Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
From Pinkboard Wiki
| Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Sydney |
| Type | Event |
| Chair | Peter Urmson |
| Started | 2002 |
| CEO | Michael Rolik |
| Website | http://www.mardigras.org.au |
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the organisation that runs the event Sydney Mardi Gras. This includes the major events the Mardi Gras Parade, the Mardi Gras Party, Mardi Gras Fair Day, the Mardi Gras Festival, and Sleaze Ball (last in 2010).
History
New Mardi Gras was formed in 2002 to take over the running of Mardi Gras from the bankrupt Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd. It was formed by ACON, Queer Screen, PRIDE and Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.
On 17 November 2011 the name of the organisation was changed from New Mardi Gras to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Board
The chairs of the New Mardi Gras board:
- 2002-2003 Michael Woodhouse and Stevie Clayton
- 2003-2004 Michael Woodhouse and Steph Sands
- 2004-2005 Mark Orr and Steph Sands
- 2005-2008 Marcus Bourget
- 2008-2009 David Imrie
- 2009-2010 Nick Parker and Steph Sands
- 2010-2011 Steph Sands and Peter Urmson
- 2011-2011 Peter Urmson
The chairs of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board:
- 2011- Peter Urmson
Name Change
On 17 November 2011 the name of the organisation was changed from New Mardi Gras to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. At the same time the name of the event was changed from Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to Sydney Mardi Gras.
This caused a lot of controversy with some people liking the new name and some hating it. There was initially some confusion with the changes, but it was quickly clarified in the social media. There was a lot of name calling.
The Sydney Morning Herald had a headline Mardi Gras festival goes straight and loses the alphabet soup as well as an earlier story Mardi Gras Embraces All.
The company Moon Communications worked with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on its strategy and development of a new brand identity. [1]
Arguments for the name change:
- "gay and lesbian" excludes bisexuals, transgender, intersex etc, while putting them all in makes the name too long
- it is more inclusive
- it is all about love
- it is easier to sell to sponsors
- it should attract the younger crowd who are not connecting with the organisation
Arguments against the name change:
- it trivialises/sells out our history
- people will forget about the history
- it is disrespectful to those who fought for our rights
- it puts us back in the closet
- it is the "gay and lesbian" part that brings in the punters
