Ron Hughes: Will the real carnival please stand up?

Adelaide is abuzz with a carnival of acts hitting the Garden of Unearthly Delights and the Fringe Festival.

As we go to the stands the Fringe opening parade will be lining up ready to show off a teaser of some of the delights performing during Fringe.

In this issue we take a sneak peek into some of the shows that we are sure will be pleasing spectaculars.

Peter Burdon talks to Michael Lanphear, one of the buff and brave aerial performers of the sell-out show Soap. The wet adventures take Lanphear in and above one of the seven bathtubs featuring in the show along with several other talented circus performers.

Returning to Fringe is a couple of our favourite comedians Tom Ballard and Hannah Gadsby and this time they are getting political. Hannah wants a wife while Tom is spreading the word about stuff we can do to make a difference in the world.

Meanwhile, around the nation everyone seems to be jumping for the bouquet. In another form of carnival, marriage equality legislation and inquiries are popping up nationally and in the State Parliaments. Three bills are now doing the rounds in Canberra with whispers of a same-sex civil unions bill in the works to follow up an unsuccessful marriage legislation. The MP behind one of the bills Stephen Jones says he is keeping in the historical values of Labor. “The Australian Labor Party has a proud tradition of enacting policies that reflect progressive values of equity and fairness,” he says.

South Australian and Tasmanian Greens are guaranteeing success for same-sex marriage by keeping the issue on their own parliament’s agendas just in case legislation isn’t successful federally. It could almost be worth placing bets on which politician and which piece of marriage legislation will be the victor in the run for equality.

Following the day of love, Gertrude looks into the highlights of Valentine’s Day and says she reckons it’s all about the money.

News is breaking all the time. Don’t forget to check out our website gaynewsnetwork.com.au or like our Facebook page to keep up with the very latest in local, national and international stories.

Ron Hughes is the editor of blaze.