Mardi Gras is ‘Always On’

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, pictured last year at the Sydney Cricket Ground, is world famous – but the organisation’s ‘Always On’ initiative ensures Mardi Gras has a year-round presence. Photo: supplied.

While the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival runs for 17 days across February and March, the organisation’s ‘Always On’ initiative ensures it’s engaged with the community year-round. Makayla Muscat reports.

This year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival will run from 18 February to 6 March, but Mardi Gras isn’t just active during the festival – it’s committed to being ‘Always On’ throughout the year.

“The festival is always going to be the heart and soul of Mardi Gras, but we know that it can do more for our community,” says Jesse Matheson, co-chair of the Mardi Gras Board.

“We are present, we are here, we are ready to support the community in whatever way we can, we are receptive to new ideas, and we are pushing the boundaries and expectations of what Mardi Gras is and can be.”

The ‘Always On’ initiative was developed last year as part of a commitment to continue providing opportunities and services to the LGBTQI+ community year-round.

In 2022, it has expanded to include grants programs, talent discovery, digital content and events such as Pride Weekender so community groups can celebrate, share experiences and receive support no matter where they are.

According to Matheson, the initiative was created to ensure Mardi Gras continues to have a strong presence, raise the voices of people and organisations throughout the entire year and let people know that they’re always working and always on.

Mardi Gras recognises that the LGBTQI+ community needs support beyond the festival’s two-week period. For many people who have been isolated during the global pandemic, the festival provides comfort, but the ‘Always On’ initiative works to ensure Mardi Gras continues to impact the lives of the LGBTQI+ community positively.

“Covid has pushed us to really rethink Mardi Gras. It has been about innovating and finding new ways to help people celebrate who they are,” Matheson says.

“Especially through the pandemic, people need to be able to come together. ‘Always On’ was sort of born out of a Covid environment.”

Mardi Gras co-chair Jesse Matheson, pictured at lectern, says ‘Always On’ was born out of Covid-19. Photo: Ann-Marie Calilhanna.

Through a grants program Mardi Gras provides funds to individuals, community groups and organisations for new projects, including community development and creation, education and training, arts and culture and events.

Matheson says it is exciting that Mardi Gras now has the capacity to work with organisations to workshop their ideas.

“Last year we collaborated with Biconic. They held an online event; we partnered with them and gave them some funding to support their artists. It was incredible to be able to support them because you could see how excited they were to be working with us,” he says.

Mardi Gras’ commitment to social justice is a core component of the ‘Always On’ initiative, and through their partnership with Equality Australia, they campaign to overcome the prejudice, stigma and discrimination that still exists.

By using their platform as a megaphone to support LGBTQI+ rights, inclusion and equity, and continuing to work closely with different groups of people, Mardi Gras is able to create positive change and a brighter future for their community.

In a recent campaign regarding the Religious Discrimination Bill, Mardi Gras wrote directly to federal politicians asking them to support amendments to protect transgender students.

“Mardi Gras stands against discrimination in all its forms. We want to raise the visibility of important social issues within our community,” Matheson says.

“I think it’s horrible that students’ rights are being debated. It’s incredibly disturbing to me, especially as someone who came out during high school and witnessed bullying from teachers and students alike.”

Mardi Gras wrote to federal politicians urging them to support Religious Discrimination Bill amendments to protect transgender students. Pictures is a Sydney protest against the bill on Saturday, 12 February. Photo: Community Action for Rainbow Rights/Facebook.

While it has been a challenging time for most festivals, Matheson believes it has been a time of strategic growth for Mardi Gras. He says it has made the organisation realise how resilient it is and understand that it is important to be visible.

“I think the beautiful thing about ‘Always On’ is that if the community puts on events, we’ll support them. It’s not just about Mardi Gras putting on events throughout the year, it’s about working with different community organisations to support what they are doing,” he says.

“Fundamentally, Mardi Gras’ role within the community is to bring people together, to celebrate the achievements that we’ve made so far and to act as a megaphone for social issues.

“Our focus has always been on ensuring that Mardi Gras continues to support our community.”

This article was previously published in the Sydney Sentinel.