University community marches for an inclusive future at Mardi Gras

Inspired by the University’s Mardi Gras theme ‘the future is interwoven’, our students and staff walked, danced and waved their progress flag fans in colourful costumes featuring the artwork Queer Sydney: A History by Jeremy William Smith, which is commissioned by and currently displayed in the Fisher Library.

It wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without music – this year our cohort performed to an original mix of songs featuring gender diverse Wiradjuri and Filipino Australian musician Mo’ju as well as classics from Kylie Minogue, Eurythmics and Ellie Goulding, to name a few.

Ren Tuttiett, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student, revels in the vibrancy and unity that Mardi Gras creates in its celebration of queerness.

“Participating in Mardi Gras gives me permission to show up in full confidence that my own and others’ identities will be respected and cherished. The energy in the air felt from so many people being authentically themselves is unmatched.”

For Daniele Gianotti, Chair of the University Pride Network, the University theme ‘the future is interwoven’ is about promoting inclusivity and understanding.

“’The future is interwoven’ to me means to recognise and celebrate the intersectionality of our identities, to acknowledge that we embody multiple aspects of our self simultaneously. This perspective promotes inclusivity and understanding, and also recognises and respects the diverse and intertwined tapestry of identities and experiences within the community.

“Mardi Gras is a lively and colourful festival that brings people together to celebrate diversity, and the notion of ‘interwoven’ emphasises the interconnected nature of categories such as gender, sexuality, identity, cultural background and more.

“Embracing this interconnectedness encourages a holistic perspective in understanding and shaping the course of the future. In essence, it encourages a celebration that embraces the richness of human diversity in all its interconnected forms.”

2024 marks the ninth year that the University has joined in the Mardi Gras festivities. Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, thanked the many staff and students who helped bring our participation to life.

“I’d like to thank and commend those students and colleagues who contribute to our involvement including members of our Pride Network, led by Daniele Gianotti in his role as Chair. Your creativity and hard work exemplifies our ongoing commitment to fostering a University culture where all in our community feel valued and supported to be themselves.”

The University’s 2032 Strategy sets out our continuing commitment to equity and inclusion across all our campuses. Participation in Mardi Gras is just part of the year-round support for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, which includes:

• the Pride Network – open to all staff and students who support LGBTQIA+ inclusion
• LGBTQIA+ contacts, support and resources – available for students if they need it
• the LGBTQIA+ Executive Fellowship – supporting LGBTQIA+ leaders and allies from across Australia, Asia and the Pacific to lead with impact
• Safer Communities –  fostering a safe and inclusive campus environment for our students, staff and visitors, including LGBTQIA+ specific services
• Student Support Liaison Officers (SSLOs) – staff volunteers who have received specialist training to support LGBTQIA+ students, student transition and gender affirmation
• Diversity and Inclusion training for staff – learning opportunities for staff to increase LGBTQIA+ awareness, developed in collaboration with external partners such as Pride in Diversity
• Participation in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) – the definitive national benchmark on LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion
• Gender affirmation leave – staff may access up to 30 days paid gender affirmation leave to support their affirmation