Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 1988
William Yang
35 mm colour transparency
SLIDES 71/833

The Australian bicentenary was coincidentally the tenth anniversary of Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras, which had celebrated its origin as a protest march on 24 June 1978. On this anniversary it became the 'Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras' and 120 000 people watched 60 floats, including the first Aboriginal float and the first 'Dykes on Bikes' in the parade. Renowned for outlandish costumes and dance music, the parade also has a political tone, with the floats often displaying satirical and witty observations. This group was an absolute riot of colour as it accompanied 'Zippy' the comic clown with fluorescent party tricks and lollies on sticks.