Celebrating Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Madi Gras
I’m writing this post from the Sydney airport as I wait for my cheap flight to take off to Melbourne. I intended to write while in Sydney during my 10 day stay in the city, but simply found myself too busy. So here I am! Better late than never, right?
I conveniently found myself in Sydney the day before their big Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (not sure why it’s not called LGBTQ+, but I didn’t make up the name). Much like Mardi Gras in the USA, Sydney’s is a debaucherous celebration – though much more focused on gay pride rather than Lent. It’s a time for the city to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and be proud of who we are. There’s a huge parade that takes place on the last Saturday of Mardi Gras celebrations (which last for a few weeks) and it was spectacular. It was a night full of drag queens, mesh, and glitter galore.
Tips for Going to Mardi Gras
There are so many events surrounding Mardi Gras weekend in Sydney, I would highly suggest visiting the website to see what’s on. For accommodation, I would recommend checking out Misterbnb, a gay alternative to AirBNB. Regardless, try finding a flat in Surry Hills or nearby so you’re close to the action. I was lucky to Couchsurf with an amazing gay host who helped give suggestions for the parade.
I ended up meeting some friends, going to a few house parties, dancing in the streets, and going to Stonewall, a popular gay club in the gayborhood of Surry Hills. It was such an amazing time, and I would highly suggest anyone in Sydney during Mardi Gras to make some friends in the city as they will have the best connections. You can always use Tinder to make some connections while you’re in the city – most locals are incredibly kind and welcoming and might even invite you to a party!
Mardi Gras Through My Eyes
I wanted to write a little bit about what Mardi Gras meant to me as a LGBTQ+ traveler. Most of my young adult life I’ve avoided any sort of gay culture. For the longest time I was terrified of going to gay bars or clubs. Even after coming out I didn’t feel like it was “my thing”. I had a preconception that gay bars were raunchy, filled with bad pop music and a sort of boys club I didn’t feel a part of. My internalized homophobia stopped me from enjoying being surrounded by others like me. I felt that if I avoided gay bars and clubs that I wouldn’t become a part of the stereotype that society and I myself had of gay people. I’ve found that I couldn’t be more wrong.
As I came to be surrounded by some incredible young gay men in Sydney, I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong in avoiding these safe spaces before. I met a diverse group of guys from all over the world who found a comfortable place to express themselves on a night out. These men held different careers, some in consulting, government and law, and some in the service industry while studying at university. These were “normal”, intelligent and kind gay men. Far from the stereotypes many people have.
As I found myself in such a comfortable and safe environment, I found a feeling of freedom that I hadn’t felt before. I was in a new city, surrounded by beautiful and wonderful gay men, and free to do as I liked. It was a significant experience that I will take with me wherever I go. It made me excited to experience LGBTQ+ culture as I continue my travels.
This is just a quick snapshot of my experience in Sydney – and I will be back to write more tips on the city. But for now, my flight is boarding and with a heavy heart I must say goodbye to this amazing city.
Cheers!
Gunnar
P.S. – a Golden Gaytime is a popular ice cream bar in Australia! But also a great description for my time in Sydney (Thanks Emil for the inspiration).
