Is Mardi Gras preaching to the converted?
A Notion by Super Opinion
Every year the Mardi Gras has a way of riling up controversy – unsurprisingly given the heat discussions of homosexuality can ignite. But the controversy serves very little benefit to the cause of equal treatment and equal marriage for same sex couples – one of the goals of this year’s parade.
This year controversy has come from comments by Ten Morning News presenter Ron Wilson in an interview with Mardi Gras Co-Chair Peter Urmson. Wilson put to Urmson the view that certain aspects of the festival were “disgusting” and may make even Urmson “cringe”. These comments have stirred anger from some in the community who view them as an attack on the gay community and Mardi Gras as a whole.
The truth is though, these views put by Wilson – however clumsily delivered – are not unique, and opinions on the way the parade conducts itself include many who find the overt sexuality off-putting and even offensive. This is to be expected – revealing outfits and sexual imagery is always likely to offend at least a few – but the risk is that failing to recognise the extent of offence or disconnect caused may alienate potential recruits to the same-sex equality cause.
My own liberal views on sexuality and the human body means I am not perturbed by the event – but there are many more conservative than myself, and putting a barrier between a gay-pride event and these more conservative groups only serves to hinder acceptance. Mardi Gras is foremost an event for the gay and lesbian community – but its secondary role is surely to promote equality and quash homophobia. The use of this year’s event to highlight the need for marriage equality is surely indicative of this secondary role.
The issue then is finding a balance between promotion of acceptance and celebration in a way which does not cause offence or raise a barrier between the participants and the potential audience of society’s middle-ground. Nudity and sexual imagery would prevent the broadcast of the event on free to air television until later in the evening – perhaps this is the first sign of a potential disconnect between the event and more conservative members of the community. Questions are often asked about whether a person wandering down the street dressed/undressed and acting in the same way outside of such an event would be allowed to do so. While such a hypothetical doesn’t always serve as a clear moral compass – it is still worth considering.
There are people who support gay rights, equal marriage and the Mardi Gras itself – but find the conduct of participants off-putting. Surely the fact that some may feel this way – regardless of numbers – is cause for thought for the event’s organisers. Ron Wilson’s subsequent apology and clarification only emphasise this.
As with many things in life – it’s all about balance. I’m not sure that the Mardi Gras has quite reached that if it wants to achieve acceptance and promote reform. It needs to be welcoming to the wider community if it wants to recruit them to their cause.
Good Heavens! When are some people going to realise that people are not defined by thier sexual preferences, except in my view, paeodophiles. Scum of the earth as far as i’m concerned. However , i digress. I’m sure there were some people who misbehaved,as humans are inclined to do every know and then in The Mardi Gras Parade,as in any other large gathering of people. e.g Football events. Homosexuality is here to stay. It has been a fact of life since homosapiens have been around. One thing that does amuse me is, if you ask a lot of “straight guys” what they think about Lesbians, most will say, “Well yeah, that’s ok” the same question about homosexuals,and the response in a large amount of men i have asked will be ” No, no, that’s disgusting”. Hmmm, there seems to be a little bit of bias here,but i feel the good old straight guy loves to indulge in some voyuerism. Fine by me, but i wish they would be mindfull of thier own fetishes, when they pick on the Gay and Lesbians. I am 67 years of age. I have four children and seven grandchildren, so i’m not some young hothead letting off steam. Live and let live. P.S. The Gay and Lesbians seem to me the only ones who want to be married. A great deal of hetrosexuals are really not bothering. However they are recognised legaly as a couple and all of the Goverment and Legal benefits which the Gays don’t. Here lays a great Inequality. PPS. I reccommend a movie called “IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK”.a movie that cannot fail to educate and tear at the heart strings and perhaps may bring a little more understanding to the ill informed. OK, that’s my lot for today as i could go on and on about this subject. Pamela Fairclough
March 8, 2011 at 3:39 PM
I didn’t answer the question. Yes, the gay and lesbian people are still preaching to the already converted.
March 8, 2011 at 3:49 PM
I couldn’t disagree more. Mardi Gras started out as a protest, during which dozens of gay men were bashing simply for marching down Oxford Street being visible. While we may now be in a situation where the event is supported by much of Sydney’s political and business structure, homophobia is still rife.
And I take issue with the idea that Mardi Gras celebrants need to accommodate prejudice by being a little less ‘blatant’, and maybe that way they’ll get their message across. As much as anything else, that message is celebration. Saying that they should ‘tone it down’ is tantamount to accommodating the idea that ‘gayness’ is okay as long as we don’t have to be confronted by it. And that’s not okay, not by a long shot.
Nothing illegal takes place in the Mardi Gras parade. People from all walks of life affirm themselves, support each other and draw attention to issues of real concern. In this it’s no different to any other parade, whether a victorious footy team or Moomba.
Instead of suggesting Mardi Gras might want to tone down their celebration, why not suggest those ‘offended’ by it take the time to educate themselves about the history of Mardi Gras? Why not suggest they attempt a little empathy?
Better yet, why not suggest they turn it off or don’t go down to Oxford Street on that Saturday night?
I’m offended by scantily-clad, overly-made up girls shrieking with laughter as they stagger drunkenly along the streets from club to club – but they have the right to celebrate as much as anyone else. So do those who take part in Mardi Gras.
March 8, 2011 at 4:34 PM
I take your point – and agree with much of it. But I disagree that this is saying ” ‘gayness’ is okay as long as we don’t have to be confronted by it.” I’m sure that opinion exists too – but what I’m writing about is the section of the community that takes issue with nudity and overt sexualisation.
The fact that Arena feels the need to have warnings on its photo gallery points to the potential for offence: http://www.arenatv.com.au/show?id=46&s=gallery
Sure people that are put-off by the event could just stay at home – but I think that risks alienating potential advocates for the equal marriage cause. Maybe Mardi Gras is more about the celebration than a cause – but if not I think potential for offence needs to be considered.
March 8, 2011 at 4:57 PM