Sydney World Pride 2023: A Wrap Up! 

Written by Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT's Inclusion Lead, Julia | 7 March 2023

Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT had the privilege of participating in a variety of Sydney World Pride events over the course of late February and early March.  

We handed out friendship bracelet makers at Mardi Gras Fair Day, danced the night away at the Mardi Gras Parade while supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, got involved in discussions about intersectionality and the future of the LGBTQIA+ movement at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference, met some super cool people at the Sydney WorldPride Community Hub, and marched across the Harbour Bridge for equality.  

Keep reading to learn about all the awesome things we got up to!  

MARDI GRAS FAIR DAY

Alice Anderson was our Leader in Charge at Mardi Gras Fair Day, and led a fantastic day of friendship bracelet making, origami, and friendly conversation about Girl Guides. We also had the opportunity to pass out bead kits from The Rainbow Shoelace Project, which was started by a member of Girl Guides.  

The Rainbow Shoelace Project provides free bead kits which are worn on shoelaces to demonstrate support of the LGBTQIA+ community. To find out more, click the link below!  

Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with love and laughter. Thank you to Alice for being the LiC, and all the volunteers who helped out on the day!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MARDI GRAS PARADE 

The event of the season is always the Mardi Gras Parade! I was the LiC for the second year in a row, and if it is even possible, we had more fun than last year!  

The theme for the 2023 Mardi Gras Parade was, ‘Gather, Dream, Amplify.’ Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT named their float ‘Girl Guides Say!’, as we endeavour to amplify the voices of girls and young women to advocate for the issues they are truly passionate about.  

Thirty-five of our fantastic Guide Members and Leaders (and a couple of their mums and grandmothers) marched down Oxford St for the first time since Covid locked everyone indoors. Our Members were joined by Shaylah McClymont, the Deputy State Commissioner; Cassie Talbot-Christie, the Young Women Lead; and Patsy Marshall, the Engagement Lead.  

When walking down Oxford St, the energy was palpable. It was a truly magical evening. I spent a lot of it crying with happiness!  Thank you to all the Members who participated in the Mardi Gras Parade, and everyone who came along to watch the Parade, and everyone who tuned in on TV! 

In case you missed it, the parade is still available for viewing on ABC iView. A couple of our Members were even interviewed!

WORLD PRIDE HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE 

 
As the Inclusion Lead, I had the privilege of attending the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference. The Conference focused on discussions surrounding intersectionality, pride events across the world, disabled accessibility, the representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in popular culture and the media, and many other conversations. 
The Conference was held at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour, and was also livestreamed across the world. 

SYDNEY WORLD PRIDE COMMUNITY HUB

Towards the end of the Sydney World Pride celebrations, Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT was asked to participate in the World Pride Community Hub. Alice Anderson took lead on this event, our volunteers had a fantastic evening!

We had the opportunity to pass out even more friendship bracelet makers, make more origami, and continue to promote Girl Guides to the wider community. 

A massive thank you to Alice for being the LiC, and all the volunteers who helped out on the night! 

WORLD PRIDE MARCH ACROSS THE HARBOUR BRIDGE

Just last Sunday, Emily Milton Smith, the State Commissioner; Shaylah McClymont, the Deputy State Commissioner; Alexis Hancock; and I (the Inclusion Lead) represented Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT at the World Pride March across the Harbour Bridge. 
 
We departed the starting point in North Sydney at 8.00am and completed the march just after 9.00am. Over the course of the hour, we took lots of photos, walked alongside lots of different and unique people, and had a fantastic time supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Happy World Pride! 
 

Yours in Guiding, 
Julia 
 

 
 
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