And I think you hit the nail on the head about the dialogue.

The ‘article’ was actually a speech I gave at the Mardi Gras launch so perhaps not the right time to debate it, perhaps I’ll think of writing an article on that soon.

But Mardi Gras is and always will be a gay event. No one can change that.

As one commenter on the samesame website noted – why not simply make Sydney Festival go for a month longer?

If we begin to water-down our uniqueness to be more palatable to the general public we risk further alienating those that are already on the fringes of society.

For me, the mardi gras has always been an affirmation of my identity. A defense against anybody who may say that that there is something wrong with my sexuality. Having grown up in rural NSW, I believe there is a real need to have strong symbols that can act as a beacon to those not fortunate enough to live in the inner city.

There are plenty of ways to do this – for example, why not Mardi Gras Pride Parade? Pride – a term inclusive but that explicitly points to our history. Or we could choose any number of variations on this theme.

People have good reason to be uneasy when an organisation that claims to represent a community fails to consult the people that will be affected by its decisions.

Perhaps this should not be seen as divide between those who support the name change and those who don’t, but as an opportunity to open up a dialogue about the needs and desires LGBTIQ folk – and how Mardi Gras can best serve them.