MARDI GRAS
This weekend we’re opening our big, beautiful hearts right up and celebrating LOVE!
The iconic parade may look a little different this year, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Mardi Gras will still be one explosive celebration of diversity and inclusivity.
We’re celebrating with some of our dearest LGBTQIA+ friends, and we'd like to introduce you to them so you can discover their magic yourself.
Let's listen and love together this Mardi Gras.
The iconic parade may look a little different this year, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Mardi Gras will still be one explosive celebration of diversity and inclusivity.
We’re celebrating with some of our dearest LGBTQIA+ friends, and we'd like to introduce you to them so you can discover their magic yourself.
Let's listen and love together this Mardi Gras.
HUGH
Hi there, this is Hugh Sheridan and I identify as a human being, just like you.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
This Mardi Gras is a very special Mardi Gras for me because last year I decided to become open about my sexuality to the point that I decided to say I was human and label-less.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
This Mardi Gras is a very special Mardi Gras for me because last year I decided to become open about my sexuality to the point that I decided to say I was human and label-less.
I’ve always been attracted to everyone and love has always come to me in many different levels. I think it’s sometimes love of the mind, sometimes it’s love on a sexual level and sometimes it’s just love for the human that’s in front of you.
But this year, I’m celebrating the fact that I decided to tell everyone. I thought that by not saying anything I was making a point for the people that shouldn’t have to say anything at all.
But I’ve also realised that the 15 year-olds, 16, 17, 20, 30 year-olds, would of appreciated someone like me coming out and saying this is me, deal with it.
Do you have any key messages for our audience this Mardi Gras?
My key message for this Mardi gras of 2021 is to celebrate love.
I think now more than ever we are in a time in the world where we’ve felt so much separation, so much segregation and so much distance between people we love, our families, our friends overseas.
It’s time to be all inclusive, to let go of labels, to let go of the things that you hang onto that keep you separate.
I think we need to celebrate the fact that regardless of how we identify, whether it’s human, gay, straight, bi, transgender, asexual, polyamorous, whatever it is, whatever your label, is the fact is deep down we are all human, we’re human beings on a journey struggling along together. So let’s celebrate our individuality while celebrating the fact that deep down we’re all the same.
What are you most proud of this year or any?
I think what Mardi Gras makes me so proud of, is the fact that many, many years ago there was a protest happening at the bottom of Oxford Street, and a protest happening at the top of Oxford Street.
The bottom of Oxford Street was a protest for gay rights and a friend of mine, Kate Ladder, who’s now passed away from breast cancer, was one of the first ‘Dykes on Bikes’ – And she and a group of other genius’ said, ‘We can’t keep fighting like this, let’s do it our way’. So they all dressed up.
They did what beautiful, proud, individual, wild people do, and that’s to dress up and be fabulous! That was the start of the Mardi Gras. How awesome that Australia has continued this history and set an example for the world to say: this is who we are, let’s celebrate.
COCO
Hi everyone, this is Coco Jumbo, Sydney’s favourite Drag queen I am officially 30 years old and absolutely loving it.
Do you have any key messages for our audience this Mardi Gras?
If I had a message for anyone this Mardi Gras, I would say, love yourself and love everyone around you. Always be aware that you’re not the only person going through something and everyone else is – so we are all getting through it together.
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
Rising above all the haters, and rising about all the negativity so you can properly shine and be yourself.
Best Mardi Gras Memory?
My favourite Mardi Gras memory was the 50-year anniversary doing the community show with all the Oxford Street legends. I think there was 40 of us on stage, and it was amazing – so much fun!
Do you have any key messages for our audience this Mardi Gras?
If I had a message for anyone this Mardi Gras, I would say, love yourself and love everyone around you. Always be aware that you’re not the only person going through something and everyone else is – so we are all getting through it together.
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
Rising above all the haters, and rising about all the negativity so you can properly shine and be yourself.
Best Mardi Gras Memory?
My favourite Mardi Gras memory was the 50-year anniversary doing the community show with all the Oxford Street legends. I think there was 40 of us on stage, and it was amazing – so much fun!
DENI
My name is Deni and I’m 32. I Identify as non-binary and gay - and my pronouns are they, them.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
This Mardi gras I will be celebrating joy. I think we’ve had such a heavy 12 months. Globally what we’ve all gone through with the pandemic, now feels like the right time for joy.
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
Exactly what it says. I think that particularly in the last few months and with all the time we’ve had to sit still during covid, we’ve really had time to look at queer history and the many, many traumas - the real journey and struggles our queer forefathers and mothers went through.
Rise to me is kind of like a celebration of rising above what all the queer humans before us went through and celebrating the freedoms and the joy that we have now because it was a really tough road to here.
Best Mardi Gras Memory?
Without a doubt last year. Without knowing it, it was essentially the farewell party for the world, because two weeks later we went into a global lockdown and it was just amazing.
I came up with my best friend Riley and we marched with a beautiful charity and then we saw Dua Lipa and Sam Smith and Ke$ha. It was just a night slash weekend I’ll never forget. And it just made it all that more special that it was kind of that last hurrah.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
This Mardi gras I will be celebrating joy. I think we’ve had such a heavy 12 months. Globally what we’ve all gone through with the pandemic, now feels like the right time for joy.
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
Exactly what it says. I think that particularly in the last few months and with all the time we’ve had to sit still during covid, we’ve really had time to look at queer history and the many, many traumas - the real journey and struggles our queer forefathers and mothers went through.
Rise to me is kind of like a celebration of rising above what all the queer humans before us went through and celebrating the freedoms and the joy that we have now because it was a really tough road to here.
Best Mardi Gras Memory?
Without a doubt last year. Without knowing it, it was essentially the farewell party for the world, because two weeks later we went into a global lockdown and it was just amazing.
I came up with my best friend Riley and we marched with a beautiful charity and then we saw Dua Lipa and Sam Smith and Ke$ha. It was just a night slash weekend I’ll never forget. And it just made it all that more special that it was kind of that last hurrah.
CHARLIE VILLAS
My name is Charlie Villas and I identify as she/her or they/them. I'm a DJ, music curator and I'm all about creating the good times!!
Do you have a key message for our audience?
Mardi Gras is a time for celebration and coming together in the LGBTQIA+ community. It's also a time for remembrance, that in 1978, Mardi Gras started as a protest. We need to honour those who paved the way and fought to have equal rights, right through to those who fought and helped make same sex marriage legal in Australia.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is normally a busy time for me with gigs, so this year I'll be celebrating with all the float participants at the SCG. I'll be djing in the marshalling area as they wait to strut their stuff in the stadium!
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
Rise definitely invokes the feelings and emotions I had from 2020, of rising above the disappointment and anxiety from losing work and being isolated from friends and family due to the pandemic and beyond that, rising each day as a proud queer, brown person.
Best Mardi Gras Memory:
My best memory would have to be playing my first ever Mardi Gras gig in 2019. To be chosen for the line-up was a dream come true!
NIKITA MAJAJAS
My name is Nikita Majajas and my pronouns are She/Her. I’m a jewellery and object designer and maker, I have a label called Doodad + Fandango
Do you have a key message for our audience?
The feeling of Mardi Gras is always pure LOVE!
Not just love for the parties and the dress ups but LOVE for these who have come before and battled real hardships to pave the way for us.
Love for those who have been silenced and oppressed, and LOVE for all our fellow humans no matter what package they come in: where they live, who they love, what their pronoun is.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
Coming out after nearly a year of COVID weirdness, life feels like it’s just about back to normal and the joy of reconnecting with people again is amazing!
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
2020 threw a lot of shady stuff at us all, 2021 is time to Rise again!
Best Mardi Gras Memory:
Oh it’s a draw for me! 2018 Mardi Gras had the MOST electric feeling, coming off the legislation to finally introduce same sex marriage the feeling on the streets was ecstatic. I’ve never felt so much pure joy!
And 2019 Mardi Gras was a personal highlight as I designed a float for Twenty10 (an amazing youth support organisation) and worked with young people in the lead up to the parade, making accessories and signs for their march up Oxford Street.
Do you have a key message for our audience?
The feeling of Mardi Gras is always pure LOVE!
Not just love for the parties and the dress ups but LOVE for these who have come before and battled real hardships to pave the way for us.
Love for those who have been silenced and oppressed, and LOVE for all our fellow humans no matter what package they come in: where they live, who they love, what their pronoun is.
What are you celebrating this Mardi Gras?
Coming out after nearly a year of COVID weirdness, life feels like it’s just about back to normal and the joy of reconnecting with people again is amazing!
What does the 2021 theme ‘Rise’ mean to you?
2020 threw a lot of shady stuff at us all, 2021 is time to Rise again!
Best Mardi Gras Memory:
Oh it’s a draw for me! 2018 Mardi Gras had the MOST electric feeling, coming off the legislation to finally introduce same sex marriage the feeling on the streets was ecstatic. I’ve never felt so much pure joy!
And 2019 Mardi Gras was a personal highlight as I designed a float for Twenty10 (an amazing youth support organisation) and worked with young people in the lead up to the parade, making accessories and signs for their march up Oxford Street.
