Not for the first time, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is contemplating a name change.
The world class festival and organisation has come a long way since its protest beginnings in 1978. However, despite its growth in recent years, members of the local community have often debated whether or not the 'Gay and Lesbian' is still necessary and reflective of the annual event's inclusive values.
However, a change isn't that simple, with the organisation needing to win the support of its vocal and committed membership base, a motion that has failed in the past.
In a press release sent out on Tuesday night, the group wrote: "Over the past few years, Mardi Gras have often heard from the LGBTIQ community that the organisation’s name isn’t as inclusive – only specifying ‘Gay’ and ‘Lesbian’, without mention of transgender, bisexual, intersex, or any other sexuality or gender identity."
It continued: "Many Mardi Gras members, community groups, event organisers, patrons and visitors question how to make the festival more inclusive and how the name could reflect the community and our people’s diversity more accurately."
Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu said the move was initiated by a desire to ensure the festival was as inclusive as possible.
“Mardi Gras has had many members, community groups and visitors over the year’s question us on how we’re making our festival more inclusive and how our name could reflect our community and our people’s diversity more accurately," she said in a statement.
"So we feel it’s an important step to take in talking to the community to see what can be done to be more inclusive and reflect all the vibrant colours of everyone under and over the rainbow.”
Mardi Gras Co-Chair Giovanni Campolo-Arcidiaco added: “Consistently with our Strategic Plan and commitment to Social Justice, the Board feel the time is right to engage our communities on how inclusion can better reflect who we are and what we do.
"We do not take the matter lightly and understand that a change to our organisation’s name can only happen by a vote of our members at a General Meeting. Our members will have the ultimate say, but we want to live up to our commitment for inclusion that’s what the proposed name change is for: supporting members of our community who feel excluded.”
Possible alternatives floated by community members include 'Sydney Pride' and, simply, 'Sydney Mardi Gras'.
Mardi Gras will hold a Community Consultation Event at 4pm on Sunday 7 April at Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street Darlinghurst. Mardi Gras members will be invited to engage in the discussion over the next few weeks and to complete a survey at the end of the consultation process to select a name.
