[SS Weekly] Happy Mardi Gra$.

[Christian Taylor]

Hello again Same Samers,

Just days before the launch of the 2010 Mardi Gras Festival reports have emerged that furniture outlet IKEA paid actors $300 each to pose as genuine participants in their 2008 Mardi Gras float. The allegations come after Mardi Gras refused to allow a grassroots animal rights float, predominantly made up of queer participants, to march in this year's Parade because they were "not queer enough".

Tourism Tasmania has also been told that they cannot have a stall at this year's Fair Day because they conflict with Events NSW, a state government funding body. That deal also prevents well-known gay activist Rodney Croome from distributing a publication of his because it threatens Events NSW's financial investment in the organisation.

Individually these may all seem like minor matters, but when you tally them up they start to feel like death by a thousand pin pricks.

Firstly, why is there one set of rules for community floats, and another for companies who buy their way into the parade? And why is any huge corporation being given priority over a group of gay people with a valid message? Fair enough there are commercial realities, but some things should not be for sale.

Mardi Gras is now sponsored by the government through Events NSW. When this originally happened some saw it as a victory, but now the strings attached are becoming more apparent. Does anyone find it offensive that the government is not willing to give the gay community in Australia full equality, yet it's willing to invest in our Mardi Gras because it brings in tourist dollars? Is anyone else bothered that the government now gets to decide the extent to which Rodney Croome can participate in Mardi Gras Fair Day? This is a man who has worked tirelessly for gay rights for decades. Whose Mardi Gras is it again?

The ultimate irony is that the government is now one of Mardi Gras' strategic partners, working to "promote Sydney and NSW as a tourist destination". While one should not oversimplify the complexities of the issue, it is interesting to ponder the concept that "full equality = no Mardi Gras = no tourist dollars".

Until next week,

Christian Taylor
National Editor

[crazzymikey]

it's a worry.

[Barrin]

NSW can only govern NSW. It's a bit misleading to ask "Does anyone find it offensive that the government is not willing to give the gay community in Australia full equality..." The State Government and the City of Sydney too have raked in millions and millions over the years while MG has already gone bust once. What a pity even getting a pittance of that money back is seen as some sort of betrayal. It's all very well to appeal to our sense of community and equality but surely were mature enough to understand that ideology always has to take a back seat to cold, hard reality.

Furthermore, Rodney Croome's brochure is freely available here:

http://www.discovertasmania.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/19054/G_and_L_web_Final.pdf

So anyone around the world with access to the internet can download it. Why all these recriminations over not having it at one venue on one day in one city?

[Mikey67]

come to the Chillout festival in Daylesford, VIC and watch their parade - it's a hoot

[genkij]

Allllll we ever wanted was a SAME SAME FLOAT !!

[littledaddybear]

Without knowing all the facts It's hard to know what to think.
But if all in this article is true then yes it's offensive, the governmnent like to have us earn money and taxes for them, and would rather take someting away from anyone they can.

As it stands it reaks of my sponsor/my festival/my decision/my rights. nothing to do with fair play or our rights.

Don't let anyone tamper with Mardi Gras, it's ours.. (easy to say but where do we start?)

[Zakalwe]

Isn't it a good thing that a large commercial organisation actually wants our money?

Just look at ANZ as an example, isn't it to be commended that a large Bank actually values it's gay employees, it's gay customers and is comfortable being in MardiGras?! What message do you think this sends to the wider community when a large bank is proud to put it's brand behind MardiGras and gay people?

Who among us does not work in the commercial sphere? Would your employers be willing to put an entry in the parade? Would they be willing to have their logo and brand associated with MardiGras? The sobering reality is that we live in a commercial world, if we as a community ignore this fact then MardiGras will not last the next thirty years.

It wont survive on the support of activist gay wales and lesbian porpoises alone. ;)

[HulaBoy]

sour grapes people. does it seem right when the gay pubs and clubs have outrageous cover charges during big celebrations taking advantage of the same people who support them al year long? seems the NSW government is following the gay business community's money grabbing lead. and we all let it happen...

[JoshOnTheBus]

I understand as much as anyone that NMG needs to have strategic commercial partners with deep pockets and similar goals in order to fund the fun. But why partners with such short strings attached?

Events NSW offered money, but with a statewide exclusivity clause - couldn't that have been negotiated down? Surely NMG could have a 'platinum' partner and a 'silver' partner (or whatever industry jargon you settle on - 'pink and pearl', perhaps!) within the same business category to allow NSW top billing and other states a presence.

Virgin Blue signed on with exclusivity as well - but couldn't that have been talked down to a domestic-only exclusivity agreement so NMG could get into bed with Air New Zealand (and cash in on their 'pink flight' international media) to capitalise on inbound marketing spend from overseas?

Party partners are more than just behind-the-scenes investors here - they seem to have more control than your average corporate sponsor, much to the detriment of this year's shindig.

Christian's feature begs us to spend more time thinking "WHY do we celebrate Mardi Gras?" - what makes it important to us, the community it is meant to represent? Because it's only after we've answered that question that we should look at who can help us pay for it, and what we're willing to sacrifice in exchange for their dough.

[djp2011]

This says it all, this is what it should be about but other "influences" have pushed it aside:

"All you Need is Love"

The Beatles

Lennon/McCartney

From The Blue Album

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

[cactusdude666]

NSW can only govern NSW. It's a bit misleading to ask "Does anyone find it offensive that the government is not willing to give the gay community in Australia full equality..." The State Government and the City of Sydney too have raked in millions and millions over the years while MG has already gone bust once. What a pity even getting a pittance of that money back is seen as some sort of betrayal. It's all very well to appeal to our sense of community and equality but surely were mature enough to understand that ideology always has to take a back seat to cold, hard reality.

Furthermore, Rodney Croome's brochure is freely available here:

http://www.discovertasmania.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/19054/G_and_L_web_Final.pdf

So anyone around the world with access to the internet can download it. Why all these recriminations over not having it at one venue on one day in one city?

Using a Diane Arbus image as your icon is not a good look. You'll have the copyright lawyers salivating.

[djp2011]

Who is Diane Arbus?

[robbie]

Christian, your best piece to date! (don't go!)

and I completely agree with you!

While the money is good to attract big names to entice people out, NMG has certainly sold its soul to the devil, being Events NSW. These restrictions are ridiculous. NMG should NEVER have taken the cash even if it were close to death. Better a proud death than a prolonged life with someone's hand up your arse the whole time.

How else can we raise the money to pay for our annual "spectacular" ?

How does it work overseas? Anyone know?

[Barrin]

Using a Diane Arbus image as your icon is not a good look. You'll have the copyright lawyers salivating.

Of course I'm the only one on the internet using an image I downloaded from the internet! :confused:

[crazzymikey]

Christian, your best piece to date! (don't go!)

and I completely agree with you!

While the money is good to attract big names to entice people out, NMG has certainly sold its soul to the devil, being Events NSW. These restrictions are ridiculous. NMG should NEVER have taken the cash even if it were close to death. Better a proud death than a prolonged life with someone's hand up your arse the whole time.

How else can we raise the money to pay for our annual "spectacular" ?

How does it work overseas? Anyone know?

alcohol sponsors like smirnoff!

[Asherbella]

Honestly, who cares?
Workers getting paid to perform. Big whoop!
What is the wrongdoing here?
People have posted on these boards, trashed NMG for being 'irrelevant' and these same people are now clutching their pearls in horror at the reality of people employed to IMPROVE the bloody Parade. Get a fucking life. Sheesh.

[Asherbella]

The allegations come after Mardi Gras refused to allow a grassroots animal rights float, predominantly made up of queer participants, to march in this year's Parade because they were "not queer enough".
Linda Stoner's group has marched in MG parade in the past (as is my understanding). What has changed this year in terms of entry criteria?
The main messages voiced in all floats in the Parade is freedom, rights, equality & unity of gay & lesbian humans. Not animals. Maybe if Linda got that gay penguin couple you wrote about a while ago her float would be *gay* enough? lol
Essentially, Linda Stoner's animal liberation message is wonderful - respect animals & save them from pain, maltreatment & torture. The question now for Stoner is this ---- how can she translate that message & tailor it to be NMG relevant?

[Schofield]

... you just need to ensure the contracts you negotiate are satisfactory!

That Events NSW now sponsors Mardi Gras is not a bad thing in itself, but maybe next year the contract needs to be less onerously written. Surely small scale promotion of interstate tourism such as at Fair Day could sit along side that for NSW without negative consequences.

As for animal rights protests not being relevant enough to the message of Mardi Gras, I have to concur to with the NMG CEO. Anmesty International is of course an organisation that has fought for our rights, but Animal Rights organisations have a strong a case as a float for a Qantas staff float, and there's not one of those either.

Vegans are mostly incapable of convincing argument nor will never argue back too much because they suffer from malnutrition anyhow :)

[disco]

Hey Christian! You are doing a great job, but getting sick of that same picture from Perth pride!:(

[Anthony Mahera]

Isn't it a good thing that a large commercial organisation actually wants our money?

Just look at ANZ as an example, isn't it to be commended that a large Bank actually values it's gay employees, it's gay customers and is comfortable being in MardiGras?! What message do you think this sends to the wider community when a large bank is proud to put it's brand behind MardiGras and gay people?

Who among us does not work in the commercial sphere? Would your employers be willing to put an entry in the parade? Would they be willing to have their logo and brand associated with MardiGras? The sobering reality is that we live in a commercial world, if we as a community ignore this fact then MardiGras will not last the next thirty years.

It wont survive on the support of activist gay wales and lesbian porpoises alone. ;)


WBC sponsered for a couple of years too. Surf lifesavers remember :p
And there is only two sole reasons why companies sponser Mardi Gra;
1. Wider Market Exposure (plus it's cheaper to advertise at an event then it is to place an add on TV)
2. View of Corporate Responsibility. Gives the impression that the company actually cares about the community (regards of which community it's for ect).