AUSTRALIA: REVELLERS BRAVE WEATHER TO CELEBRATE SYDNEY'S 26TH GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS

Record ID: 278303

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: REVELLERS BRAVE WEATHER TO CELEBRATE SYDNEY'S 26TH GAY AND LESBIAN MARDI GRAS
  • Date: 6th March 2004
  • Summary: (W4) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (MARCH 6, 2004) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS 'DYKES ON BIKES' 0.20 2. PEOPLE HOLDING SIGN READING: "FASHIONISM" 0.29 3. VARIOUS OF 'PINK ARMY' 0.39 4. ONLOOKERS 0.42 5. MARCHERS WITH SIGN READING: "HIV IS ON THE RISE" 0.54 6. MORE OF THE PARADE 1.01 7. MARCHERS WITH FACE MASKS FEAT
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Reuters ID: LVAK1F2QCW8DDFO240UMM7TGB1T
  • Story Text: Revellers brave the weather to celebrate Sydney's
    26th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

    Laughing off cold wind and heavy rain, revellers at
    Australia's 26th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras claimed a world
    record on Saturday when about 35,000 people danced to the
    gay anthem "Y.M.C.A.".

    Despite miserable weather, Sydney's gay and lesbian
    community still managed to put its best stiletto-heeled
    foot forward after several years of financial difficulty
    had threatened to kill off the colourful annual parade.

    The unseasonal conditions dampened some enthusiasm but
    a crowd of up to 300,000 onlookers still turned up to watch
    the parade of themed floats and dancers along Sydney's "gay
    mile".

    Spectators included the young and the old, as well as a
    fair smattering of bemused Japanese tourists.

    One man watching the floats pass by said, "It's a very
    good night, even though we've got this weather. Everyone's
    enjoying themselves having a good time".

    A convoy of trucks kept the Village People's camp
    classic pumping for the record attempt and special
    "Y.M.C.A. marshalls" showed onlookers how to synchronise
    the famous hand movements.

    Mardi gras spokesman Terry Stuart estimated about
    35,000 people -- spectators and march participants alike --
    had danced in time to the music. Actuaries were counting
    participants and would confirm the figure later, he said.

    The previous record of 13,588 people was set at a
    baseball game in Omaha, Nebraska, in July 2001.

    Stuart said the total number of onlookers was up by
    about 50,000 people on the 2003 march.

    Organisers said, "It was great, despite the rains
    people turned out in their droves."
    The parade was led off by a small group of Aborigines
    in recognition of the 400,000 indigenous Australians who
    are the most disadvantaged group in a country of some 20
    million people.

    They were soon followed by traditional favourites such
    as 200 motorcycle-riding lesbians known as "dykes on bikes"
    and floats lampooning political and religious leaders.

    One float urged makeovers for U.S President George W.

    Bush and his two key allies in the war on Iraq, British and
    Australian Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Howard --
    "Botox for Bush, New Hair for Blair and Liposuction for
    Little Johnny".

    The event began in 1978, when a protest march turned
    violent after police intervened. It has since evolved into
    a giant street party which attracts thousands of
    international visitors.



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