While the first official gay Carnival krewe, the Krewe of Yuga, was formed in the late 1950s, “Gay Mardi Gras” had been going on underground way before then. As a spoof of traditional Mardi Gras krewes, the Yuga ball featured a glittering presentation of royalty, including a Queen, King, Captain, debutantes and maids. When is Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Many people believe that Mardi Gras is a single day of celebration. Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” is actually the climax for the Carnival season. Formal Gay Balls and walking parades begin on the twelfth night of Christmas (Kings Night – Jan 6th). Most of the larger balls begin a week or two before Fat Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss. February 21, 2023. Every year, the Krewe of Queenateenas’ reigning King Cake King and Queen take to the balcony of the Ambush Mansion for a bead toss that will have the queer community leaping, grabbing and cheering. This is, quite literally, one of the crowning moments of Gay Mardi Gras. The Festival will wrap with the world famous Sydney Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 1 March 2025. Festival theme: Free to be The 2025 Festival theme Free to be is a celebration of the strides toward true LGBTQIA+ equality while also acting as a global reminder that our fight is far from over, and that we are not truly free until we are all free Altogether, it’s the perfect setting for the liveliest of gay cultures. The LGBTQ community takes the spotlight at festivals all year long, with Southern Decadence over Labor Day weekend attracting more than 125,000 revelers to what’s come to be known as Gay Mardi Gras. The climax of the gay Mardi Gras events experience is without a doubt the Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss. Thousands gather as the Krewe of Queenateenas’ reigning King Cake King and Queen take to the balcony of the Ambush Mansion at 2:30pm for a bead toss that will have the queer community leaping, grabbing and cheering. Thus, through the late 19th century and well into the 20th, cross-dressing during Mardi Gras posed less of a risk and was a common choice for men joining the parade-watching crowds. The 47th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade is set to attract huge crowds on 1 March. Credit: AAP Over 11,000 participants are expected to descend on Sydney's streets on Saturday Southern Decadence, often dubbed the "Gay Mardi Gras," is one of the most vibrant and eagerly awaited LGBTQ+ festivals in New Orleans. Celebrated over Labor Day weekend, this event draws thousands of revelers from across the globe to the heart of the French Quarter. What started as a small gathering in 1972 has now blossomed into an epic party. Sydney is expected to be buzzing for one of the biggest nights in the city's social calendar today as thousands are anticipated to march in the 47th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Sydney Mardi Gras 2025 is here! Free to party, free to celebrate, free to laugh, free to be Festival-favourites, revamped returns and new queens on the block join the line-up for Sydney Mardi Gras 2025! Sydney Mardi Gras 2025 is here! Free to party, free to celebrate, free to laugh, free to be Festival-favourites, revamped returns and new queens on the block join the line-up for Sydney Mardi Gras 2025! The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival culminates in the renowned Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, an LGBTQIA+ rights protest and celebration of sexuality. The parade features more than 12,500 entrants in colourful costumes and elaborate floats, who represent a community group, topical theme or political message. The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ events in the world and the largest Pride event in Oceania, with the queer community taking over downtown Sydney for a colorful The 47th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade saw over 11,000 participants from the LGBTQI spectrum broadcasting a message of pride, with a big crowd joining them lined up on Oxford Street or Applications are now open for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Grants proudly supported by Canva in 2025. As part of Canva and SGLMG’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and empowering the LGBTQIA+ community, these grants aim to foster creativity, inclusivity, and meaningful participation in the Parade. At Mardi Gras 2023, Ms Thorpe momentarily stopped the parade after laying on the ground in front of a float in protest. She was escorted away by officers, but was not arrested. The 47th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is set to take over Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade on Saturday 1 March 2025. Set your true self free as the Mardi Gras magic makes it's way down the heritage-listed Parade route for one of the largest LGBTQIA+ nighttime parades in the world.
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