The Sydney Pride Festival is back for another year with the theme of ‘Equal Love’ and a hilarious new addition to the program.

Celebrating the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in 1969, the festival features art, cinema, trivia, debates, sports, fundraising activities and club events to raise money for worthy LGBT charities.

The organiser of the Festival and Stonewall Hotel owner Glenn Hansen believes Sydney Pride is a time for us to remember our history but also celebrate and fight for our future.

The festival encourages us “to stand in numbers and be recognised as people who should have equal love,” he says.

Commencing this Wednesday 13 June, the festival runs for two and a half weeks and showcases a range of events that are aimed to be fun and affordable for all.

For further information on any of the events listed below, visit the Sydney Pride Festival’s website here.

So without further ado, here’s Same Same’s picks for what to look out for at this year’s Sydney Pride Festival!

The Great Debate
8pm, 27 June

For the first time ever, Sydney’s Pride Festival will play host to a Great Debate, discussing the topic of straight mates and their seemingly increasing presence in gay clubs.

Hosted at the Paddo Hotel, this fun and lively debate features comedians such as Wendy Harmer, Joel Creasey, Felicity Ward and Brendan Maclean and promises to be a fabulously funny night.

“Whether we call them flame dames, lezbros, fag stags or dyke divas, there has always been a special place in our community for our straight mates,” says ACON event co-ordinator David Wilkins.

“So for this year’s debate, we’ve put together a terrific line up of great comedic talent to figure out if these ‘fruit flies’ really are worth the buzz. It’s a sensational topic with lots of scope for shameless hilarity.”

Tickets are $38 each or $30 each for groups with eight or more people so bring your friends (gay and straight alike) for a night you won’t forget. Click here to book tickets.

Sydney Pride Opening Party
From 7pm on 13 June

Start off your Pride Festival by enjoying a massive midweek celebration at the Stonewall Hotel. Hosted by your dragolicious MC Prada Clutch, enjoy drinks and nibbles as you learn about the many exciting Sydney Pride events coming up.

The event will kick off the festival in style.

Pride Art
6pm-8.30pm 20 June

Celebrating the creative energy and sexual diversity of Sydney’s LGBT community, TAP Gallery presents an exhibition that promotes a positive stance against discrimination.

TAP Gallery is looking for artists to submit work to the exhibition – apply before June 20.

For more information, head to the TAP Gallery website.

The Parade
7.10pm June 16 and 8.45pm June 17

Screening at Event Cinemas on George Street, this politically-incorrect Serbian comedy will be sure to get you in the mood for Sydney’s Pride Festival.

When Lemon, a Serbian homophobic war veteran’s pitbull gets shot, he takes it to gay vet Radmilo who manages to save the animal. As a way of thanking Radmilo, Lemon agrees to provide protection to Belgrade’s gay-pride parade. After his usually loyal men refuse to participate, the storyline follows Lemon around the country to round up allies.

Check out The Parade’s trailer below.

Meet the Artist
6.30pm-8.30pm 30 June

Platform 72 Gallery in Darlinghurst will host a ‘Meet the Artist’ talk and drinks with Tina Fiveash.

Tina’s controversial works from her 2011 series entitled Grace explore themes of gender and sexuality.

Her photograph (pictured above) explores the simplicity and subtlety of life, with dramatic backdrops.

Her thought-provoking and realistic interpretations of sexuality are showcased through alternative methods of exhibiting that you need to see to fully appreciate her depth of reality.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir
2pm and 7pm 30 June

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir join Lady Sings It Better for a concert of covers and pop classics throughout the decades.

Performing in the Tom Mann Theatre in Surry Hills, the choir are excited to for “hip-swinging tones of Tom Jones” and “psychedelic tripping of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’.”

Performing twice throughout the day, this event is open to all ages and promises to be fun for everyone.

Riot 69
30 June

Drawing the festival to a close, the Riot 69 dance party promises to be an exciting and dramatic conclusion to two and half weeks of LGBT activities.

Finish your Pride Festival with friends and have a drink or two at the Stonewall Hotel to remember the rioters of ’69.

Get out there and enjoy Sydney Pride! See more details about all these events and more here on the Sydney Pride Festival website.