MY FIRST MARDI GRAS f-EVER!

WAS DEFINITELY F-U-N TASTIQUE! 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RiMckFJMLI

Yesterday, were back from Sydney!  We only really went up there to join the parade and dismissed all the other parties afterwards! 

All I can say is that there were moments of FUN, EXCITEMENT, and CELEBRATION.  And the parade is a worldclass extravaganza of costume party on the street!   Everyone trying to outshine each other especially those queens!   But it is always good to go with the flow and just be there with all the fun!

Unfortunately,  I was not able to get all the photos that I need as we were so engrossed with our costume preparation and there were things we forgot to do – like making sure we had our batteries fully charged!  OMG!  And organizing and dealing with impossible drag queens (who wants to be the center of the universe)  for two days will drive you insane!  Hopefully, I would be able to collect photos from the other guys.

Anyway,  we managed to be there – - – with all our feathers intact!  Forget about the broken wings, mangled feet, and makeup gone mad after the two hours on the parade waiting area, one hour of walking-modelling- sashay/sashay – crowd pleasing on the hall of fame and shame – that was Mardi Gras!

If you see the video above,  when Diversity was being mentioned, a quick flash of the FILIPINO PRIDE flag (which I laboriously made for two days) – can be seen as carried by an impromptu flag bearer – who did not want to wear the costume we brought!  Anywayz…

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Love rules at Sydney Mardi Gras

Organisers believe love shone like a beacon from Sydney’s 29th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, one of the world’s largest gay pride events.

Mother Nature led 120 floats and almost 8,000 participants past up to 350,000 cheering spectators on central Sydney’s Oxford Street.

She sat atop a world divided by prejudice, set against the hope that love, tolerance and respect will prevail.

A colourful court of queens and princesses attended by Bears (hairy gay men) and leather-clad dudes revved by the famous Dykes on Bikes celebrated under clear, warm skies.

Elsewhere in the frenzied atmosphere, pumped with music and pride, 250 of Kylie Minogue’s Impossible Princesses danced and pranced to the Aussie pop diva’s greatest hits.

Dressed as a mirror ball, Sydney’s Ross Gray said the Kylie float was the largest in mardi gras this year with an international cast of devotees.

“As soon as we mentioned that we were doing a Kylie float this year we were just inundated with people who wanted to participate.

“More so than any other year we have put a float together,” Gray said.

The mardi gras chair, Marcus Bourget, said after the parade it was one of the biggest yet in terms of participants, while crowd numbers were estimated at upwards of 300,000 to about 350,000.

“It’s been unbelievable, organised chaos. Beyond our wildest expectations. The way its came together. You couldn’t ask for better  weather. The crowds, the floats, its just been great,” he said.

Bourget said the parade was just as important as ever.

“This iconic event which provides visibility and pride of gay and lesbian people throughout the world, is a beacon of love, acceptance and tolerance,” he said.

“First and foremost it keeps gay and lesbian rights on the agenda.”

Bourget called on Prime Minister John Howard to formally recognise the event and wish revellers a happy mardi gras.

The theme of this year’s event is Objects of Love.

But somewhere in the parade, Hottie Howard and the Global Warmers were facing off against Cool Kev who was spreading his message about global cooling.

Howard and Opposition leader Kevin Rudd were among many faces
lampooned or lauded by the floats.

Marie Antoinette served cake, and a gang of Vicky Pollards, from the British comedy Little Britain, stomped up and down the streets pushing babies’ prams.

Movies, such as Dream Girls, Little Miss Sunshine, the Flintstones and Priscilla provided inspiration.

Also debuting in this year were entries from Surf Life Saving Australia and the ANZ Bank.

Adding to the international flavour, ’80s pop legend Boy George topped the bill at an exclusive after-party, while a plucky group of boys from the windswept Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic made the trip for the first time.

They were Down Under to celebrate their government’s extension in December of anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation.

Although Australia decriminalised homosexuality in 1984, federal law does not recognise same-sex marriage.

Source: AAP