Monthly CEO Update

I can’t quite believe September is almost gone. We've had such a busy and productive month and I'm really excited to share what's been happening at Mardi Gras HQ.

I also wanted to express my optimism about the roadmap out of lockdown unveiled this week. Even though things are starting to look better, please don't let your?guard down and keep following public health advice, and get vaccinated for yourself, friends, family, and the broader community.

Without further ado, here's the latest news from Sydney Mardi Gras

Rising against One Nation’s damaging education bill

The One Nation NSW education bill must be stopped. It proposes harmful reforms that would serve to deny the existence of trans and gender diverse students in school and prevent teachers and counsellors from supporting them. It would allow parents to withdraw their child from a class or program which tells them LGBTQI+ people are just like everyone else.

So far, over 15,000 people have written to NSW political leaders, calling on them to stand against this attack from One Nation. The good news is that momentum is building within parliament against the bill, with a group of politicians from all sides of politics recently writing to the NSW Education Minister to calling on the government to oppose the bill.

This week, the City of Sydney has furthered its commitment to our community and in a Council meeting voted to unanimously condemn One Nation’s Education Bill and proposed religious discrimination bill.

However, we cannot rest on our laurels. The government and the opposition have yet to take a public position and until that time we need to keep pushing for this bill to be dumped.

If you haven’t done so already, visit the?Equality Australia website?for information on how you can email your political leaders asking them to stop this harmful bill.

Restoring our night-time gaybourhoods

Recently, we were invited to participate in the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Advisory Group, which has been tasked with re-investing in Sydney’s night-time economy, once restrictions are lifted.

We are committed to restoring the vibrancy of our night-time gaybourhoods and ensure our community doesn’t get lost in the conversation. We want to ensure LGBTQI+ artists and entertainers can get back to work, LGBTQI+ small businesses are thriving and importantly, inject a much-needed dose of vitality back into Oxford Street.

Seeking members for our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group

In case you missed it, together with Matika Little, Mardi Gras’ First Nations and Community Engagement Officer, we are looking for people to join a working group to develop and implement our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

While Mardi Gras has been engaged in reconciliation activities for many years, this RAP will provide a formal framework for how we work to recognise and celebrate LGBTQI+ First Nations history and culture and create opportunities for reconciliation and self-determination. The final plan will contain practical actions that will drive our contribution to reconciliation both internally and within the community

Expressions of interest to join the working group close today. If you’re interested, please?visit our website?for more information.

We're seeking a First Nations Curator

We are seeking a First Nations Curator to work with our festival team to produce the?Welcome to Country ceremony for the Parade. If this sounds like something you're interested in, please send your CV to?Matika at?[email protected]

Keep an eye out for our next Strategic Plan

We are in the very final stages of releasing the SGLMG?Strategic Plan 2021-23. This plan carves out an exciting path forward for Mardi Gras – both as an organisation and as a movement dedicated to celebration, diversity, and social justice. It’s a strong plan, which is the result of nearly 800 people contributing to its design and direction through focus groups, interviews, and a whole of community survey.

Once again, a big thank you to all that got involved. We are hoping to share the final plan with you in the coming weeks.

Festival announcements around the corner

It’s hard to believe that a year has already come and gone since we announced the 2021 Mardi Gras!

We are in a very different pandemic now and there remains a lot of uncertainty over what restrictions will look like five months from now. However, we have been working with our partners daily to bring together a festival plan which we will share with you soon. That’s it from me! There’s a lot of announcements just around the corner, so keep your eyes out.

As always, if you want to get in contact, you can always reach us via?email.