Iremember the first time I visited Oxford Street from Canberra. I was a little kid walking with my mum past what’s now the Oxford Arts Factory and, for no apparent reason, she said, “This is the gay street.” I was too young to know I was gay but perhaps she already knew? Or maybe it was because, as I discovered years later, she actually had an unrequited love for a gay man she met as a young woman at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. Sadly, I discovered that he later died of AIDS but a postcard from London I found revealed a camp and flirtacious friendship, like I’ve had with so many of my own female friends. I was so glad to think that she also had that kind of fun energy in her life.
I remember the vibe of the street years later when I’d travel up to Sydney in the school holidays to visit an (ahem) girlfriend and go shopping. The street was at its peak then. Dance parties at the Hordern every weekend meant guys in short denim shorts and singlets were everywhere, while beloved
shops like Remo and the Pop Shop and cafes like the Californian, the Green Park Diner and Roo-Bar were all thriving.
I moved to Sydney in 1993 at the age of 18 and thought that Taylor Square was the centre of the universe. There were different sub-cultures of gay men at bars like the Oxford and the Midnight Shift (now Universal) then, but as a twink, I felt much safer at the Exchange, the Flinders or the Albury where a leather man’s whip couldn’t lash me.
What people forget is that in the ‘90s, Oxford Street was also ground zero for the rave scene. There were about five record shops across Oxford and Crown streets so Darlinghurst was also full of DJs and ravers in striped shirts and flared denim jeans. ‘Doof, doof’ was the universal language between both worlds.
Then, of course, John Ibrahim came along in the late ‘90s but that’s another story!
Happy Mardi Gras X
EDITOR
News 5-9 Marriage equality in Thailand, the top cities for trans* safety, Madonna and Baz n Book review 10
A new collection of stories by South Australia’s queer and disabled
n Sapphic selections 11 Hannah Head celebrates feminine power, love and authenticity n TV and film 12-13
Somebody Somewhere, Emilia Pérez and Queer reviewed
n Mardi Gras history 14-15
A glance at the big moments that shaped Mardi Gras from 1978 to 1993
n Cover story 29-31
New York artist Keith Haring was also a trailblazer for AIDS activism
n Donald Trump 20-21
How to prepare for Trump’s assaults on LGBTQI+ people during his second term n Wellbeing 22-23
Pushing back on the pressures of porn and social media plus a yogic approach to Trump 2.0
n Cafe Stepping Stone 24
An award-winning social enterprise that empowers migrant women n Arts calendar 25
The modern gay dating nightmare, Newcastle Fringe Festival, Qtopia and more n Snaps 26-29
Tropical Fruits NYE, Canberra’s One Night in Heaven, Gosford’s Fun Haus and Gayday in Wollongong n Calendar 30
Find a Mardi Gras event for you, whatever your taste or identity
Our last cover star, Sydney drag king Sexy Galexy. PHOTO: SEXY GALEXY
Madonna and Baz team up?
Speculation is rife that Aussie director Baz Luhrmann might direct the stalled Madonna biopic after the singer recently posted photos of the pair having dinner in New York. Madonna had been developing the film, dubbed Who’s That Girl, for four years but put it on hold in 2023 to undertake the Celebration tour, which peaked with the giant outdoor concert in Rio. The singer took to Instagram in November to express frustration at Hollywood’s approach to the film, saying that she had been told to “downsize, down scale, think smaller”. She posted: “After struggling for days in LA, listening to producers and agents tell me why I couldn’t make my film, I realised that everything in my life is going to be challenged … I did not have a normal life. I cannot make this (film) the normal way”.
‘Posting
and boasting’ happening nationallyPolice in pride ... or not
The CEO of LGBTIQ+ health organisation Thorne Harbour Health, Simon Ruth, right, has called for a nationally coordinated response to the Grindr attacks, which have now occurred across most capital cities. Dubbed ‘posting and boasting’, the homophobic assaults are being carried out by teenagers and young men who lure their victims with a fake profile on Grindr or Skruff before bashing and robbing them, filming a forced ‘confession’ to being a ‘paedophile’ and then uploading it to social media or video games.
STUN Magazine
Issue NO 008
Summer 2025
Publisher/Editor
Danny Corvini
Art Director
Rob Duong
@stun_magazine
STUNqueermag
Contact Call 0417 322 038
Email hello@ stunmagazine.com.au
Online stunmagazine. com.au
Post PO Box 5073
Braddon ACT 2612
Subscriptions stunmagazine.com.au/ subscribe
“It seems to be escalating to more violent attacks,” Ruth told SBS “Somebody needs to be tracking the fact that this seems coordinated across the country.” Alarmingly, investigators have allegedly found evidence of such assaults on phones belonging to members of a group including the 16-year-old boy who stabbed firebrand preacher Mar Mari Emmanuel in Wakeley last year.
Staff Writer
Hannah Head
Contributors
Ali Khan
Andreas
Sean Cook
Jo Falvey
Mabel Halibut
Christos Linou
Andrew Macdonald
Photographers
Dean Arcuri
Area 55 Media
Cottonbro Studio
Jane Duong
Nathan J. Lester
Brad Mustow
Samuel Regan-Asante
Gayatri Malhotra
A new poll on the inclusion of police in pride parades by Just.Equal Australia has found that a 63.9 per cent majority of LGBTQ+ people conditionally support police marching, if it comes with training in LGBTQ+ policing issues, more support for queer police officers and a formal apology for police mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people. However, that stands in stark contrast with the 66 per cent of 18-34 year-olds and 73 per cent of non-binary respondents who oppose police participation in pride marches outright.
Cover Keith Haring, 1985, New York
Photo Alamy
Printed by Spot Press, Marrickville, NSW
STUN Magazine acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/ Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.
Madonna may have found a kindred spirit in Aussie director Baz Luhrmann.
Thai-ing
After more than a decade of campaigning by LGBT+ groups, Thailand has become the first country in south-east Asia to legalise marriage equality. Hundreds of couples across Thailand celebrated on the first day by tying the knot and a recording by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was played at a mass wedding in Bangkok. “This marriage equality
law marks the beginning of Thai society’s greater awareness of gender diversity and our embrace of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, or religion — our affirmation that everyone is entitled to equal rights and dignity,” she said.
Above: Shinawatra at the Thai Government House to announce the Marriage Equality Act this month. PHOTO: INSTA @INGSHIN21
Vancouver the top city for trans*
A new study by the online community ts-dating.com has revealed the cities where trans* people can live most safely. The study examined the conditions that contribute most to the safety of trans* individuals including the number of active local LGBT* organisations, the presence of anti-discrimination laws, legal options for gender
recognition, penalties for hate speech and quality of healthcare services.
The top 10 cities are Vancouver, Cologne, New York, Chicago, Montreal, Madrid, Barcelona, Los Angeles, München and Brisbane. Sydney and Melbourne came in at 16th and 17th respectively.
QUOTABLES
n “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”
The Episcopalian Bishop of Washington, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, at the prayer service that followed Donald Trump’s inaguration
n “Trans and gender diverse Australians may not be able to enter the United States unless they deny who they are, even if they have Australian birth certificates and passports issued in accordance with Australian law that accurately reflect their gender identity.”
Trans advocate Sally Goldner sounds the alarm on Trump’s anti-trans America
“I have a queer child who is basically transitioning and for me it was a matter of allowing yourself grace to realise this is not the child you thought you were getting, it’s an even better child. They’re not living a lie and all they really need is love.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race star
Michelle Visage, pictured left
ACT Policing has a new LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer who will be working with Canberra’s LGBTIQA+ communities to assist them accessing and receiving help from police and other support services when they need it.
You can contact ACT Policing’s LGBTIQA+ Liaison Officer for:
Referrals and advice for community support services
Police attendance at community events and involvement in community programs
Support with challenging and difficult matters where police assistance is needed
Email: ACTPolicing-LLO@afp.gov.au
To report crime:
Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life-threatening situation
Police assistance (131 444) for non-urgent matters, where there is no immediate danger, and it’s not time critical
Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000) to report any information about a crime
police.act.gov.au
You spin me round(about)
LANDMARKS
Many of us have driven around Canberra’s Rainbow Roundabout
but what does it mean to the community? Ali Khan finds out.
ocated at the heart of Braddon’s café and bar strip on Lonsdale St, the Rainbow Roundabout is unmissable. Adorned with the Progress Pride flag, it was established seven years ago to celebrate Australians saying ‘Yes’ in the marriage equality plebiscite. But in 2025, does it still have significance to the LGBTIAQ+ community? Wanniassa resident Jo Kamira certainly thinks so. “It is a visceral example of queerness. The optics for our young people is immeasurable. They need to know they are seen and belong.”
LMelba local Andrew Bell agrees. “It is a glorious expression of our existence,” he says. “Its colours anchor the centre of Braddon and should be a source of pride and reminder that we should never think our battles are all won.”
Joshua Bishop from Tuggeranong views the Rainbow Roundabout as a message to LGBTIAQ+ people that they are seen and respected. “It shows that, at a community level, we are striving to celebrate and respect diversity.”
Belconnen’s Astrid Watts shares similar sentiments. “To me the Rainbow Roundabout symbolises safety and a place that is welcoming no matter where you fall on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. It also represents community and strength.”
The Rainbow Roundabout has also been recognised by surrounding businesses in Braddon as not only a feature that drives interest to the area but as something much more significant. Braddon’s United Retailers and Traders
spokesperson Kel Watt says it is a Canberra landmark which stands for inclusion and supporting diversity. “At any given day you can see locals and tourists taking photos and selfies and there have been a huge number of proposals on the Rainbow Roundabout. We are all aware of its importance and value,” Kel says.
At a community level, we are striving to celebrate and respect diversity
An ACT Government spokesperson said the Rainbow Roundabout was a representation of Canberra’s values of acceptance, equality and pride. “It serves as a daily reminder of the progress we’ve made and the importance of continuing to support and uplift all members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
The ACT Government remains committed to our long-term vision for Canberra to be the most LGBTIQA+ welcoming and inclusive city in Australia.”
University of Canberra Clinical Psychologist Dr Vivienne Lewis says the Rainbow Roundabout represents an important visual feature of inclusion for the Canberra community.
“Even though marriage equality was achieved seven years ago, symbols like the Rainbow Roundabout remain critically important. It’s a powerful symbol of psychological safety (feeling free to express yourself and be who you are) and inclusion.”
Dr Lewis says this is especially relevant among her clients from diverse backgrounds, who may be questioning their identity or navigating the coming out process. “These symbols are especially vital for those still grappling with self-acceptance, offering a sense of hope and solidarity.”
The Rainbow Roundabout shined for YES!Fest in 2019. PHOTO: JANE DUONG
Oh, how we wrote about it
BOOKS Ali Khan reviews an anthology featuring writers, poets and artists from South Australia’s LGBTIQA+ and disabled communities.
Iwasn’t quite sure what to expect when I was asked to review Oh, How We Laughed*, an anthology of writing and visual art by queer and disabled South Australians. What did their experiences of being queer and experiencing other challenges such as depression, neurodivergence and physical disability feel like? Would the reader connect with them?
The anthology starts with Ssshhh! by Tabitha Lean, also known by her First Nations ancestors as Budhin Mingaan Tabitha explores the impacts of secrets on one’s identity, especially those we don’t want to keep – an experience familiar to many queer people. In Portraits by Denver Rurrk, you’ll view how their self-portrait brought about self-realisation; and in
another picture, see how they have filled the gaps in historical storytelling about queer relationships. The importance of feline companions is highlighted in both artworks.
J.A.M’s November 2023 // Blood-gazing speaks about trauma and guilt derived from the misdeeds of family and how through grief, there can be hope. While Jace Reh’s Broke, Blak, Crazy and Trans is exactly that. In a few powerful words, you are invited to a lifetime of insights. Another must-see entry is Snail Does Recovery by Rainer Hotchkiss. In this comic, you’ll follow a road to mental health illness and recovery. While
this is slow and terrifying, it can also bring much joy and resilience. My favourite part of the anthology is Messy Minds Are Magical, depicted as a drawing by Fig Kershaw. Rather than being seen as a hindrance, neurodivergence can be one’s superpower. It’s amazing imagery. At its core, this anthology is raw and unapologetic. You may not agree with what you read or see. You may never understand why the authors are sharing their stories as it does not match up to your lived experiences but there is beauty in this. The vulnerability demonstrated on these pages is something you may connect with. Being queer is often a feeling of being an outsider and not knowing where you fit into the world. While the anthology’s title may suggest humour and jest, the experiences of these queer and disabled South Australians is not always a laughing matter.
Oh, How We Laughed* is published by Buon-Cattivi Press
Curators Jace Reh and Theo Brown showcase a wide range of disabled experiences and expressions.
PHOTO: DEAN ARCURI
A love letter to you
SAPPHIC STUN staff writer Hannah Head shares a few of her favourite ways to celebrate feminine power, love and authenticity.
Must watch Arcane – Seasons 1 and 2
Based on the world of League of Legends, Netflix’s Arcane is more than just an animated series—it’s a love letter to sapphic romance. This critically acclaimed television series blends complex characters and intricate storytelling with themes of identity, mental health, love and acceptance, which resonate deeply with the queer experience. While the central relationship between the two main characters doesn’t fully declare itself as romantic in season one, their undeniable emotional chemistry and intimate moments are enough to make your heart race. If you’re craving that slow-burn sapphic connection, Arcane is a mustwatch.
Must listen
queer voices like Chappell Roan, Renee Rapp and iconic WLW trailblazers like Joan Jett, this playlist is your soundtrack for everything from road trips to moonlit swims. Whether you’re soaking in the sunshine or simply romanticising your life, these songs will help you connect with that feminine energy that we all need.
Must read
Ultimate Sapphic Summer Playlist 2024 was a breakout year for sapphic artists and choosing just one song or album to highlight felt impossible. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with STUN’s Sapphic Summer playlist. Featuring an eclectic mix of
Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given Florence Given has been an emerging feminist voice in the queer space and Women Living Deliciously is her most transformative work yet. Following her previous book Women Don’t Owe You Pretty Given dives deeper into how women, especially feminine-presenting ones, often allow society to steal their joy. In this book, she encourages a journey of liberation and self-
discovery, urging readers to reclaim their full selves. While Given’s exploration of gender is framed through a cisgender lens, her message will resonate with anyone looking to say a big “fuck off” to patriarchy and live their life fully.
Just for you
Writing love letters to yourself
When STUN contributor Jo Falvey shared that she wrote a love letter to herself every day in December, it hit me just how powerful this practice really is. Writing a love letter to yourself, whether weekly, monthly or simply when you need it most, is an act of self-love and appreciation. It’s a chance to reflect on your beauty, strength and the wonderful things you’ve accomplished. Too often, we’re taught not to value ourselves but taking time to honour your own worth is one of the most romantic things you can do.
Florence Given encourages your own self-discovery. PHOTO: INSTA @FLORENCEGIVEN
Just glued to the screen
STREAMING Sean Cook watches a bittersweet tale of loss, a problematic trans depiction and a mesmerising Daniel Craig.
Somebody Somewhere Binge ★★★★★
Emilia Pérez Netflix ★★★
In its third and final season, this understated gem solidifies its place as one of television’s most poignant and relatable offerings. The show quietly envelops you in its warmth, honesty and pathos, creating a tapestry of moments that feel deeply human. At times funny, at others achingly sad or tenderly reflective, it always remains grounded in the unvarnished realness of its characters. At its core, this is a story about ordinary people navigating life’s relentless challenges: grief, family dysfunction, friendships and the quiet battles of self-worth. At the heart of the series is Sam, portrayed brilliantly by Bridget Everett. Sam is a 40-something woman adrift in her Kansas hometown after
returning to care for her sister Holly, who succumbed to illness before the events of season one. Holly was not only Sam’s sister but her anchor the one person who truly understood her. Her loss leaves Sam untethered, struggling to find meaning while working a dead-end job, skirmishing with her more uptight sister and grappling with an alcoholic mother and
emotionally withdrawn father. Sam’s loneliness and sense of purposelessness then take a turn when she reconnects with Joel, a former schoolmate who once idolised her.
Played with tender charm by Jeff Hiller, Joel recognises something special in Sam. He is a gay man with a flair for finding beauty in the overlooked and brings Sam into his circle of friends. This eclectic group of queer and outsider individuals soon becomes her community and for the first time in years, Sam begins to feel like she belongs.
The first two seasons chronicle Sam and Joel’s evolving friendship, the small triumphs and setbacks of their daily lives and their shared determination to carve out joy amidst life’s trials. The third and final season beautifully ties together these character arcs, delivering a poignant and deeply satisfying conclusion. Early on, Sam tells Joel she’s never been in love, quipping that she’d rather “sit around judging people who choose love and lose”.
Jeff Hiller and Bridget Everett in Somebody Somewhere PHOTO: HBO
Selena Gomez stars as Jessi Del Monte in the problematic ‘trans’ film, Emilia Pérez PHOTO: PATHÉ FILMS
Yet we and Joel understand that her cynicism masks a deeper truth; Sam doesn’t believe she’s worthy of love.
While Everett’s performance anchors the series, Somebody Somewhere is equally buoyed by its depiction of the profound friendship between Sam and Joel. Their dynamic is a dance between her wounded skepticism and his irrepressible optimism, set against a Republican-state backdrop where middle-aged queer folks like Joel and outsiders like Sam have carved out their own safe spaces.
Emilia Pérez is a film that leaves me deeply conflicted. On the one hand, I’m glad it exists and has sparked meaningful conversations, earning both critical recognition and a place in the cultural zeitgeist. On the other, I can’t help but feel uneasy about its cliched and at times retrograde portrayal of trans women.
The film struggles to find its identity teetering between musical, melodrama and gangster film while its approach to its protagonist’s transition feels reductive and problematic.
The heart of the story centres on Emilia Pérez, whose transition is framed less as a journey of self-discovery and more as an act of manipulation. Her decision is presented as duplicitous, a disguise to evade the authorities while continuing her selfish attempts to control the lives of those she abandoned.
Rather than embracing the complexity and humanity of a trans narrative, the film leans into a portrayal of transition as a selfish and destructive act. Emilia’s choices not only lead to her own downfall but also devastate the people she claims to love, reinforcing harmful stereotypes of trans individuals as deceptive or burdensome.
The portrayal becomes even more troubling through its persistent use of misgendering and deadnaming.
While the film certainly attempts to tackle bold themes, its execution often feels clumsy, leaving viewers to wonder if it truly understands the story it’s trying to tell.
Critic’s choice
Queer 2024
In cinemas
Daniel Craig delivers a career-defining performance as William Lee in this adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel, Queer. Far removed from his iconic turn as James Bond, Craig inhabits the role of Lee, a middleaged writer unravelling in Mexico City with mesmerising vulnerability. The film explores themes of love, heartbreak, addiction, ageing and the inexorable passage of time, capturing the raw emotional landscape of a man at odds with himself.
William ‘Bill’ Lee is a man in freefall, spending his days in seedy bars, numbing his pain with heroin and cheap liquor and pursuing younger men in a haze of longing and self-destruction.
The story takes a sharp turn when Lee becomes infatuated with Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young American whose arrogance, beauty and youthful indifference ignite a storm of passion and heartbreak in Lee. Craig’s portrayal of Lee is profoundly tender,
capturing the ache of unrequited love and the devastating realisation of youth’s fleeting nature. Through Lee’s longing for Eugene, Craig lays bare the complex duality of desire: the yearning to possess another and the desperate wish to reclaim one’s own lost vitality.
The universal pain of unreciprocated love is portrayed beautifully and Craig’s nuanced performance shines in every glance, every moment of awkward vulnerability. Eugene, with all the carelessness and allure of youth, becomes both muse and tormentor and Lee is left to grapple with the emotional wreckage of his infatuation. The film doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths of ageing, addiction and regret, painting a vivid portrait of a man consumed by longing, yet haunted by the choices of his past. At the end, Lee is forced to confront the reality he’s been avoiding: he is an ageing queer man burdened by regret, lost love and unfulfilled dreams. Queer is as much a meditation on the human condition as it is a portrait of one man’s struggle with himself.
Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey mesmerise in Queer PHOTO: A24
1978
“Out of the bars and into the streets! Stop police attacks on gays, women and blacks!” chanted several hundred participants in the first Mardi Gras parade—then known as the Gay Solidarity March—in June 1978 as they worked their way down Oxford Street towards Hyde Park. More revellers joined in and when they marched to Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross, the police swooped in and violently arrested 53, many of whom were beaten in cells at Darlinghurst Police Station, which is now the Qtopia Sydney museum. The newly-formed Gay Solidarity Group intended to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in New York and raise local issues such as decriminalisation of homosexuality. The first march ended in violence but the police crackdown fired up a community who would no longer be silent. Mardi Gras had become a defining moment in our nation’s history.
1979
For its second year, Mardi Gras expanded from a one-night march to a full-week festival which included a Fair Day, film screenings and the first-ever Mardi Gras party, held at Balmain Town Hall. 3000 people attended a march from Sydney Town Hall and despite a large police presence, no one was arrested.
1980 This year featured the first-ever dressed-up parade float, for the Village People, saw the introduction of parade marshals and now finished at Paddington Town Hall for a relocated postparade party. Separating itself from the anniversary of Stonewall signalled a broader move away from the activism of the 1970s gay rights movement and towards a more community-based celebration. Disagreements among parade marchers had emerged. Some said the event had become too political while others believed it was too frivolous.
1981 The move to the warmer month of March, along with the creation of an independent and elected
A brief history of
HISTORY The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras evolved from 1978 to 1993 to suit the needs and wants of a burgeoning gay community, discovers Danny Corvini.
organising body, and the efforts to enlist non-activist groups, were landmark changes and the parade continued to multiply in size.
1982
Gay-owned businesses became more involved in Mardi Gras in 1982, and Narrandera man Roger McKay became the first person to march with an Aboriginal flag. The first Sleaze Ball fundraiser was established in 1982 at the Paddington Town Hall and was an immediate success.
1983
The Sydney City Council placed Mardi Gras flag decorations along the
Oxford Street parade route for the first time and the Australia Council supported the parade with funding. The parties were upsized to the Showgrounds.
1984
The Mardi Gras festival now had its own program guide and in May 1984, homosexuality in NSW was finally decriminalised. But the dark shadow of AIDS had fallen over Sydney’s gay community and claimed the life of 38-yearold Bobby Goldsmith
1985
The now threeweek festival was set against the backdrop of increasingly hysterical media reporting of HIV/AIDS. There
Mardi Gras, part 1
were calls for Mardi Gras to be cancelled with the Reverend Fred Nile suggesting it be replaced by compulsory public lectures about AIDS.
1986 An increasing number of social groups were getting involved in the festival, as well as entries from interstate and regional areas. Homosexuality was still illegal in more than half of Australia’s states. Mardi Gras was becoming a beacon of gay and lesbian visibility and pride across the nation.
1987 Mardi Gras’ place as Australia’s biggest night-time parade was cemented with an estimated 100,000 people attending the parade –double that of the previous year.
1988This year’s parade was the first to include the Dykes on Bikes and the increasing involvement
of women at Mardi Gras had reached the point where lesbians represented 25 per cent of the membership. The name of the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras Association was officially changed to include the word ‘Lesbian’.
1989 An estimated 200,000 people watched the parade and a record 15,000 attended the party— the first time it sold out—and Mardi Gras got its first lesbian president, Cath Phillips
1990 It bucketed down rain on the parade but 115,000 people still showed up. Marcia Hines performed the party’s closing song at 10am and she described the crowd ovation she received there as her best audience reception ever.
1991 Over 1500 Australians had now died from AIDS-related illnesses and the parade cried an urgent
The first Mardi Gras parade in 1978: the Gay Solidarity Group protesting and the ‘78ers in 2015, the Village People float and poster for the 1980 Mardi Gras. PHOTOS: AUSTRALIAN QUEER ARCHIVES, SGLMG
call for access to combination therapies to treat HIV/AIDS. Mardi Gras was officially blessed by the newly-formed Gay & Lesbian Choir while Tina Arena headlined the party.
1992 The 1992 festival poster was the first to feature a rainbow flag in its design. Several NSW MPs marched in the parade for the first time and the procession halted briefly at 10pm to observe a minute’s silence for those lost to AIDS. The festival lasted for four weeks, making it the longest and largest gay and lesbian festival in the world at the time. The ban on gays and lesbians serving in the Australian Armed Forces was lifted in 1992.
The 1992 Mardi Gras poster was the first to feature a rainbow flag.
1993 On a hot evening, the parade attracted a record crowd of 500,000 and the party, said to be one of the best ever, took place across five pavilions at the Showgrounds: the RHI, the Hordern, Dome and the Cabaret and Drag Bars.
Part 2 – 1994-2025 will be in the STUN winter edition with thanks to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
WDesire and joy
hen the editor of STUN asked me to write an article on Keith Haring, I said, “Why write about an American artist who died in the 1990s and only visited Australia once?” The editor replied, “His work is important because he is still being exhibited and people need to know about this amazing gay artist.” “Great!” I said, “I’ve always admired his work.”
Curious and queer, dorky and deep, Keith Haring was a rebel with a cause, with a try, do and know everything appetite. He was a graffiti artist, designer, painter and sculptor but more importantly, an art activist for human rights that captured the attention of all ages, genders and cultures. His colourful cartoon figures are loaded with social, political and sexual references where he breaks the mould and stigmatisation of being a sexually active gay man, exploring his gay identity in ways that would influence his art.
“All those little abstract shapes I was doing became completely phallic. It was a way of asserting
ART Keith Haring was always drawing, partying and fucking, writes Christos Linou.
my sexuality and forcing other people to deal with it.”
Keith Haring worked with an overpowering intensity. By day he was a highly disciplined artist. By night he was cocaine-fuelled, cruising for sex at gay bars and bathhouses for promiscuous fuck action. The 1980s was a time of sexual discovery for gay men and Haring felt liberated to express himself freely from the constraints of his conservative Christian upbringing.
“I’m glad I’m different. I’m proud to be gay. I’m proud to have friends and lovers of every colour.”
Hip hop music, breakdancing, street art and graffiti all inspired Haring because they were elements of provocation, antiestablishment and the voice of the people. Haring would paint while listening to the latest hip hop music and to the rhythm of the beats.
“Breakdancing was a real inspiration so my drawings began having figures spinning on their heads, twisting around.” Haring gained street credibility for his relentless efforts to tag New York’s subways with chalk drawings and his Crack is Wack mural, which led to his arrest for vandalising public property. He caused a stir within a contemporary art gallery scene that debated if his work was art but this didn’t bother Haring because he wanted to make art accessible for the people, not for the establishment.
“I’m glad there’s resistance because it gives me something to fight against. Everything I’ve ever tried to do was to cut through all that bullshit.”
In 1984, Haring was asked to create works for both the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and the Art Gallery of NSW. In Melbourne, he painted the glass entrance window at the NGV. A documentary was made by The Australian Film School and the film seems to provoke and almost insult Haring about
CONTINUED PAGE 19
Pop artist Keith Haring visited Australia in 1984 and his Collingwood mural can still be seen in Melbourne today.
PAGE 16
his work. Haring was criticised because his work was considered an appropriation of Aboriginal art. “Who does this American artist think he is coming to Australia and copying Aboriginal art?” some said. The installation was vandalised by a protester who threw a rock at the artwork and smashed a hole in the glass wall and the racist irony cannot go unnoticed: this was the era when Australian tourist shops sold Aboriginal souvenirs such as tea towels, boomerangs and didgeridoos.
While in Melbourne, Haring was also asked to paint a 7x11metre mural on the Collingwood Technical School wall but they had no funds and so Haring generously painted the wall for free. The Collingwood mural had deteriorated over time and was vandalised until a group of gay activists, THORN, rallied the council to conserve the artwork in 1994. In 2010 it was restored and it’s maintained as an important work of art today. He made other artworks in Melbourne too, but sadly, no trace of them exist today.
“I like the idea of things lasting longer than you last and being somewhere where lots of people can see them.”
Haring went to Sydney and painted a huge mural on the inside walls of the Art Gallery of NSW and again was criticised for the symbols that resemble Aboriginal dot paintings. Haring was not happy with his treatment in Australia.
Haring collaborated with Grace Jones, Madonna, Yoko Ono, William Burroughs, Tim Leary, Roy Lichtenstein and others.
“On the whole, the Australian experience was not that hot. The guy who sponsored the whole trip just ripped me off. We never heard from him again and he never paid me for the artworks.”
Haring returned to New York and was at the peak of his career, opening Pop Shop where he made T-shirts, badges and other merchandise. Andy Warhol was inspired by Haring’s street popart provocations and supported him through his philanthropic generosity and introduced him to New York’s creative elite.
He was in high demand across the USA and was offered commissions worldwide including a 300-foot mural for the Berlin Wall, a mural on the Church of Saint Antonio in Italy, a public sculpture in Dusseldorf in Germany, the Ten Commandments art installation in London and a mural on the Necker Children’s Hospital and the side of a Zeppelin blimp, both in Paris.
When he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, Haring openly commented on his sexual promiscuity and the epidemic. He used his illness as a means to inform others of unsafe sex and fought for gay rights. He established The Keith Haring Foundation to support AIDS research and created a series of works that addressed the epidemic, drug abuse and the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. His Act Up and Fight AIDS artwork, Ignorance = Fear / Silence = Death caught the attention of health services and was used to bring attention
to the epidemic with safe sex and safe drug use campaigns. However, this was when AIDS was a global epidemic and tragically Keith Haring died in 1990 at the age of 31 from AIDS-related complications.
Like many great artists who break the mould, Haring was criticised by the establishments who then benefit from their artwork post-mortem. He knew that he would be accepted by the art world once he was dead.
“I do believe that it will happen later – when I’m not here to appreciate it.”
So you’re right, STUN! Keith Haring’s artwork is of great importance and value. He is still being honoured for his contribution as an art activist who brought attention to the AIDS crisis, drug abuse, racism, apartheid and the LGBTQIA+ community. Haring was a trailblazer who paved his way amongst institutions and sneering art peers who now revere him as a great contemporary artist.
Quotes from Keith Haring - The Authorised Biography and Keith Haring: the Childlike Genuis of America’s Favourite Artist
The Broad museum in Los Angeles features over 120 artworks and archival material from Keith Haring’s vast body of work. PHOTO: ALAMY
WATCH AFTER HOURS KEITH HARING IN AUSTRALIA THE FULL LENGTH DOCO ON YOUTUBE
A tragic sequel
AMERICA Donald Trump’s second presidency will profoundly shape LGBTQI+ lives around the world, writes
Mabel Halibut.
Donald Trump has reentered the White House and millions of marginalised people, especially those within the LGBTQI+ community, are bracing for the impact. His previous presidency was marked by divisive policies, harmful rhetoric and direct attacks on LGBTQI+ rights and his second term promises more of the same.
Trump, who once tweeted that he was ‘the most progay president in US history’, has consistently worked to strip away our hard-won rights. His influence has been vast, harmful and at times, deadly. From discriminatory policies to dangerous public statements, Trump’s actions have deeply affected the LGBTQI+ community and the consequences of his second term could be catastrophic. Here’s a breakdown of what a second Trump presidency means for our community.
What a Trump presidency means for LGBTQI+ Americans
If Trump’s first term was any indication, the second term will see further attacks on LGBTQI+ rights, particularly those of trans people, who were already targeted during the election campaign. Trans rights | Trump attempted to restrict access to genderaffirming healthcare in his first term and a second term could bring even harsher policies. This includes limiting healthcare access and redefining gender in ways that exclude and harm trans people. The ban on trans people serving in the military is expected to be reinstated and other government services might also adopt more discriminatory policies.
Religious
freedoms
versus
LGBTQI+
rights
| Conservative religious groups will continue to gain influence in Trump’s administration. This will lead to more policies that allow discrimination against LGBTQI+ communities in the name of ‘religious freedom’. From denying healthcare to allowing faithbased organisations to refuse services, these policies will erode our community’s equal access to essential services.
Conservative judges | Trump’s appointments of conservative judges have already led to decisions that negatively affect queer rights. A second term may see even more conservative judges appointed and rulings made against existing legal protections including marriage equality, anti-discrimination laws and access to healthcare.
State-level legal challenges | Trump’s rhetoric and policies have emboldened anti-gay and trans forces at the US-state level. Expect more public debates, legal battles and ballot measures that attempt to reverse rights at the local level in America.
What a Trump presidency means for LGBTQI+ Australians
While the direct impact of a Trump presidency may seem distant, the evidence of his influence on the cultural zeitgeist is undeniable. Global culture war | Trump’s influence on global LGBTQI+ issues has already been profound. His rhetoric on trans rights, same-sex marriage and gender identity has fuelled similar debates in Australia. Despite Australia’s legalisation of samesex marriage in 2017, Trump’s rollback of LGBTQI+ rights in the US has inspired some conservative groups in Australia to similarly push back on progress. Issues like trans rights, gender-neutral language and same-sex marriage have become battlegrounds with many Aussies echoing Trump’s divisive stance. Complex social media landscape | Changes to Meta’s hateful conduct policy have emerged as tech leaders bend to Trump’s influence. With Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ending its factchecking program, Zuckerberg has now voiced a desire to ‘work with Trump’ to combat ‘censorship’. This move has allowed harmful rhetoric about our community to flourish under
Donald Trump’s victory was in no small way thanks to Elon Musk.
the platform’s hateful conduct policy, including allegations that being queer is a ‘mental illness’ or an ‘abnormality’. This shift represents a dangerous trend in social media platforms that will likely exacerbate online harassment and misinformation.
A conservative Australian government | If you’ve been watching the parade of big names entering Mar-a-Lago, you’ve seen the willingness of powerful figures and corporations to align themselves with Trump. Currently, polling in Australia indicates that the Coalition could likely win the upcoming election.
[Donald Trump’s] influence has been vast, harmful and at times, deadly
If the Coalition gains power with Peter Dutton as PM, expect to see significantly less resistance to Trump’s influence and policies in Australia, possibly including Trump’s anti-LGBTQI+ stance, further emboldening the global right-wing movement and winding back some of the progress we’ve made.
What you can do to support your community
It’s crucial that we continue to fight for the rights and dignity of all LGBTQI+ people. Here’s how you can make a difference. Stay informed | Knowledge is power. Stay updated on policies that threaten our rights and share this information with others, in person and on social media. This helps to ensure that those most at risk and their allies can act when needed.
Advocate for change | Contact your representatives and senators to voice your support for LGBTQI+ rights. Advocate for laws that protect queer people from discrimination, ensuring access to gender-affirming healthcare and protecting against harmful practices like conversion therapy.
Support LGBTQI+ organisations | Volunteer or donate to local LGBTQI+ organisations such as Meridian or ACON. Your support
helps them to continue to do vital work in advocacy, legal defence and community support. Educate and challenge prejudice | Engage with people who may hold prejudiced views. Use facts, personal experiences and respectful dialogue to dispel myths about gender identity, sexual orientation and LGBTQI+ history. Your efforts can help create a more supportive environment for us all.
Use your privilege to amplify voices | If you hold status or a position of privilege of any sort, please consider using it to amplify the voices of marginalised LGBTQI+
people, especially trans and people of colour who are disproportionately affected by discriminatory policies.
Attend LGBTQI+ events | Whether it’s a Pride parade, a rally or a community meeting, showing up for a rainbow community event strengthens solidarity. Your presence makes a difference and fosters a sense of community and inclusion.
Create safe spaces | Advocate for inclusive, safe spaces in schools, workplaces and public areas. If you do hold a position of power or influence, ensure that all LGBTQI+ members feel respected, protected, seen and safe.
Resistance to Trump’s anti-LGBT+ policies is essential throughout his term.
The impact of pornography
WELLBEING Social media and pornography are having a negative impact on society but we can push back and create a healthier environment, writes
IAndrew Macdonald.
n today’s hyperconnected digital age, the impact of social media and pornography on body image and sexual expectations is undeniable. While these apps can be helpful for education, self-expression and connection, they also cast long shadows that affect how individuals perceive their bodies and approach intimacy.
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are full of highly curated and edited images that often portray unattainable standards. Folks seem to have ‘perfect’ bodies, filtered and edited to erase imperfections. This constant exposure can create feelings of inadequacy, leading
to body dissatisfaction, and in some cases, serious mental health issues like depression and disordered eating. As we consume these images and videos, we can find ourselves making unrealistic comparisons that can undermine our selfesteem.
The influence of pornography can further compound the issue. Pornographic content often depicts exaggerated and unrealistic portrayals of bodies and sexual experiences. These representations can skew viewers’ understanding of intimacy, leading them to develop misguided expectations about what their bodies, partners and sexual encounters should look and feel like.
For folks who turn to pornography as an unfiltered form of sex education, the consequences can be particularly damaging. They may internalise harmful narratives that prioritise performance over connection, dominance over consent and physicality over emotional intimacy. These misconceptions can make real-life relationships challenging as partners struggle to meet expectations that are grounded more in fantasy than in reality.
That said, pornography can have a healthy and fun role in our sexual exploration and relationships. Remember though, much of it is scripted, produced and unrealistic. Even the content that looks like it’s ‘amateur’ is usually curated within an inch of its life.
While the challenges posed by social media and pornography are significant, there are ways to mitigate their impact. Education plays a crucial role. Encouraging open conversations about body image, self-worth and healthy sexuality can help dismantle harmful stereotypes and unrealistic expectations.
Promoting media literacy is another essential step. By teaching individuals—especially young people—to critically evaluate the content they consume, we can help them distinguish between fact and fiction. Seeing more diverse and authentic representations of bodies in media can also play an important role, fostering variety, acceptance and inclusivity.
The digital age has reshaped the way we see ourselves and others but we are not powerless against its influences. By building our awareness, promoting inclusivity and prioritising real conversations, we can create a healthier environment where body image and sexual expectations are based in authenticity and mutual respect.
In this way, we can navigate the complexities of modern media without compromising our sense of self.
Andrew Macdonald is a clinical psychotherapist at www.jeffersonplace.com.au
The online world is flooded with images that create unrealistic expectations.
PHOTO:
Some tools for Trump 2.0
WELLBEING With the wisdom of yoga, Andreas has suggestions to help navigate, an ever-changing and uncertain world.
We face a time of change in 2025. As a gay yoga-tantra teacher, I hear the fears we have for our queer family in the USA as well as the potential zeitgeist shifts which may impact us globally. I don’t want to spend the next four years afraid. I want to stay aware, open-hearted and centred so that I may be of service to my community and my life. My aim in writing this piece is to offer some easy ways those who feel like the ground beneath them is increasingly unstable can anchor their roots.
It starts with your outlook. I’ll never forget the metaphor my wise yoga teacher taught me about the everchanging nature of life. “Andreas, when your world feels like a tornado, remember that you get to choose whether you face that tornado from the chaotic whirlwind that spirals around and around … or from the eye of the storm”.
Remember where you are and be there as best you can
In the eye of the storm, you can see the tornado whirling, but you yourself do not get sucked in. You observe with compassion. You act when inspired or necessary but you don’t let your mind leapfrog into the fear-storm. You self-regulate assumptions, worst-case scenario thinking and catastrophising, all of which won’t change anything or help anyone. You practice staying centred during uncertainty.
Over 15 years of exploring Eastern philosophy, I’ve found these three tools the easiest way to mentally and physically re-centre.
Be present. Remember where you are and be there as best you can. You can read about US politics on your phone all day but you’ll still be right here in Australia, probably somewhere nice. Choose being present as much as possible. This will help you put things back into perspective and settle a worried mind.
Focus. Choose one practice that you can come back to such as yoga, meditation, fitness, baking, reading or bushwalking. If you don’t have one, get one. When you focus on something that restores you and that is repeatable, you have a best friend that promotes your wellbeing.
Community. Whilst the global world stage screams across the 24-hour news cycle, Pink Tennis is still happening on local courts, The Frontrunners are still trekking across the ACT and my nude yogis are still practicing naked yoga and grabbing a beer afterwards at The Durham. Queer community is happening and thriving in your city. Enjoying the company of the beating hearts that are here with you, will keep your soul nourished. It is my heart-filled intentions that we each feel empowered over the next four years but I recognise that this requires a choice. May these suggestions serve as a springboard to help you keep your feet planted and your roots nourished.
Andreas is a spiritual mentor and conscious sexuality guide at www.andreasembodiment.com
Creating a path for women
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE The ACT’s Local Hero award recipients are passionate about empowering migrant women, writes Jo Falvey.
Hannah recounts, "We won an award recently, and afterwards, as we were getting the photos taken, people were like, ‘You look very natural together, this is so nice. Oh, you’re best friends, aren’t you?’ ‘We are and this is also my wife!”.
Hannah Costello and Vanessa Brettell met at a busy London pub in 2015. Both had worked in the hospitality industry since they were teenagers. During Vanessa’s time at university, she went on an exchange program to Colombia where she witnessed stark inequalities. In Cartagena she saw how tourism brought wealth to the city yet many people lived in poverty, with the influx of money not being distributed fairly. Reflecting on these experiences, Vanessa decided that her passion and
skills could best be used to create a social enterprise — one that could give back in a meaningful and lasting way.
They opened the first Cafe Stepping Stone in Colombia, where it ran successfully for three years before COVID-19 shut
the borders and they made their way back to Australia.
They first opened in the artist community at Strathnairn Arts in West Belconnen. They then opened the second location in Dickson under Common Ground Canberra, a low-cost supportive housing initiative offering employment opportunities to those living in the building and beyond.
My grandmother’s experience was one of social isolation ... I don’t want new arrivals to feel like that
The motivation for opening the cafe also stems from Vanessa’s family history. Her grandmother migrated from India to Canberra in the 1960s with her husband and children, who were one of the first Indian families in the city. The family focused on full assimilation, only speaking English at home and avoiding traditional practices like wearing saris outside.
Unfortunately, this effort led to social isolation for her grandmother. Vanessa is determined to prevent new arrivals from experiencing the same sense of isolation. “My grandmother’s experience was one of social isolation,” she says. “She didn’t feel she could freely express herself and I don’t want new arrivals to feel like that.”
At Cafe Stepping Stone, Vanessa and Hannah aim to provide a space where people can feel part of society, offering social opportunities for connection, informed choice and belonging.
Hannah points out the difference it makes for their staff, some of whom can only work a few hours a week but find joy and a sense of community in the café. “They say, ‘I would just be at home with my family. I wouldn’t see anyone. But here, I get to come out, talk to people and I feel at home at work,’” she says.
Cafe Stepping Stone is located at 90 Stockdill Drive, Strathnairn and 8 Hawdon Place, Dickson, ACT.
Hannah Costello (left) helping a new arrival to make coffee at the cafe.
Giving back: Hannah Costello and Vanessa Brettell at Strathnairn.
Modern queer dating shitshow
Performed by Samuel Bennett, this one-man play examines the anxiety and mounting self-doubt of the tipsy shitshow known as modern queer dating. After years of swiping, the permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up finally meets Mr Right – and then does everything wrong. Strap in for a delightfully dark journey through self-
awareness and self-sabotage as Barnett grapples with his own paranoia and insecurities, giving audiences an experience that is not only hilarious but totally relatable too.
Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen Until 23 February, Sydney Opera House. $74.90+BF.
EJ Mann swoops in
With her guitar in hand, MAGPIE features Brisbane-based comedian EJ sharing her year living like one of Australia’s most annoying and fearless birds and what it means to come out as a lesbian in 2025. “Comedy forced me to come out to my family and friends and it’s a hell of a story,” says EJ. “There’s a lot more to that story, including a big lesbian wedding, an escort and countless unpaid comedy gigs in the middle of nowhere to rural crowds that make you realise homophobia is still alive and kicking. The show is about living authentically.”
MAGPIE Newcastle Fringe Festival, March 27 and 28 at Bernie’s Bar, March 29 at the Grand Hotel. $15
Brisbane’s EJ Mann brings her show MAGPIE to the Newcastle Fringe Festival.
Art & about What else is happening on stage and the silver screen
n I Want It That Gay Set to ‘90s-’00s hits, this cabaret-comedy dances you through queer milestones and parodies heteronormative culture. February 18 to 22, Qtopia Sydney. $49/$45+BF
n They Will Be Kings Kings of Joy and WEREWOLF celebrate masculinity through a transmasc, non-binary and lesbian lens. February 25 to 28, Qtopia Sydney. $45/$35+BF
n The Mean Gays
Aaron Goldenberg and Jake Jonez, aka The Mean Gays, have amassed over 3M followers online just by being mean, deliciously mean. Thursday 24 April, Roundhouse, UNSW. $79+BF
n If We Got Some More Cocaine I Could Show You How I Love You
Joel Horwood directs a raucous and unlikely romantic drama set in a small Irish town. May 14 to 24, ACT Hub at Causeway Hall.
n Who’s That Girl Is this Madonna at her most hilarious, liberated and convincing? The screening will feature a pre-show performance by Venus Mantrap. Cult Classics: Who’s That Girl, Friday 23 May, NFSA, Canberra. $16/$14
Tropical Fruits | Lismore Showgrounds |
New Year’s Eve |
PHOTOS: BRAD MUSTOW
One Night In Heaven | The Vault, Canberra | 30 Nov 2024 |
PHOTOS: NATHAN J. LESTER
Free2B at Mardi Gras
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival has just begun and will continue to build up until its parade and party climax on the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March.
This year’s theme is Free To Be and the program encompasses the broader queer community with events for rainbow familes, gays and lesbians, trans and non-binary individuals, indigenous Australians and under-18s.
Hot Trans Summer returns to Glass Island on Thursday 20 February with an all-trans and gender diverse line up. Laugh Out Proud provides a great opportunity to sit back and check out the community’s funniest fuckers on Friday 21 February at the Enmore Theatre. The Minus18 Queer Formal is happening on Saturday 22 February (venue details provided upon registration) while Violet provides four stages of DJs, bands and performers for women on the same date.
The buff boys will be out in force at the Paradiso Pool Party at the ivy Pool Club on Monday 24 February.
On Wednesday 26 February, the Art Gallery of NSW will transform into a hive of queer culture and expression for Queer Art After Hours (free). Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert will showcase the best in local art, music, comedy and performance on Thursday 27 February at the City Recital Hall. On Friday 28 February, the biggest vogue ball in Australasia, Sissy Ball at the Sydney Town Hall will soar to new heights as vogue families from across the country slay it out.
Then some 200 floats with over 12,000 marchers will werk their way up Oxford Street from to 6pm to 11pm on Saturday 1 March for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade (free) and the Mardi Gras Party kicks off at Moore Park from 10pm to 6am across multiple venues, with special guest DJs and performers including (pictured), (live) and Hayla If you’re still alive Laneway takes place at the Beresford laneway from 2pm to 10pm on Sunday 2 March.
Coming up
n Mardi Gras Laneway Party
Watch the parade on the big screen in Bernie’s Bar laneway in Newcastle with DJs, drag and burlesque. Saturday 1 March, Starts 7pm, free entry until 10pm, cover charge after
n Dial M for Minogue
Venus Mantrap hosts a tribute to Kylie at Smith’s in Canberra on Saturday 22 February from 9.30pm. $30/$25
n Queer Sauna Sounds
All all-gendered, sex-positive queer party at Sydney Sauna Wednesday 26 February from 8pm-2am. $60+BF
n Dissent
Canberra’s newest alternative live music venue has opened on City Walk. IG @dissentcafeandbar
n Yours & Owls Festival
Mardi Gras headliner Honey Dijon will also be spinning at this Wollongong two-day festival on Sunday 2 March. $169.95+BF for a single-day ticket
n Gayday Wollongong
Wollongong’s most inclusive monthly club night, hosted by Ruby Jubilee. Heyday on Friday 21 March from 9pm. $15
n Silent 80s Disco
Take on me at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra on Saturday 5 April. Register at amazingsilentdiscos.com
n The Noosh
Ticket details at www.mardigras.org.au
Drag, burlesque, music performance slash bizarre game show every second Wednesday of the month from 7pm at Fun Time Pony, Canberra. $10
n Drag Cabaret
Guy Alias hosts a fundraiser for Circus for Humanity at 9.30pm on Friday 14 March at Smith’s, Canberra . $30/$25
n Pavlova des Sundaes
Sydney’s most entertaing way to spend Sunday evenings is with the House of Mince crew at Mirage KX, 5pmmidnight. Happy hour is 5pm7pm. Free entry
The devilish group number at the 2024 Mardi Gras Party. PHOTO: JORDAN MUNNS
