Pink politics: Council floats its civil agenda for Mardi Gras

As Sydney City fires up for Mardi Gras, Council is showing its support by this year’s parade float to legalising civil partnerships.

Over 50 Council staff and Councillors will be dancing to ‘Stand up for Your Rights’ by Yazz to show support for legal recognition of same sex relationships.

Last week the City became the first Australian council to endorse the Declaration of Montreal, an international statement for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender rights.

‘We have a federal government that is introducing many laws to deal with the inequalities experienced by members of the gay and lesbian community but they’re not looking at taking the extra step of recognising civil partnerships. So we thought it was time to highlight that,’ said City of Sydney Creative Director Gillian Minervini.

Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, has long campaigned for civil partnerships, with the City establishing a Relationship Register in 2003 to recognise the ‘partnership status’ of same-sex couples.

Now Council’s fifth year featuring in the parade, Minervini said the City’s continued presence in the event showed it was ‘in tune’ with it’s residents.

‘It’s showing leadership, it’s progressive and it’s walking the talk,’ she said.