Joan Rivers | GorgeousBoys Online Entertainment Network

March 6, 2009 Posted by Matthew Conaster in Celebrations

MARDI GRAS (Video Update)

Revelers decked out in sequins, feathers, wigs and leather danced through the streets of Sydney on Saturday to the cheers of more than 300,000 people at the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. More than 130 floats and 9,500 people participated in the procession, which began as a protest march in 1978 by homosexual and transsexual men and women and has flourished into one of the world's largest and most flamboyant gay pride events. The parade kicked off with Olympic gold medal diver Matthew Mitcham, who stood atop the first float surrounded by male dancers dressed in Speedos and carrying scorecards. Lifeguards, cheerleaders, nurses and sports teams strutted and spun to their floats' music. Banks, schools and churches were represented, as were the Australian Federal Police, the Defense Department and state firefighters. All of the marchers, whether flamboyant in feathers and high heels or wearing their official work uniforms, were grinning ear-to-ear as they waved to the crowd.

forme

Spectators waited for up to six hours for prime viewing spots along the 1.5-mile route of the 31st annual parade. Many were packed 10 rows thick along the sidewalk along the main thoroughfare Oxford Street, which was lined with metal barricades and manned by police and parade officials. [MEDIA not found]

divas

TV personality Joan Rivers, in town for her one-woman comedy show, waved from atop a truck. Another float was dedicated to slain U.S. gay rights activist Harvey Milk, the subject of a movie last year starring Sean Penn, who won an Oscar for his role. [MEDIA not found]

parade

This year's parade theme was "Nations United," a tribute to homosexuals around the world, particularly in countries where they cannot live openly. In Australia last year, lawmakers passed legislation giving homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexuals, though they have not legalized same-sex marriages. A quick look at the news coverage of the event:

The Sydney Morning Herald has a gallery of Mardi Gras photos from the last 30 years. Can’t help noticing the lack of images from the period 1979–1995, when the Herald’s treatment of the event was far less sympathetic than it is today.
The SMH has a preview of the event with coverage of Surry Hillsong.
Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby has an op-ed piece in the Sydney Daily Telegraph about why Mardi Gras is important, even if you find the bare bottoms and breasts a bit much, as Kirby plainly does. The Terror manages to misspell ‘Mardi Gras’ in the headline.
The Sydney Star Observer has lots of coverage, including an article about the decision by queer arab group Beit el Hob not to participate in protest at the event’s theme (”Nations United”) and the nationalistic overtones that creates.