Plan B Forum

A GAY carnival as straight entertainment? You bet.

For years, the debate has been: is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for queer eyes or is it courting the gaze of straights? The parade's new consultant artistic director, Ignatius Jones, is clear: it's both.

"A protest march is about getting people who do not agree with you to treat you better, to understand your issues, to understand who you are," he says. "T he best way you do that – and this is me coming from a theatrical background – is by making people cry, laugh and love you, and want to be like you.

"If we do that in the theatre we're successful. So, are we [Mardi Gras] an entertainment for straight tourists? We certainly are."
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Next Saturday night the Mardi Gras parade will be arguably more family friendly, too, courtesy of a new rainbow zone at the beginning of the parade featuring food outlets, coffee carts and volunteers to guide spectators to vantage points, as well as strong police enforcement of alcohol-free areas.

This year the recurring theme on many floats will be the ban on same-sex marriages. Thus well-catered, mums, dads and kids will see a recurring theme on many floats: the ban on same-sex marriage. Just don't expect the flesh to be toned down between the bridal gowns and tuxedos. Jones says Mardi Gras "absolutely" retains its right to shock. That's the measure of a "very witty, cynical, subversive, revolutionary entertainment for straight tourists" – getting noticed, then holding the public's gaze.

He has encouraged entrants to turn up the wow factor this year, giving advice aplenty and not censoring their ideas.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-gay-old-tim ... 1b97a.html

BRIDES kissed brides and grooms kissed grooms last night, as Mardi Gras marchers made a strong stand on recognition of same-sex marriage.

With the parade theme, Say Something, about 15 wedding floats demonstrated opposition to the fact that such marriages are not recognised under Australian law.

Alex Greenwich of Australian Marriage Equality said: ''Mardi Gras delivered Julia Gillard a clear challenge: will you be the Prime Minister [who] tells the nation gay and lesbian Australians should be treated equally by the law, or will you follow in Howard's and Rudd's footsteps and perpetuate discrimination against us in the marriage act?''

Advertisement: Story continues below Mardi Gras co-chairwoman Steph Sands said same-sex marriage was legal in countries as diverse as Iceland, South Africa and Sweden. ''The sky has not fallen in. The institution of marriage has not crumbled.''

There was a brief shower as the Dykes on Bikes cruised into Oxford Street but the crowd standing six-deep on both sides of the road weren't about to let it ruin their parade