Above: Mardi Gras Pride Festival Flower arrangements around the city, 2009.Been back from my 5 week holiday in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan for over a month now...been too lazy and not to mention busy to update my blog...shall do in a couple of days time on my recent overseas trip to the above places...anyways, this month has been Mardi Gras month in Sydney, to be precise, the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Celebration which is said to be the largest celebration of its kind in the world! And indeed, when i first arrived in Sydney , i attended my very first Mardi Gras Parade in 2007 and it was great fun!! I would rate it as THE best celebration parade that i've been to in my entire life so far, far bigger in scale than i ever imagined! I simply didn't expect so MANY people there..i presumed it would be an almost all-gay affair with very little Sydneysiders..but boy was i wrong!!! Cos the location is very close to the CBD, and the growing acceptance of homosexuality in mainstream Australia, there were so many people there, including tons of straight people (from looking cos there were some old people and many couples and families)...the crowds lined up the entire stretch of Oxford Street and Liverpool St i think and it was packed! You had to go early (which is my plan this yr!) if you didn't want to be like behind 2 rows of ppl in front of you whom have clearly lined up since late afternoon to get a good spot...
Above; Mardi Gras film festival '09
Above: Displays around World Square in preparation for Sydney Mardi Gras 2009Anyways, this yr, the Mardi Gras is as big as ever with many mainstream stores and even Kinokuniya bookstore downtown indicating their support for the gay and lesbian Mardi Gras by displaying right at the entrance a collection of male erotic photography books...i was so shocked when i walked in with my gay friend and he was like yeah, kinda surprising how mainstream and accepted the Mardi Gras and homosexuality in general is now in urban mainstream Australian society...many stores have put out rainbow flags and World Sq (where i work) even has stores displaying the poster for the Mardi Gras parade and the shopping centre having displays of costumes from Mardi Gras all around...
Above: Mardi Gras Display at World Square.I'm really really excited and will be there early to get a good spot this yr...i shall put up photos from the Parade later on my blog to show you guys just how wonderful the entire parade is every year...hahaha..i missed it last yr but i won't again this yr...the Chief of Parade in '07 was Ruper Everett, the openly gay American actor, and this yr it shall be Mitcham, the Beijing Olympic Gold Medal diver, also the only openly gay male athlete representing Australia this yr...can't wait to see him in person!!!! I'll prob even take a video recording of the entire parade..well known for its colourful over the top costumes, hunky dancers in tight shorts/hotpants, and drag queens...
Below are some photos of Mardi Gras''09 around the city..
Above: 'Nations United' Flag Oxford Street Sydney Mardi Gras 2009 
Above: Shop Displays advertising the Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at World Square..In celebration of Gay Pride Month (Mardi Gras) in Sydney, watch these movies:
Prayers for Bobby (2008) with Sigourney Weaver based on a true story, brought tears to my eyes, really...sniff,sniff,...:
Milk (2008) with Sean Penn winning an Oscar for his performance..has anyone noticed the number of high profile gay movies recently? And ALL based on true people and/or events such as I Love You and Milk and Prayers for Bobby...cool.....
And look forward to watching these:
I Love You Phillip Morris by Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor (seems like every major Hollywood actor is jumping on the bandwagon now to make a gay film, it started with Brokeback, then Adam Sandler's I Now Pronounce You, Sean Penn's 'Milk' and now this): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewl8hAnp-CU
Miao Miao produced Stanley Kwan and Wong Kar Wai's production company..REALLY looking forward to watching this film...there's been ALOT of VERY high profile lesbian films coming out of Taiwan in the past two years, with 2 even being featured in this yrs Mardi Gras Film Festival....examples like Wild Lilies, and Candy Rain...it seems many Taiwanese and Hong Kong actresses in the Chinese speaking world feel at ease and sure that society will accept them acting in such roles nowadays....trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyS7dcbsELM
Theme for Sydney Mardi Gras '09 is Nations United, celebrating and striving for equality for gay rights around the world...apparently more ethnic costumes and different people from around the world participating...REALLY EXCITED!!!!!
5 comments:
Good to hear you're still alive.
Don't forget good ol Fred Nile making his customary appearance at the start, telling everyone that they are going to hell or something just as nice.
aimlesswanderer: oh, it;ll be great fun! times have changed and the ppl against it are now in the minority...hahaha..and they know it too...are u going? actually, have u ever been? u shld if u've never, its fun!
Yes, there is much less controversy now, thankfully. No, I'm not going, being the antithesis of a party animal, but I hope you have a great time!
aimlesswanderer: thanks! its not a party, thats called the after-party..its a parade where u just stand at the side and watch (and cheer them on if u wish)..do pop by if u have the time, u'll like it..its somethin different and interesting=)
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