SYDNEY, Australia — The Dutch diplomatic missions in Australia proudly participated in the 39th Sydney Mardi Gras parade Saturday, March 4. The Netherlands champions improvements in the legal position and safety of lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals, transgenders and intersex people (LGBTQIs) worldwide.
The Dutch diplomatic missions in Australia once again participated in the popular Sydney Mardi Gras event this year, in support of global LGBTQI rights. They marched through the center of Sydney joined by 75 enthusiastic volunteers. The Sydney Mardi Gras parade counted a record 187 floats and attracted over 300,000 spectators.
Partaking in the Sydney Mardi Gras parade provides the opportunity to underline the progressive Dutch perspective on LGBTQI rights and same-sex marriage. Sydney Mardi Gras is the largest LGBTQI event of Australia. ‘Team Orange’ stood out with their orange clothing and hundreds of orange and golden balloons. The group proudly presented two banners with the slogan ‘My Pride Worldwide’. The Amsterdam Gay Pride organization was kind enough to lend the Dutch team this very fitting, international slogan for this special occasion.
Internationally, the Netherlands plays a pioneering role in working for equal rights for the LGBTQI community. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. The Netherlands frequently presses for international action on LGBTQI human rights and organized the Global LGBTQI Human Rights Conference Non Violence, Non Discrimination and Social Inclusion together with Uruguay in Montevideo last year. The Dutch government recently launched the “Rainbow Refugees NL” app for LGBTQI persons seeking asylum in the Netherlands.
This is the second year in a row the Dutch diplomatic missions in Australia participate in the parade. Last year the Dutch contingent showed their support for LGBTQI rights while also marking the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the landing of Dutch captain Dirk Hartog in Western Australia with a large orange float.
The parade is the festive end of the three-week Sydney Mardi Gras Festival which is annually organized by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) organization.
