As we celebrate and wave at the cavalcade on Oxford/Flinders this weekend, I believe most of us will have a moment where we think of the people 40 years ago who started the movement for social acceptance.
Last week I saw the play The Temperamentals and it was an eye-opener for the fact that nearly 10 years before the Stonewall riots in New York City, there was a group of unknown men, fighting same-sex inequality.
At the same time, a gay newsletter called One Inc, not dissimilar to the one you鈥檙e reading now, was fighting the US Postal Service to have its material sent through the federal post. We can pick up the Star Observer at our local caf茅 or pub and read it freely online 鈥� such luxury in comparison. Kudos to both papers for providing a voice.
Back 1000 years or so and it was socially acceptable, in a quite a few cultures, stretching from ancient Greece to not too long ago Melanesia, to have a male lover. Even if they proclaimed that it was for population control 鈥� ahem.
So the freedom in attending a happy festival is a joy and nowadays a right instead of a privilege. I doubt Cleopatra celebrated her nation鈥檚 gayness by jumping on a barge to float down the Nile with her oiled men, and I question Florentine courts filled with robed heaving men having an art after-party. Or do I?
Anyway, I鈥檝e got my best mate George and his boyfriend Kevin coming up for Mardi Gras. It鈥檚 George鈥檚 first festival and given Madam Minogue is rolling into town, I鈥檓 already imagining the questions.
鈥淲hat do we wear?鈥� 鈥淕litter.鈥�
鈥淲hat will we drink?鈥� 鈥淕litter鈥�
鈥淲here will we stand?鈥� 鈥淥n a mound of glitter.鈥�
鈥榃hat will we see?鈥� 鈥淕litter.鈥� And so on.
I鈥檓 sure Sydney can be seen from space on Saturday night. The spectacle, the sequins and the skin. What has always been on show in someone鈥檚 heart since antiquity now is on show for the world to see.
I wish you all a very happy Mardi Gras.
