a celebration of the progress we’ve made. But it’s become nothing more than a good night out.”

However, others feel the name change to ‘Sydney Mardi Gras’ has made the event more inclusive and relevant, particularly to members of the GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex) community who aren’t gay or lesbian.

“I supported the name change to Sydney Mardi Gras,” said Trans Menace Australia spokesperson, Indi Kelly Edwards.

“Gay and lesbian domination of the ‘alphabet soup’ needs to end. It’s a pecking order, which starts at the top with the ‘g’ and works all the way down to the ‘i’.

“The gay community also has lots of straight allies and it’s important that they’re included too.”

The name change consultations will no doubt be watched with wider interest, with Mardi Gras now entrenched as one of Sydney’s biggest annual money-spinners.

The event, which was added to the NSW Master Events Calendar in 2008, generates an estimated $30 million per annum for the state’s economy.