Host with the Most - Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

This month’s Hosts With The Most - Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Humanitix has a deep love for hosts that do good, but too often event creators and makers go unthanked. We want to turn the spotlight on them and shine a light on hosts that go above and beyond for their community.

Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most famous and well-loved events, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to Sydney to join in the colourful celebrations. The vibrant festival is hosted by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG), an LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit member-based organisation.

The event was built on the foundations laid by early community activists who fought for LGBTQIA+ rights in a time of widespread, institutionalised oppression and discrimination. It all began on a chilly winter’s night in 1978, when the police descended on a street festival bravely celebrating gay rights when homosexuality was still illegal in Sydney, Australia. This first Mardi Gras Parade ended in violence and the arrest of 53 people, but the police crackdown fired up a community that would no longer be silent. Mardi Gras had become a defining moment in the nation’s gay rights history.

We love that the festival is a beacon of diversity and inclusion for the world’s LGBTQIA+ community. Over the years the festival has proved that, in the face of adversity and persecution, a bunch of humans that work together can change opinions, laws, lives, hearts, and minds.

Humanitix Chief of Staff, Jenny, and a bunch of fabulous volunteers at last year's parade.

Mardi Gras’ Feel-Good Impact

• Reducing the use of single-use plastic water bottles.
• Prohibiting balloons, non-biodegradable glitter, and confetti.
• Hundreds of thousands of dollars of grants are given back to the community each year to individuals, community groups, and organisations for new projects, including education and training, community development and creation, arts and culture, and events.
• They partnered with APRA AMCOS to launch Express Yourself: Queer Discovery, to profile and support emerging LGBTQI+ musicians, artists, entertainers and thought leaders.
• They prioritise the festival's accessibility including wheelchair access, Auslan interpreters, and assistive listening, and implemented a Companion Card program, meaning companions to differently-abled peoples have free entry.
• Donation bottle collection points across the events.  Every can and bottle that attendees pop in one of these bins will raise 10c for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

We think it’s awesome that a festival can not only provide value as a fun event but as a force for change and inspire positive action that extends beyond the annual celebrations.

More about Humanitix, the official ticketing platform for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Our online ticket sales and event management platform is the perfect solution for streamlining the ticketing process of any event from small to Mardi Gras! With our features such as secure online ticket sales, comprehensive event management tools, and powerful analytics, event hosts can manage all aspects of their events with ease.

Our online ticket sales provide a user-friendly experience for attendees, allowing them to purchase tickets quickly and securely. Our event management software provides event hosts with real-time data on ticket sales and attendee behavior, giving them the insights they need to make informed decisions about their events.

Humanitix also offers custom ticket creation and attendee management, allowing event hosts to personalize their event experience using software like Canva. If you're looking for a solution to streamline your event ticketing process and ensure the success of your event, our online ticket sales and event management platform is the answer. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, it's the perfect choice for event hosts of all sizes.