1 March 2023
A Top End Pride float that featured in the Mardi Gras on the weekend drew inspiration from our spectacular starry skies.
Funded by the Territory Labor Government, the Northern Stars float was one of hundreds that paraded through the heart of Sydney as part of its World Pride 2023 festival.
About 80 Northern Territory compatriots adorned in giant, colour-changing, inflatable stars trailed the float as it wove from Darlinghurst’s Oxford Street to the Centennial Parklands where celebrations continued.
The Territory Labor Government has invested more than $100,000 to support Territorians to participate in Pride Week events, and fund inclusivity projects, training and activities over the past year.
The funding, drawn through grants from the Office of Gender Equity and Diversity as well as Arts NT, included support for:
Sista Girls from Galiwin’ku and Gapuwiyak to attend Sydney World Pride; True Colours Choir, Darwin’s only LGBTQIA+ community choir, to attend the Out & Loud & Proud Choral Festival in Sydney;NT artist Matthew van Roden to participate in the opening of the Braving Time exhibition at Sydney World Pride; and theNhulunbuy Pride March to be held later this month.
Other funded projects include:
Silver Rainbow Training to promote better understanding of the needs of LGBTQIA+ people among aged care and allied health workers. The training will be delivered in Darwin, Tiwi Islands, Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine; andIn the Mix project to run eight-week workshops for female, queer, non-binary and trans people in Alice Springs by teaching them how to DJ.
Last year, the Northern Territory Gender Equality Action Plan 2022-2025 was launched to lay the foundations for future work to improve gender equality in the NT.
The vision of the action plan is that Territorians enjoy a healthy, safe, fair and economically secure NT where gender is never a barrier to full participation and inclusion.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Equality and Inclusion Lauren Moss:
“I was thrilled to be a part of the Northern Territory’s float at the Mardi Gras this year – the atmosphere was electric and it was fantastic fun.
“I’m proud that our Government is making it easier than ever for more LGBTQIA+ Territorians to participate in Pride events.
“We have made significant inroads with a range of social reforms that have had a positive impact on our local community and we will continue to support a safe and inclusive Territory.”
