Mardi Gras, Beforeplay & Check-ups
Hey There Caddyshackers
“Happy Mardi Gras!”
This was a term we used to hear on one night of the year as the sequins, feathers, leather and floats danced their way down Oxford Street in Sydney. Thanks largely to World Pride in Sydney 2023 and the ongoing movements of the Rainbow community and their Allies, Mardi Gras is now much more than one day. It’s a festival full of love, inclusion and advocacy.
Mardi Gras 2024
This year’s festival began on the 16th of February with the program celebrating the entire LGBTQIA+ community. There were over 100 community events, including dance parties, theatre, music and the world famous “Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade” and after parties which wrapped up the festival on the 2nd & 3rd of March.
Theme
The Mardi Gras theme for 2024 was “Our Future”.
“Our Future… is not just a theme but a call to action, a bold invitation to define and shape our path forward as a community. It acknowledges our past but encourages us to envision what comes next. It’s a statement that is open to interpretation and engagement, irrespective of geographical location or physical attendance. It’s our collective journey and story to share”
Respect the history
2024 marked the 46th anniversary of the first ever “Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade”. It was in 1978, on a cold night in Darlinghurst Sydney, that a small group of protestors gathered to contribute to the International Gay Celebrations. Sadly, a night that resulted in violence and arrests, it would forever be a defining night of the LGBTIQA+ community and become a part of Australia’s cultural heritage.
After a year of ongoing protests and arrests, changes to the Legislative Act which had made such arrests possible was repealed in NSW and in 1979, an incident free parade occurred with over 3000 members of the community – a civil rights moment.
In 1980, the post parade party became a thing and Mardi Gras has been shaped by this moment of celebration ever since.
“Today, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most famous and well-loved events, bringing thousands of visitors to Sydney to join in the celebrations. It captures the imagination of Australia’s LGBTQI and mainstream communities, taking over the city for weeks on end, culminating in the world famous parade: a colourful and dazzling night of pride, celebration and self-expression”
Beforeplay? Is this a thing?
Right now we are loving the National Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) campaign “Beforeplay” which aims to increase awareness among young people of the ways they can prevent sexually transmissible infections (STIs), with a focus on testing and safe sex behaviours.
The campaign has been running for nine weeks from 14 January to 16 March 2024 across social media, digital video and display, out-of-home and search channels.
Did you catch it anywhere in your feed?
Check the campaign videos.
The Facts
STIs are an important public health issue in Australia.
There have been significant increases of notifiable STIs since 2012 for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, particularly for young people aged 20-34 years.
The campaign reminds young people that sexual health check-ups should be the first step of a healthy relationship and part of safe sex behaviours, including using barrier protection like a condom.
Regular screening is important and effective treatments are available should you test positive.
Fab staff at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Sexual Health Clinic
Good timing
Mardi Gras & Beforeplay, what a perfect segue!
March is a great time for your regular sexual health check ups.
Well, any time really but, riffing off the narrative.
Summer is over, Mardi Gras celebrations have wrapped up and it’s a nice reminder that taking care of your sexual health is just as important as looking after your physical or mental health.
Visit your GP to get a sexual health check-up or find a more options for where to test at Sexual Health Info Link.
Until next time,
Peace, love & protection
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