“You’re awfully quiet. Let’s have a bit of a whoo!” called Co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board, Fran Bowron to the crowd at the Official Opening of Fair Day, one of the most loved events in Mardi Gras season. This is a crowd who knows how to whoo hoo and aren’t afraid to let that puppy off the chain. “Happy Mardi Gras” is everywhere and go out says Greg Small ( the other co-chair) and “Share the Love.”
The crowd knows that the speeches are important; any coming together of 80,000 people has some kind of agenda. The Strategic Partners: NSW Government and Destination NSW, Principal Partner: ANZ (celebrating 10 years) and Government Partner: City of Sydney and so forth are acknowledged . But the biggest cheer is for the announcement of a Motion going to the NSW Parliament on Thursday. A call for an apology for the 78ers. Revered by the Sydney LGBTI community, in 1978, to support the Stonewall events, these pioneers attempted to march. Refused a permit, they marched anyway. Many were arrested and had their names, addresses and occupations published in the paper. Wild whoo hoos for some of the remaining 78ers up there on the mainstage.
Once the cheering dies down and the speeches are over, the music blasts out across Victoria Park. Bands and performances and Deni Hines and in the last few hours DJ sets from Tanner Derby and Mark Alsop. Dancing of some sort is, if not obligatory, pretty much irresistible.
Fair Day is one of the most relaxed events of the season. A community coming together. One can wander the stalls, take the pamphlets or lie under a tree with a picnic. But the real deal is meeting old friends. Everyone goes to Fair Day. Can I quote you I asked a bloke called Trevor. But Trevor’s “I have to catch up on a year of news” as he hugged someone he hadn’t seen since last Fair Day was repeated a hundred times as I wandered around for hours. Travelling with friends around the park, gossiping about the year just gone is joyous and good for the soul.
A meander around the stalls on site is also uplifting and informative. Almost every persuasion is up for discussion. There’s religion. From Acceptance for Gay Catholics to the Sydney Jewish Group. And for polar opposites there’s Twenty10 supporting gay youth since 1981 opposite 55upitty which celebrates older women.
Of course the politics is not just confined to the speeches but don’t tell the boys in the Liberal Party booth that theirs is a tough sell … that really ticks them off. There are Government departments for voting and fostering and Senior’s rights. And ombudsmen’s offices galore. There’s officers too. Correction, Police, Defence. No Fair Day‘s complete without uniforms in infinite variety. Drag being ever-present naturally. Even the pooches over in the Doggywood area are dressed to impress when vying for the best costume trophy. It’s a huge space dedicated to the love of the feathered and furred.
Feathers and leathers all over actually. But don’t ask the Dykes on Bikes to sit on a bike for photo op. You have to pay for that shit and those girls are able to put their point of view forcefully. Best to wander a bit further and meet an echidna called Lynx at the Taronga Zoo stall. Stroll a little bit further and the Sydney Bears are denning on the hill next to the Leather Pride and near the Fierce Femmes.
Further still to the Heart Foundation sponsored Sports Village. Dozens of sports on display this year. Dragon Boat and water polo and an excuse to wear your speedos to Fair Day. From Gay Boating to Silverbacks’ Wrestling. Silverbacks is straight friendly group and like many of these sporting teams seamlessly blends straight and gay. The Flying Bats Womens’ Soccer is a Sydney institution. Rainbow Dance, Lifesaving with Pride all displaying their wares and the Sydney Convicts Rugby Union Team has a very big ball on display. Always a crowd pleaser.
Not all these groups are exclusively Gay and Lesbian, nor is the enjoyment of Fair Day. A complete range of families are on show. Attracted by the whoo hoos from the Dodgem cars I struck up with a conversation with a woman from Ultimo whose husband and son were engaged in a Formula 1 battle with a dad and his daughter as the little girl’s other dad cheered them on. Her friend had told her what a great event it was and they had come to celebrate, support and enjoy the day.
Support is still needed. There are big things to say. ACON is there, the Greens’ are talking Trans rights and Anne from the Women’s Electoral Lobby wants to talk to anyone who will listen about the un-funding of Women’s refuges Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, is losing patience with the stalling tactics on Gay Marriage. Big whoo hoos for her Opening Speech. Grassroots groups, small and large, abound as well.
One such is Bush Lemons, a 20 year strong group of Lesbian Walkers based in the Blue Mountains. Committed to healthy living and respect for the environment and all its creatures, their members come not just from the Mountains but from Sydney, the Central West and the South and North Coasts. Entering fundraising teams in the Oxfam Trailwalks and Trek for Timor not only galvanises their competitive streak but puts social justice squarely on their agenda. With an offshoot group called Lemon Zest, the group is also dedicated to supporting the lesbian community in the Mountains with social functions and events, charity work and practical help.
Just one of the groups to share the love at Fair Day and the many events between now and the Parade and Party, Bush Lemons are working feverishly on their dance routine and we will catch up with them again on Parade night. Whoo Hoo!!!