Australia's Olympic hero leads Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 2009 - Nations United

There's one night in the calendar that belongs uniquely to Australia. Every year thousands fly in from over 40 countries to experience it. Activists from around the world converge on Sydney for this event to march and speak for those who still cannot speak for themselves. One of the most famous and largest event in the global gay calendar - the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras took place 2009 for the 31st year. Australia's Olympic gold medalist of 10 m platform diving Matthew Mitcham led the parade choriographed under the theme “Nations United”. “I am proud to have been chosen to lead the parade” Mitcham said. Mardi Gras is, Mitcham added “all about acceptance”. Thousands of people of diverse sexual orientation : gay, straight, bi, transgender showed up to parade and party in the street, cheer on the parade floats and most importantly, to celebrate the right to live freely. The objective of the organisers is to raise the visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer communities.

Mardi Gras evolved as an international gay solidarity activity in the shadows of the Stonewall riots in New York. A Police raid of the Stonewall Inn in 1969 provoked spontaneous rioting by gays and lesbians in an overt display of dissent against government led persecution of homosexuals. Commencing in June 1978 to commemorate Stonewall, the very first march had to face police violence resulting in 53 arrests. The next three years saw its name being changed to Sydney Gay Mardi Gras, the event shifting from June to February and the introduction of a post parade party which, is today billed as one of the biggest in Australia.

Mardi Gras still draws strong public support that has allowed it to continue without interruption for 31 years. Now it also is a recipient of some limited funding by the government, a factor that may help cement its iconic status in the Sydney cultural landscape in the years to come.