Mardi Gras 2024: Our fearless future

In its 46th year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is an Australian institution. The festival has provided a space for the LGBTQIA+ community to come together in a celebration of love, acceptance, and visibility for decades.

University of Sydney students Ray Zhou, Ren Tuttiett, Ray Macalalag and Yuning Zhang share with us their experience of Mardi Gras, and how they interpret this year's theme, 'Our Future'.

What Mardi Gras means to me

Mardi Gras is globally renowned as a colourful celebration of pride and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. A spectacle of progress, the festival paints the city in sequins to illuminate how far we’ve come in inclusivity and how we can eagerly look forward to an optimistic future.

For Ray Zhou, PhD candidate in English at the University of Sydney, looking to the future includes honouring the past.

“I arrived in Sydney in January 2023, leaving behind a traumatic past of growing up in a conventional cultural background without any knowledge or tolerance of gender diversity at all,” he said.

“I supported myself, financially and emotionally, through undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as HRT transition, and finally made my way to Sydney to study my PhD.”

Experiencing Mardi Gras festivities like Fair Day and the Parade in 2023 was a life-changing moment for Ray Zhou.

“For the first time, I saw gender-minority people proud of their identity, their body, and whom they love. This was a shock to me – I had been living with a belief that my existence was a mistake by birth and had been hiding my identity.

“So, I bought a transgender flag and blue-white-pink t-shirt and walked proudly among my allies. I finally felt accepted for who I am. I felt I belonged in Sydney immediately,” he added.

Ren Tuttiett, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student, revels in the vibrancy and unity the festival creates in its celebration of queerness.

“Participating in Mardi Gras events gives me permission to show up in full confidence that my and others’ identities will be respected and cherished. The energy in the air felt from so many people being authentically themselves is unmatched,” she said.

“Mardi Gras continues to push past the boundaries of what was previously thought possible for the LGBTQIA+ community. You’ll find me loudly, proudly, and safely displaying my colourful, expressive self at Mardi Gras events and on campus this year!”

2024 will be the first Mardi Gras experience for Ray Macalalag, and he’s excited for the opportunity to walk in the Parade with the University of Sydney.

“The University of Sydney has been a safe place for me since I started studying – the community allowed me to be me. Being part of the University's Mardi Gras float in the upcoming parade makes me feel like I am part of something historical and something beyond memorable.”

“I want my first Mardi Gras experience to be a core memory and to tell myself: I was there. That moment, I knew who I was, who I am and who I want to be, and nobody is going to stop me just because of how I identify myself."

Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is more than identification for Ray Macalalag – it’s a celebration of his rights as a human being and an unwavering call to treat everyone with kindness.

“Being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community does not mean we are different. We are all human beings deserving to love and to be loved, to respect and be respected. All of us are the same: human, inside and out.”

Our future is thriving

The 2024 theme of Mardi Gras is 'Our Future', an invitation to manifest a future of equal rights and possibilities.

Yuning Zhang, a PhD candidate in Business Analytics, interprets this year’s theme as an acknowledgement to the past and how we can learn from it on the path towards a brighter tomorrow.

“Growing up in a not-so-gay-friendly environment, I've had my fair share of struggles being a confusing bi,” said Yuning.

“It's been a journey of coping with uncertainty, learning not to worry about fitting in and instead focusing on making the right choices for myself – a journey that has made me resilient, taught me the importance of empathy, and given me the courage to voice out for the marginalised and disadvantaged.”

Yuning is passionate about helping students navigate university life and feel comfortable with their identity.

“My goal after finishing my PhD is to remain in academia to mentor and support the next generation – Our Future. I've had the opportunity to connect with younger students during previous Mardi Gras events with the University, where students recognised me from teaching. Being present and active in spaces like Mardi Gras has shown me the power of visibility – students know I am available for a chat as an LGBTQIA+ ally, and I am here to support them.”

It's in this way that Mardi Gras is something much more than just a party or one night of celebration.

“Mardi Gras is a source of hope and inspiration for younger generations, where everyone is accepted and encouraged to be their true selves,” Yuning added.

Ray Zhou also embraces the power of visibility in supporting others.

“I have tried my best to support my gender-diverse students by sharing my story to motivate them. By telling my own story of courage, I’m letting people know that no matter how dark life looks, there will be light,” he said.

Inspired by the community connection Mardi Gras fosters, Ray Macalalag hopes to see a similar celebration and acceptance in his home country in the future.

“Our Future, for me, means a journey from the difficult past, to being awake in the present, and to finally safeguarding the future – not just for myself but for others in whatever stage they are in their lives' journey.

“I come from a country that is tolerant of LGBTQIA+ people, but it is still far away from allowing us to be us. I hope that someday my home country can also have something as big as Mardi Gras, and extend this acceptance towards our communities to become free from discrimination and uphold human rights for all – in employment, social services, and beyond,” explained Ray M.

How you can get involved

To get involved in Mardi Gras festivities, head to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras website to see all the events on offer.

Ren also encourages students to get involved in University networks to make new friends and meet fellow queer folk.

“Definitely seek out queer-focused clubs and groups like Quest and the Pride Network to find your people! University is the time to connect with people from all different circles," she said.

“Find people that give you the same love and energy you give them, put in the effort to maintain these friendships, and don’t be disheartened if this takes time. Once you find your crew, they potentially will be your support systems for life,” Ren added.

The Pride Network is made up of staff and students who support and advocate on behalf of everyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+. The group meets regularly to discuss any LGBTQIA+ issues and concerns on campus, and provides a channel to raise these with University leadership. Anyone is welcome to join the Pride Network.

If you need support

There are a range of LGBTQIA+ contacts, support and resources available to you as a student if you need it.

You can reach out to our LGBTQIA+ Student Support Liaison Officers (SSLOs), staff volunteers who have received specialised training to support LGBTQIA+ students, student transition and gender affirmation. They provide information and resources for promoting health, safety and connection with other students and the community.

Student wellbeing at the University offers confidential and free health, wellbeing, and personal support, available 24/7.

Specialist staff in the Safer Communities Office are also available for support if you've experienced sexual misconduct, domestic/family violence, bullying/harassment or issues relating to modern slavery.