Yay or nay: Mixed reaction to Mardi Gras name change
Changes to the name and logo of Sydney’s iconic annual gay and lesbian Mardi Gras Parade has been met by a mixed reaction, after the organisation behind the event earlier this week decided to re-brand it as the ‘Sydney Mardi Gras’.
The changes also sees the festival’s corporate title 'New Mardi Gras' revert back to its original name of 'Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras', with the corporation’s chair, Peter Urmson, telling SX that the move reaffirms “our history as a primarily gay and lesbian event”.
While some welcomed the new shorter event name as a sign of greater inclusiveness and changing community attitudes, Dr Jo Harrison, a participant at the first ever Mardi Gras in 1978 during which participants were brutally assaulted and arrested, told SX that she was worried that the Parade had been “effectively ‘de-gayed’”.
Others, such as former Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras President and 1996 Mardi Gras Hall of Fame inductee Richard Cobden, have meanwhile labelled the changes as a “big a blunder as the fiasco of two years ago when the Parade and Party were split”.
Respected JoyFM broadcaster Doug Pollard told SX that he agreed with Cobden.
“The whole makeover smells of making the event acceptable to mainstream corporates and the mainstream tourist industry,” he said.
Marriage equality advocates Alex Greenwich, from Australian Marriage Equality, and Shelley Argent, from PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), however have welcomed the changes.
“The renewed focus on inclusion will help me encourage more parents to play a part in the parade,” Argent said.
Sen Raj, from the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, told SX that while the “important political dimension” and history of the movement should not be forgotten, the changes could potentially facilitate dialogue on the evolving nature of the LGBTIQ communities.
Urmson told SX that the Parade name change was “adding not subtracting from what we do”.
“We’re also recognising a world that is gradually becoming more inclusive, where huge numbers of people volunteering for us, marching in the Parade and cheering us on come from a much broader spectrum and in which younger people are much less keen to be labelled,” he said.
[Pictured] Chris Johnson has the new Sydney Mardi Gras logo tattooed on his arm at Bondi Ink last Wednesday as part of a series of events launching the event’s new name and logo. Photo: Getty Images
- Tags: Doug Pollard, Gay, Jo Harrison, Lesbian, Peter Urmson, Richard Cobden, Senthorun Raj, SX, Sydney, Sydney Mardi Gras
Comments (12)
Surely they could have just changed the initials to LGBTQIJ so that I felt more included... I have been out for to good part of a decade, somewhere on the fringe of gay and maybe a bit queer. LGBTQI doesn't define me - I DO. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has my full support. They have, and most importantly, will continue, to support our community. Lets all love each other, equally, and support them.
I would like to ask how many people so upset here are actually Mardi Gras members and those who help pay for this gay festival (and I mean gay = LGBTQI festival)? Mardi Gras needs re-invention to survive; my volunteering involvement with festival events tells me this. I applaud the bravery of the committee making this change in the face of such stupidity. I am gay, out and proud. I will again be marching in 2012 at the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras and blowing kisses to all.
Why did we have to wait until the middle of the article to read LGBTIQ!
Most of the gay media is steered towards gay and lesbian - like that is inclusive. I am happy to hear that the words gay and lesbian have been removed from the event name. Although I believe it would be more educational to the wider community if it had of been change to a more LGBTIQ friendly name. But nonetheless, Sydney Mardi Gras is a better title than one that isolates the trans community. I think so much of the gay media and community needs to catch up and realise that by being 'gay and lesbian' inclusive is also harmful. It is LGBTIQ and should only ever be that. Also, today is Transgender Day of Remembrance.
I am disappointed with the direction that has now been imposed on our Mardi Gras.
I think the committee has completely dishonored us by forgetting what Mardi Gras stands for at the fundemental level. That this is a celebration of what we have fought for and won over the years as GLBTs.
That is: sexual equality, anti vilification, equality in the workplace, and so on. The fight is not over we still do not have the right to marry our partners if we choose to. We are not fully accepted in many parts of the country as witnessed by bashings and gay hate crimes. We are not in many peoples eyes considered as equals to others, just look what is going on with the anti gay backlash in the US and parts of Europe..and dare I say it some areas of Australian cities.
The 78ers are no longer at the core of the movement.
I would be also fascinated to know how you are going to prevent hetersexual domination of the parade going forward? If you are going to be inclusive this means you are opening the doors to all without prejudice. How would you handle it when groups call foul when you prevent them from participating because of their corporate or social beliefs. You can see the headlines of the paper "ONLY INCLUSIVE FOR SOME !"
I am sorry I am very disappointed in the MG commitee and the decisions made to dishonor the community and culture that is LGBT in Sydney. I for one, who have never missed a MG (32 yrs) and have participated in over 20 will not be their next year.
I would just like to point out that mt opinion expressed here is purely my personal viewpoint.
Frankly, this whole brand relaunch reeks of bureaucratic hogwash, as if someone from higher up told the organisers to make it more marketable to a wider audience. But instead of achieving that, methinks it might actually have the opposite effect.
Has Mardi Gras not listened to what the people are saying, with questions like whether it is still relevant and some finding it hard to connect with the event. What a way to address these concerns, by removing the only two words that differentiate it from the rest of the other Mardi Gras in the world: Gay and Lesbian.
Gruen Planet would have a field day with this one.
The name of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras should not be changed, especially to a PC name such as ‘Sydney Mardi Gras', until Australian LGBTI citizens have equal civil and human rights across the board in every State and Territory.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is acknowledged as one of the world's largest and most significant civil and human rights protests. Historically the original march is recognised as a benchmark protest in the LGBTI civil rights movement.
Re-branding the protest with a PC title before Australian LGBTI citizens have equal civil and human rights completely contradicts and demeans the intention of the cause, insults the 78ers' efforts, and diminishes the meaning of the protest and its history.
I think the organisers and the Board have made a huge mistake. By not including the original title in the new brand, the Board has failed to honour the history of the original protest and the 78ers. Politically correct marketing is not progressive, nor is it interesting – it's as boring as bat shit.
I would like to see the Board bring back the sexually challenging, twisted marketing that used to create controversy and generate social discourse – that's what camp marketing used to be about. LGBTI marketing was once a form of protest art in itself.
This phenomenon – the mainstreaming of the Australian arts and cultural sector and the dissolution and integration of fringe arts culture by the conservative, mainstream arts establishment due to commercial concerns – is limiting freedom of expression in the arts. Hopefully the cultural appropriation of fringe arts culture will create a counter-culture that will reinvigorate both the mainstream and the LGBTI arts community.
I emailed Shelley about my comments above and received this response:
Hi David,
I was asked to support the change by the Mardi Gras committee. I think their plan is to make it more inclusive. And I would think if they can get more straights to be part of the parade (but not take it over) it will take the “them and us” mentality away from the event.
I would also think if straights (like in Brazil Mardi Gras) were part of the group it would be great for the gay community with inclusion from both sides.
But I would suggest you let the Mardi Gras Committee know your feelings, I don’t think it’s a done deal, so please let them know, there must be others feel the same as you.
Thanks for making contact.
Shelley
yes, it is all about appeasing mainstream society. It has been de-gayed to a point of NO connection or recognition at all.
I stopped going years ago in protest and disgust at the loss of my identity and community.
You think how repressed we were before homosexuality was decriminalised, well we are more repressed now under gay rights world wide.
Mardi gras should have gone years ago. It does not reflect the gay community, only reflects mainstream, tourism and straight sponsors who are only using mardi gras to serve their purpose.
WE have been for too long now USED as a COMMODITY and not people. This is a HUMAN RIGHTS issue and we must fight against it.
Put an end to mardi gras once and for all.
As a trans person I welcome the change and "well knock me down with a marsh mellow anvil" I never considered myself mainstream but I do consider my self as a past participant of MG and feel that its a positive change, especially for people who don't fit neatly under the G&L umbrella.
what are we chop liver ?
Somehow, I don't think 'Parents and Friends' or PL has the same ring to it. Perhaps the Parade formerly known as Gay and Lesbian can pass on the contacts details of their advertising agency?
Shelley Argent, from PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), however have welcomed the changes.
“The renewed focus on inclusion will help me encourage more parents to play a part in the parade,” Argent said.
If the parents she talks about were uncomfortable playing a part in the parade because it contained the words gay and lesbian, then she'll need to advocate that PFLAG change its name and reason for being too I guess? What happened to honouring the very reason for PFLAG's existence, Shelley?
http://www.pflagaustralia.org.au/default.aspx
Why does PFLAG exist?
In Australia today, there are many parents with homosexual children. These children, and often their families are victims of social, political and economic prejudice. Gay persons in many communities are affected by discrimination in theirpursuit of happiness and in striving to live their lives with openness and dignity. Homosexuals are not the only ones touched by this discrimination. It also touches their friends and families. We as parents, families and friends of lesbians and gays wish to join together to appeal to the public conscience. We want to achieve the same rights and opportunities for our gay sons and lesbian daughters as are enjoyed by other Australians. As proud parents of gay people, our lives have been enriched by reaching an understanding and acceptance of our gay children and embracing their diversity. It is our goal to bring this understanding and acceptance of diversity to the community.
There's a whole lot of mentions of gay and lesbian there Shelley, may need to change that .....