It takes balls to be a fairy, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 1983, photograph by William Yang, courtesy National Library of Australia (nla.pic-vn3097593)

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and it has survived, and expanded, thanks to the determination of the city’s LGBTQI community.

Listen to Nicole and Nic on 2SER here 

The first Mardi Gras parade in Sydney was held on 24 June 1978, part of a worldwide International Gay Solidarity day to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York that had happened in 1969. After a day of festivities, about 1000 people gathered at Taylor Square at 9.30 pm to make their way down Oxford Street to Hyde Park. As the parade arrived at Whitlam Square, the police, who had given permission for the parade to take place, intervened, confiscating the lead truck and telling the crowd to disperse. The now angry crowd marched up William Street to Darlinghurst where they clashed with police and ‘a two-hour spree of screaming, bashing and arrests‘ followed, and 53 people were arrested amid many reports of police brutality. It wasn't until 2016 that a formal apology was made by the New South Wales police for the events of 1978, and this year for the first time, New South Wales Police have raised the rainbow flag, in honour of the parade's 40th anniversary and a symbol of solidarity with the LGBTQI community, outside the Sydney Police Centre. The Sydney Mardi Gras is now one of the largest festivals of its kind in the world, and an important and much-loved part of this city’s history and culture. The City of Sydney history team has been working with Sydney’s Pride History Group to update the Oxford Street walking tour on their fantastic Culture Walks app, and it now focuses entirely on the area’s LGBTQI history. Called Parade, it's available for download for mobile devices via the app here The 21 stops on the tour also contains excerpts from oral histories compiled by the Pride group and articles in the Dictionary of Sydney. Take the tour and listen to stories about bars like Patch's and Ruby Reds, both sanctuaries for gay and lesbian people. Or the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial in Green Park, which commemorates the homosexual men and women who were tortured, murdered and persecuted in Nazi Germany. You can do the tour remotely too, just by following along with the stops. There is also a great exhibition on at Surry Hills’ TAP Art Gallery, until Sunday 4 March. Serving in Silence explores LGBTQI service in the Australian Defence Force since World War II. One story that struck me was Yvonne Sillett’s, who joined the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps in 1979 and rose up in the ranks with a top security clearance, only to be dismissed after her sexuality was exposed and after 10 years of service. Stories like these are not uncommon, and aren't long ago. It's important to hear these stories and to be aware of the contemporary relevance and how much still needs to change. Check out the full Mardi Gras festival program of activities here and join in the celebrations.

The City of Sydney History team and Pride History Group have collaborated on this great free walking tour.

Happy Mardi Gras! Links: Read more on the Dictionary of Sydney, starting with historian and 78er Garry Wotherspoon's entry on Mardi Gras and follow the links and subjects to more: https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/gay_and_lesbian_mardi_gras Find the Parade Walking Tour on the City of Sydney's Culture App: https://www.sydneyculturewalksapp.com/ Explore the Pride History Group's resources, especially the 100 Voices project: http://www.camp.org.au/ Visit TAP Art Gallery to see Serving in Silence: http://www.tapgallery.org.au/ The State Library of NSW has digitised recordings made by Garry Wotherspoon of his interviews with gay men and women between 1980-1988, and are available to listen to (and transcribe) via their Amplify project here. Nicole Cama is a professional historian, writer and curator, and the Executive Officer of the History Council of NSW.  She appears on 2SER on behalf of the Dictionary of Sydney in a voluntary capacity. Listen to the podcast with Nicole & Nic here, and tune in to 2SER Breakfast with Nic Healey on 107.3 every Wednesday morning at 8:15-8:20am to hear more from the Dictionary of Sydney. The Dictionary of Sydney has no ongoing operational funding and needs your help. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Dictionary of Sydney today!