Mardi Gras vs. Big Gay Day

By Toby Longhurst

Big Gay Day and The Mardi Gras Party may be forced to go head to head on the same weekend next year after Mardi Gras announced that from 2010 the Mardi Gras Party will be held one week after the parade – the same weekend that Big Gay Day is traditionally held.

By holding the two events on the same weekend both parties stand to loose patronage but it will be the local Queensland charities that will be hit the hardest. Big Gay Day is Queensland’s largest charity fundraiser, this year raising in excess of $40,000 for youth suicide.

Charities such as the Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association are not funded by the Government and rely on the funds raised at Big Gay Day to provide State wide telephone counselling to the LGBT community.

New Mardi Gras has come under intense criticism since announcing the separation of the parade and party, with many regular interstate visitors reacting with disbelief and anger after already booking accommodation and flights to the iconic Sydney event.

The changes mean that people living outside of Sydney who would like to attend both events will now either have to take a whole week off work and pay for a week’s accommodation in Sydney or pay for two return flights. Both are options that are inaccessible to many people in the community.

Passengers who had booked tickets on the Atlantis Mardi Gras Cruise from Auckland to Sydney will now miss out on the Mardi Gras party after paying between $1,549 and $9999 for a cabin onboard the almost sold out cruise.

New Mardi Gras Chair David Imrie told QNews that the potential loss of visitors was something that the board had considered before making their decision but believed the changes would actually encourage an increase in the number of interstate visitors.

“We have looked at the balance of risk and opportunity and believe we can bring more people from interstate for longer based on this model”, Mr Imrie said.

“We think there will be more reason than ever to come to Sydney for Mardi Gras in 2010. Not everyone will be able to take a whole week off, though we hope that many choose to do so. They will get to experience the city as never before. For those unable to come for the whole week there will be two great options for a weekend in Sydney.”

The Mardi Gras Party has been held after the parade every year since 1980, but as of 2010 New Mardi Gras will shift their post parade focus towards the flailing Harbour Party which has run at a loss for the past two years.

New Mardi Gras has been under financial pressure in recent years after suffering poor ticket sales for their Harbour Party and Sleaze Ball parties after striking exclusive media deals and shunning community groups at their last Fair Day.

Mr Imrie denied the changes to the festival’s structure was motivated by financial need, explaining to Sydney Star Observer that  ticket sales for both the official and Harbour parties would likely be helped by the shift as only a quarter of volunteers were buying discounted tickets at present.

The Board of New Mardi Gras have called on its members (most of whom were not consulted about the changes) for suggestions to come up with a new parade night event, with the option of holding a member's only party.