Having A Gay Old Time In Sydney

The Dazzling Colour, Glitter And Floats From Sydney's Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras
Open Image Modal
Parade goers celebrate during the 2018 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Mardi Gras parade began in 1978 as a march and commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots of New York. It is an annual event promoting awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues and themes.
Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images

The first Saturday in March marks one of the biggest parties in Sydney every year, as the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade shuts down the center of Australia’s biggest city for a night celebrating the LGBTQ community.

This year held extra special significance: 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras, after beginning in 1978 as a protest march against laws criminalizing homosexuality and gay sex, as well as commemorating the famous Stonewall riots in New York that culminated in arrests and police violence against participants. As well, it was the first Mardi Gras after Australia’s federal government legalized marriage equality late last year.

Open Image Modal
Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets participants and spectators at the Mardi Gras.
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images

More than 300,000 spectators lined the streets to watch 200 floats and 12,000 participants move down Oxford Street, traditionally the heart of the city’s gay community. Rainbow, glitter and sequins were the standard uniform, with costumes ranging from the skimpy and revealing to the large and ornate.

The Mardi Gras enjoyed wide political support this year, with Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, opposition party leader Bill Shorten and many other representatives marching proudly among the flotilla of large, colorful floats.

LGBTQ entertainers, celebrities, sports stars and media personalities appeared on various floats alongside regular participants, their friends and families, while Cher also marched before performing at a parade after-party. Some of the biggest cheers, however, were reserved for the “78ers”, those people who marched in the original 1978 demonstration and who have a special reserved place of honor in each parade.

Check out all the color, glitter and glam below.

Open Image Modal
Participants hold banners regarding same-sex marriage during the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in central Sydney, Australia March 3, 2018.
Steven Saphore / Reuters
Open Image Modal
Steven Saphore / Reuters
Open Image Modal
David Gray / Reuters
Open Image Modal
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
Lisa Maree Williams via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
Brook Mitchell via Getty Images
Open Image Modal
Brook Mitchell via Getty Images