Gather. Dream. Amplify – It’s All About Celebration and Healing for This Year’s WorldPride
Albert Kruger is the CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) and has played a vital role in further developing and growing the organisation and building upon its focus on diversity and inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community.
SGLMG is a not-for-profit organisation and is built on the foundations of fighting for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, free creative expression, and challenging systems of injustice and inequality.
Albert expressed that the SGLMG has a long history and was born from a protest on Oxford Street in 1978 and as a result the iconic strip is the beating heart of the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival.
He explains that throughout the pandemic “we were proud to have never stopped marching, giving our communities in Sydney and across the world a moment of hope and pride during a very challenging time and that there could not be a more poignant year to return to Oxford Street — given we are welcoming the world Down Under for the first WorldPride in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as celebrating the 45th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras.”
Each year Mardi Gras has a theme and this year it is “Gather, Dream Amplify” incorporating the foundational values of inclusivity and accessibility. It is a calling for people to Gather and participate in a global movement. A time to Dream about the future, of possibilities and create a space of inclusivity for everyone who still does not have equality. And to Amplify what is important to you, while also including and wanting the same for everyone else. It is about both healing and celebration.
The event has tried to incorporate the values of inclusivity and accessibility for everyone. There are so many ways for individuals of any age to get involved. Because of the large number of events, the best way to find out what's happening each day is to take a look at the WorldPride website and check out their festival program which will give you a ‘cheat sheet’ to all the times and places where events are happening. It is recommended that you plan and book early as a lot of events are ticketed.
If you are looking at coming and getting involved in WorldPride this year, there are many ways that you can do this. For an all-age zone that is perfect for families then look no further than the new viewing area Ruby Road. It is located at the Moore Park end of the Parade route, so you will have uninterrupted views of the Parade. Feel free to pack a picnic or take advantage of the onsite food trucks, entertainment, bars and live screens to see all the action.
If you would like to listen to the Human Rights conference, organisers have thought about all the ways to make it accessible. There is a wide array of ticket options available for individuals and groups, including free live stream and online virtual options if you can’t get to the event.