Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and supporting partner Google today announce the recipients of the third annual SGLMG Community Parade Grants Program.
The
Mardi Gras Community Parade Grants Program is designed to fund and
support a diverse range of community ideas and provide grants to
individuals, community groups and not-for-profit groups to help lift
their parade entries to a completely new artistic level. The program is
proudly supported by Google.
A total
of $66,000 in grants has been divided among 24 applicants from all over
Australia, to help create extra fabulous floats in celebration of the
anniversary.
"Sydney
Mardi Gras identified that many sections of our community need support
to participate in the annual Mardi Gras Parade; its take a huge amount
of time, people and money to create an amazing Parade entry and it’s
important that our parade is accessible to all," says Mardi Gras CEO
Terese Casu. "With the support of Google, and through our own
philanthropic fundraising, we’ve been able to provide hundreds of
thousands of dollars in grants to LGBTQI non-profit and community
organisations in this program over the past three years.”
“From
a stunning Rainbow Thylacine by the only community-run LGBTIQA
organization in Launceston, to The Institute of Many’s passionate
celebration of fearless love, the recipients of these grants each have a
powerful message that we’re looking forward to seeing on Parade night,”
said Casu.
Google’s Tea Uglow says:
"Mardi Gras is only as awesome as the people it represents. We are
delighted that for a third year Google can help grass-roots LGBTQIA
communities amplify the epic (and sparkle) of their Mardi Gras floats.
Google proudly affirms and supports LGBTQIA people and their allies and
we’re excited to continue our partnership with the Sydney Gay and
Lesbian Mardi Gras."
HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF PARADE GRANT RECIPIENTS:
Aboriginal Project ACON
We service the LGBTIQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community
across NSW, providing holistic health services. Our message for the
audience is education. We are the oldest thriving culture, a culture of
acceptance and love. We will be showcasing our leaders within the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LBGTI community. Leaders who had
no choice but to be fearless in paving the way for us younger mob.
Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group
The peak national gynaecological cancer research organisation. Our
consumers, members & donors are from the LGBTQI+ community. 'Save
the Box' is our theme. It is about raising awareness about
gynaecological cancer. It is never talked about and women are dying. It
is time to break the silence and take some action. 'Save the Box' is
about shouting it from the roof tops. Don't be embarrassed or fearful to
talk about your lady parts. Talking about signs and symptoms with
friends and Dr's could save your life!
Bentstix Hockey Club Inc
Bentstix was established in 1996 during the Mardi Gras festival as a
network of like-minded players - growing to become one of the largest
and most successful LGBTQI hockey clubs, with over 80 active members.
Parade theme: FEARLESS CHAMPIONS. We are Fearless on the field - we play
hard and wear our rainbow socks with pride in leagues across Sydney. We
have experienced homophobic abuse on and off the field but are
Champions in our game (with medals) plus won Gold at the 2018 World Gay
Games, Gold at the 2017 World OutGames.
Bi+ Visibility
Bi+ Visibility is a partnership between Bi+ orgs around the nation,
aimed to build community, fight bi-phobia and bi-erasure and address the
significant mental health issues our community face. #Bseen - Bisexuals
are ready to 'Be seen!' Bisexuality is real, Bi+ belongs in the parade
& to the Bi+ community watching - ""We See You'. Our primary goal
within the parade is to show bisexual+ individuals around the nation
that they are represented, included and valued members of the LGBTIQ+
community. We want to show bi+ identifying people watching from the
crowd or sitting at home who may have never met another bi+ identifying
person, who may be experiencing bi-phobia, bi-erasure or discrimination
based on their sexual orientation - that we are real, we are here and
there is a huge community out there here to support them.
Different Strokes Dragon Boat Club
We aim to provide a social & fitness-focused sporting outlet for the
LGBTQ community, friends, family and supporters. Our club's strongest
asset is our team spirit with over 100 members. "We will be creating a
circus theme with all the different characters to show our diversity,
this will be lead by Part lioness, part dragon tamer, our parade lead is
a gorgeous creature who will crack the whip. Supported by our
figureheads all inspired by animals from the Chinese Zodiac." Fearless
Freakshow - We want to show that we are fearless on the water and
fearlessly fabulous off it. We will celebrate the diversity in our club
with the characters you get at the circus.
Diversity Launceston
Diversity Launceston is the only active community-run, not for profit
organisation in Launceston. We run events to provide the LGBTIQA
community opportunities to meet and form connections. Our float
celebrates the Tasmanians who campaigned tirelessly in their efforts to
decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania, and we pay homage to them
through the recreation of the Rainbow Thylacine. Diversity wants to
encourage Tasmania's LGBTIQ community to continue to live and love
Fearlessly.
FOBGAYS+
We are a grassroots community network of friends and family of brown
(South Asian) gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer+ identifying people. Our
theme is FEARLESS TOGETHER. We want to celebrate and showcase the
diversity of all our South Asian cultural identities. We will march as a
procession of animals found throughout the jungles of different South
Asian countries, wearing traditional South Asian clothes and textiles.
Our marchers from all parts of South Asian will show that while we are
made up of diverse communities and cultures, together we are strong and
fearless in our support of queer people and rights.
freegaynhappy
FGNHAPPY started in 2004 and we aimed to support those in the LGBTQI+
who struggled to find their place in the community. It was created to
give people a safe and loving family. The theme is unicorns and the
float is called mirror mirror. We want to tackle people’s perceptions of
themselves and others We will do this by creating a scene where
everyone is dressed as a unicorn and looking into a big mirror and
seeing how spectacularly special and magical they are.
Harbour City Wrestling Club
We are a not-for-profit LGBTIQ and straight friendly wrestling club
based in Kings Cross. Majority of the club members are a part of the
LGBTIQ community. The theme is 'The Wrestlers of Oz' which is a take on
the Wizard of Oz. The message is that we are wrestlers of different,
shapes, sizes, genders and sexuality from Sydney and our sister club in
Melbourne. The Citizens of Oz are fearlessly taking on the Flying
Monkeys in a battle for the Emerald City including a few LGBTIQ asylum
seekers marching for the first time.
NSW Trans Youth Alliance
A Facebook group of nearly 200 trans young people and allies mostly aged
from 16 to 22. The Theme is Trans and Proud- Trans is Beautiful. Many
of these kids have had to be fearless to come out and be themselves. For
many of them it also taken courage to march and show themselves to the
world.
Party Passport
Our float is for LGBTQIA+ people from the Northern Territory & their
supporters. It is run by Party Passport, a queer-owned & run, NT
based events company. Our events celebrate diversity & inclusion.
"Theme: RED HOT TERRITORY- FIREY, FEARLESS, FABULOUS – “you can be who
you are, wherever you are.” Our goal is to promote visibility for rural
and remote LGBTQIA+ people and giving NT presence on the international
stage of Mardi Gras.
People with Disability Australia
PWDA has recently engaged LGBTQIA+ people through a Disability Support
Organisation (DSO) that encouraged peer groups to come together to
discuss the issues facing LGBTQIA+ people with disability. The need for
accessible transport is our key message so that people can access the
LGBTQIA+ community & events, removing feelings of isolation,
dehumanisation and frustration. The fearless express will also promote
the freedom to express our sexuality in a fearless manner. As people
with disability (PWD), we will be fearless in the way we protest for
human rights and access to transport. Moreover, like the LGBTQIA+
community, PWD will face daily attitudinal challenges.
R U OK?
R U OK?'s mission is to inspire everyone to meaningfully connect with
people around them and support anyone struggling with life. We continue
to encourage support in the LGBTQI community.
Fearless Friends - They
give strength to others when they need it most. Our marchers will
represent the diversity of these friends - they come from all walks of
life, but are ready and willing to be there for their loved ones. We
will celebrate our Fearless Friends – they’re courageous, not afraid to
step up and start what can be a difficult conversation when someone’s
going through a tough time.
Renny Roccon – Wonder Mama and the Fearless Rainbow Super-Queeroes
We are a small group of LGBT friends who have entered the parade the
last few years. We like to think our entries reflect fun and vibrancy of
the parade and appeals to the fun aspect of Mardi Gras. Wonder Mama and
the Fearless Rainbow Super-Queeroes represent the colours of the
Rainbow flag and are the Defenders of Love and Equality. Each Super
Queero will represent each colour of the flag and will be led by Wonder
Mama! As Super Queeroes and Defenders of Love and Equality we believe we
represent the fearlessness of our community in fighting for, and
maintaining equality for all members of our community.
Rumba Latina
Rumba Latina was created in 2016, founded by Rosa Doyle, a Colombian who
fell in love with Australia 5 years ago. Since then our group has been
performing in several multicultural festivals and parades. Rumba Latina
performs multiple dance routines to Latin rhythms in festivals such as
Moomba Festival, Bondi Latin festival, Johnston Street festival and many
more across both Sydney and Melbourne. We are a diverse group with
different backgrounds, cultures, and views but with the same passion,
dancing! Rumba Latina has LGBTQI dancers, who have brought great flair,
passion, and creativity to the group. Our LGBTQI dancers have shown us
how important and liberating it is to express ourselves in our
performances. As a result, we feel a connection to the LGBTQI community
of Sydney, and see Mardi Gras as the perfect opportunity for our dancers
to support and promote LGBTQI rights with our own parade float!
Sydney Dance Company
Australia's foremost contemporary dance company since 1969. A diverse
and inclusive organisation for fifty years, engaging the LGBTQI+
community with artists, staff, audiences and participants. 2019 marks
Sydney Dance Company's 50th anniversary. A heritage born through a
notably diverse alumni of artists, management and community. A renowned
cultural leader, SDC celebrates Fifty Fearless Golden Years of
including the LGBTQI+ community through progressive works and activities
for audiences nationally and internationally.
Team Sydney Inc
Team Sydney promotes sport, fitness & healthy lifestyles among
Sydney’s LGBTIQ organisations. We help connect & promote over 30
member organisations, representing thousands of individual sportspeople.
The theme for the parade entry is 'Making A Splash'. The key message is
the promotion of sport including our network on member sports
clubs. To make a splash means your actions are causing ripples
through the water. You are facing your fears and pushing through the
barriers as out and proud LGBTIQ athletes.
The Institute of Many
We are a totally unfunded, independent, grassroots, movement for people
living with HIV, with the largest membership of any HIV org. in
Australia. The majority of our members are LGBTQI. TIM will celebrate
the breakthrough message of Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). Our
retro sci fi‚ themed float inspires people to consider a changing
paradigm of HIV in the 21st century. Science now tells us that an
undetectable viral load means we cannot transmit HIV to our sexual
partners. We are celebrating the future of HIV that people with HIV who
have an undetectable viral load can be fearless when making love and
loving other people and also love themselves fearlessly.
The Oz Fag Hags
We're a group of people who transgress the boundaries between gay &
straight culture. Our relationship is based on empathy between two
groups who seek positive change in the community. Exercise Your
Rights! We are reminding Australians that while people are still being
discriminated against based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or
HIV status, you need to get out there and exercise your rights. Our
theme encourages everyone to Exercise their Rights to ensure that all
people of the LGBTQI+ community can live openly without discrimination
and enjoy personal autonomy, and freedom of expression.
The Star Observer
The Star Observer is Australia's longest running LGBTI media
organisation, setting the LGBTI agenda since 1979. We have over 500,000
loyal readers who embrace our publications. Our theme is 40 years (our
40th birthday in 2019) of fearless reporting and journalism for the
LGBTI community. Your news, your stories. The Star Observer has
fearlessly reported news for the LGBTI community and has set the agenda
for the LGBTI community, for the past 40 years.
The Students of the National Institute of Dramatic Art
NIDA is a conservatoire that promotes expression of upcoming
storytellers. We intend to celebrate the experiences of the LGBTQI+
community within our student body and employees. Our theme is
Storytellers of the Future, Learning and Teaching on Bedegal Land. We
believe that to be able to tell the stories of the LGBTQIA+ community we
need to be fearless in our approach. It is only through this
fearlessness that we can be truthful and respectful.
Trikone Australasia
We are an organisation for GLBTIQ South Asians living in Australia. We
offer a supportive and empowering environment for people to promote
awareness and acceptance of their sexuality. (trikone.org.au). The theme
of our parade is freedom. Only 2 of the 12 South Asian countries (India
and Nepal) do not or no longer have homosexuality listed as a criminal
offence. The float will showcase the recent decriminalization in India
and that there is still much to be done in many South Asian countries.
Freedom and decriminalizing of homosexuality in South Asian countries
will come about from the FEARLESS few who make a voice and fight for
justice.
Wett Ones Swimming Club
Wett Ones Swim Club is an inclusive, competitive and social swimming
club for the gay and lesbian community and our friends in Sydney, called
a family by members who range in age from 20s to 70s. Themed
swimlikeagirl, our float is dedicated to increasing the participation of
lesbian, bisexual, transgender and cisgender women in swimming who make
up only 20% of swimmers. We will reclaim the meaning of the phrase and
show the audience that female swimmers are fearless, courageous and
strong. "We honour the fearless females who won 28 medals at the 2018
Gay Games & swimmer Kay Gravell who won 8 gold medals while having
cancer in her spine, lungs and liver, just one month before she died."
Women In AFL
AFL Without Agenda - AFL is not about gender, sexuality or differences;
it is about inclusion and the collective. There are occasions of
individual brilliance on the field although the majority of the game is
driven by teamwork. To women in AFL, to be fearless, means to take
action. Challenging misconceptions, challenging barriers to equality,
challenging agendas and challenging approaches to women’s sport.
