New scheme helps young LGBTIQA+ people head to their first Mardi Gras

A new scheme from American Express is helping young Australians who are isolated from LGBTIQA+ communities to travel to New South Wales and experience their very first Mardi Gras.

American Express is the major corporate partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and they teamed up with youth organisation Minus 18 and Rainbow Families to create the new initiative.  Three young people were selected to head to Sydney, as well as a Rainbow family.

Designed to build connections for more isolated members of the LGBTQIA+ community and provide a platform for them to express their true selves. Each ‘My First Mardi Gras’ recipient will be supported in their journey by LGBTQIA+ activist and fashion stylist, Deni Todorovič, the official ambassador of the program.

Deni Todorovič said the new program is one they welcomed, while reflecting back on their own youth.

“As a full-time advocate for the entire community alphabet, having the opportunity to work with American Express to bring this community program to life is something I’m so grateful for.

“If this kind of program had been around when little Deni was growing up, I can only imagine how different my experience as part of the community would have been. I’m so excited to support the My First Mardi Gras recipients as a mentor and be a part of their first Mardi Gras journey.”

The participants in the program were identified through Minus18 and Rainbow Families’ networks. The My First Mardi Gras recipients: Felicity, Noah, Sabrina, partners Tammy and Karen and their child Archie, will receive a fun-filled itinerary, to ensure their first Mardi Gras is an experience of a lifetime.

They’ll be getting a golden ticket to some of the best seats in the house where they’ll take in the parade spectacular, including a showstopping performance by Australian music icon Vanessa Amorosi, who will take centre stage on the American Express float. Each My First Mardi Gras recipient will also get to connect with original Mardi Gras participants, the 78ers.

One of the people selected for the scheme is 19 year old Felicity, who identifies as lesbian.  The teenager is a former student of a Christian college in Brisbane, Felicity has gone on to become an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and was delighted when her former college aborted plans to force parents to sign a contract denouncing homosexuality and promising students would conform to gender roles.

Felicity has come from a conservative upbringing but has built a strong support network around her. When speaking about attending her first Mardi Gras and the impact this would have on her, she said, “It would mean the absolute world. Just to be there surrounded by the community it would mean so much and reaffirm just how incredible my community is, especially at this scale. I’ve dreamed of going my whole life as well as being able to share my experience with my network and show how incredible the community is.”

Growing up in Tasmania, Noah relocated to Melbourne after coming out as gay and bisexual to his family. Noah had reservations about coming out, however when he finally told his family, his parents were both incredibly accepting and are now his biggest cheerleaders.

Since moving to Melbourne, Noah has become more connected to the community and recently completed a degree in politics and aspires to be a policy maker in the areas of equality and diversity, as well as an advocate for body positivity. “Having struggled with body positivity in the past, I am a strong advocate for this and can’t wait to see the diversity of the crowd attending the event firsthand,” Noah said.

Since coming out as bisexual, 16-year old Sabrina has fully embraced her sexuality and feels very lucky to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Sabrina found connecting with the LGBTQIA+ community during COVID to be very hard, as the opportunities to attend events were limited.

When asked what attending Mardi Gras would mean to her, she said, “It would be a victorious and triumphant moment. It would be validation that it was all worth it.”

Tammy and Karen will be attending their first Mardi Gras with their 14-year-old son Archie. Tammy and Karen were one of the first LGBTQIA+ couples to officially tie the knot in December 2017, the day after the same-sex marriage bill passed in parliament.

Describing what attending their Mardi Gras with their family would mean to them Tammy said, “For our son to be able to see other families that are the same as his will really be a life-changing experience.”

Corrina Davison, Managing Director, American Express Australia said the company was proud to be coming on board as the new Principal Partner of the event, and creating opportunities for people.

“For our first year as Principal Partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras we wanted to give LGBTQIA+ people, who would not have otherwise had the opportunity, the chance to have an incredible first time Mardi Gras experience.

“As an organisation that strongly values and embraces differences and unique perspectives, we hope that this program supports LGBTQIA+ people to express their true selves, while fostering deep long-lasting connections with the wider LGBTQIA+ community. Beyond Mardi Gras, we look forward to partnering with Minus18 and Rainbow Families to create greater understanding and acceptance.”

Minus18 CEO, Micah Scott said the scheme also allowed people in Sydney to hear about the experiences of people living in other parts of the country.

“For LGBTQIA+ youth, the first time connecting with their community is life-changing. Giving this opportunity to young people from outside of Sydney and to hear their stories is incredibly special. Mardi Gras is an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride, and to reflect on what we can do to ensure no one in our community is left behind in our journey towards equality.” Scott said.

Rainbow Families Executive Officer, Ashley Scott highlighted that Mardi Gras is also an important celebration for families.

“Mardi Gras is such a fun and significant time of the year. For LGBTQIA+ parents it is so important to be proud of who we are, and for our kids to see that they are part of a diverse and accepting community. The My First Mardi Gras Community Program will not only help create lasting memories for families, it will also shine a light on the experience of more isolated LGBTQIA+ parents as well as their children.”

Beyond the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, American Express will also provide financial backing and the support of its national Pride+ colleague network to help bolster the outstanding work of Minus18 and Rainbow Families to improve education and tolerance within the wider Australian community in support of LGBTQIA+ youth and families.

To follow along with the My First Mardi Gras recipients’ journeys and keep across all activity, head to the AmexAU Instagram account.

OIP Staff


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