Mardi Gras
16 February – 3 March 2024
Proud to celebrate Sydney Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities.
Below are some of the ways students and staff got involved to celebrate on campus and beyond this year.
Grants for Mardi Gras 2024 projects
To mark this year's festival, we invited students and staff at UNSW to apply for grant funding for ideas, events and activations that celebrate LGBTQIA+ diversity and inclusion on campus.
What was on at UNSW:
Pride on the Quad
The UNSW community came together to show their pride at the Helen Maguire Lawn (Quad). Students and staff explored the queer research display (UNSW Fair Day Stall), made pronoun badges, got their heart rates up with hula hooping, enjoyed live entertainment by drag artist Ivory Glaze, scored special edition Pride Lion t-shirts at our charity sale and more!
UNSW Fair Day Stall
Fair Day at Victoria Park was cancelled by the City of Sydney this year. The UNSW Fair Day Stall was relocated to Pride on the Quad, where UNSW queer researchers proudly showcased their work to the community at the queer research display on the Helen Maguire Lawn.
Drag Bingo
This year's Mardi Gras celebrations kicked off with fabulous Drag Bingo sessions led by our host and dazzling drag queen, Ivory Glaze. Participants battled it out for bingo glory while enjoying a light morning or afternoon tea.
Queer Voices in Policy: Shaping Our Futures at UNSW and Beyond
This panel discussion from the Student Representative Council's Queer Collective centred on the intersection of queer identity and policymaking at UNSW. The event saw students, policymakers and advocates come together to explore how policies directly impact the LGBTQIA+ community on campus.
Mardi Pardi
For the 5th year in a row, Arc - UNSW Student Life hosted queer talent and glittering-up to celebrate Mardi Gras at the Roundhouse Mardi Pardi.
Creating Queer Futures: Zine Making Workshop
Zines have a long history in queer communities and continue to be a powerful way to share information, art, stories, experiences and perspectives. This free event provided creative materials for people to make and share queer zines that paint a picture of their wants, hopes and dreams.
Pride Cup
Arc Sport hosted a friendly day of social sport on the Village Green with netball and touch football competitions, plus free food, drag shows, music and good vibes.
Mardi Gras [Viewing] Party
Students and staff were invited to watch the 46th Sydney Mardi Gras Parade on the big screen at UNSW Art & Design. With live queer entertainment, glitter station, drinks and food, it was the perfect event to beat the crowds while soaking up the pride vibes.
Bryan Washington: Family Meal
This event has been rescheduled, with details to be confirmed.
Join Bryan Washington and host Benjamin Law in an enriching discussion about Washington’s latest novel, Family Meal. Washington sheds light on the intersection of queerness, family dynamics, and vulnerability as the lives of young men collide in this story about the sustenance of friendship, and the taste of loss.
Rainbow Connections: Leading the Change
In collaboration with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association (SGLBA), Pride@AGSM presented their Rainbow Connections event: Leading the Change – a half-day professional development forum in the glow of Sydney Mardi Gras.
Minus18 Queer Formal
UNSW was a Community Partner for the Minus18 Queer Formal, which took place at the Roundhouse on Saturday 17 February. UNSW students and staff had the opportunity to volunteer and support the event on the evening.
Welcome Back to Campus - Mardi Gras Theme
Staff were invited to dress up in their most sparkly or colourful ensemble for the first Staff Engagement Event of 2024, with the theme Mardi Gras. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of tasty and colourful treats, DIY nail painting, wooden bracelet making, DIY wooden earring decoration and glitter hairspray on tap.
