The Sydney street party and parade the gay and lesbian Madi Gras
Sydney Madi Gras
In 1978 two thousand protesters took to the Streets of Sydney in an attempt to highlight the social injustice and discrimination that the gay community experienced in their daily lives. At this time 35 years ago homosexuality was illegal in Australia. An organisation the gay solidarity group after a morning of protesting for equal gay rights continued their protest and demonstrations travelling from Oxford Street to Hyde Park walking behind a truck with sound system in tow wearing costumes and carrying placards calling for rights and acceptance. Although the March down Oxford Street had already received prior permission the police violently swooped on the protesters closed streets and arrested some of the participants and some of these people were later beaten in police cells. Since this day back in 1978 Sydney Madi Gras and the gay community civil rights mile stone was born. The Madi Gras has come a long way in thirty five years from a protest calling for rights and acceptance to a carnival that is more than just a street parade down Oxford Street thousands of people line route and attend the legendary parade every February.
This year there was 9000 marchers and 108 floats that made their way up Oxford Street with the participants in their outlandish costumes dancing singing and celebrating with blaring rock and pop songs playing and promoting the theme of this year’s parade “generations of love”.
About Oxford street
This street has long been the home to gay and lesbian clubs, bars and shops. Oxford Street shops also called the golden mile, is the stretch on Oxford Street between Taylor Park and Green Square the golden mile has reclaimed it reputation as Sydney’s best fashion strip with distinctive boutiques unique to this part of the city, also along this street are many great cafes and restaurants, pubs and factory outlets.
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