Category: LGBTIQ

Mardi Gras cabaret at Whirly Bird

Updated: 07/03/2019

There’s no better combination than a gay and their feathers, so when Whirly Bird puts on a show for Mardi Gras, you can imagine how camp an affair it’ll be. Aptly called Fearless (that was the theme of the Sydney gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019, too), Whirly Bird put on a best burlesque performance with The Birdcage Sydney’s feature one-off show ‘Fearless’. As soon as the lights go down audiences are ushered into the tantalising world of the Lady Birds and their extraordinary fellow artists, such as Rhys Lightning (Mr Boylesque 2008), Diesel Darling, Stephen Williams and Ellicia N Mitch. Expect an eclectic mix of professional show-pines and cabaret tribute icon, with feathers flouncing, sequins dazzling and drinks flowing. They’re turning up the hospitality with the a glass of Mumm Grand Cordon on arrival, a 3 -course banquet and the show spectacular, this is the ultimate dinner and show package to celebrate Mardi Gras 2019. WHAT: The Birdcage Sydney Presents ‘Fearless’ WHEN: Wednesday 27th of February TIMES: 7.30pm, for an 8pm show start.

Category: DRAG, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Tags: cabaret, Sydney Cabaret, Sydney LGBTIQ< Sydney Mardi Gras, THE F Cabaret, THE F Whirly Bird, whirly bird, Whirly Bird THE F

Mardi Gras gives planet a shimmery glimmer of hope and goes green

by Lottie Dalziel

Updated: 18/02/2019

There is arguably no more a glittery or gay an event than that of the topless men, drag queens and colourful parade goers at Sydney’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mari Gras. This year though, offers something different. Revellers are trading in their sparkly rainbow stripes for something a little more eco-friendly with event organisers revealing that the major event is going green. Sydney Mardi Gras has not only committed to phasing out glitter (shock), but balloons and single-use plastic water bottles from their major events, too. When talking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Terese Casu, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive revealed, “we used to bring in about three tonnes of glitter from China.” “That goes in the gutter, it ends up in our oceans, our fish eat it, you find it in crab shells and oysters. We must be responsible and make really urgent changes,” she said. Production manager, Liz Carter, is joining the campaign helping many of the parades iconic floats “go green” by encouraging the use of LEDs, lanterns and fluorescent lights. “You have to think about the environment. Every festival has a carbon footprint and everyone has to think about that,” she said. For those looking for an equally shimmery environmentally friendly option, there are plenty of options available such as BioConfetti or Glitterazzi. See more at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras website.

Category: FEATURES, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Daywash, fair day, gay, gay festival, Glitter-free, mardi gras, Sydney gay blogs, sydney gay lesbian mardi gras, Sydney Mardi Gras bans glitter and goes green, the f gay blog, ThE F Mardi Gras, the f sydney

Have brunch at the Beresford for Mardi Gras with Absolut

by James Banham

Updated: 18/02/2019

When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras descends on Sydney, it means three things: more nudity, more drinking, less food, but better quality, at least. That’s why Absolut – who do those fabulous little gay bottles of vodka at this time of year – have again partnered with Sydney’s gay church Sunday session at the Beresford by Merivale, to put on a Mardi Gras brunch for the whole season. With brunch options for everyone (not just LGBTIQ people) on 17 and 24 February and 4 March, there’s enough of an excuse to get out and ‘be scene’, from 11-1 in February and 12-3 in March for the self titled “recovery brunch”. With standard brunch fare like eggs, bacon, hash roestis and such, it’s an all encompassing offering, but it’s the hero Absolut cocktails that really make it. Here’s the menu. Find the Beresford at 364 Bourke Street, Surry Hills.

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: absolut, beresford, Beresford Sydney, sydney gay lesbian mardi gras, sydney mardi gras, THE F Absolut, THE F Beresford, the f gay, ThE F Mardi Gras

Huge music at Fair Day for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 2019

by James Banham

Updated: 18/02/2019

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day is on in Sydney this month and comes complete with a stellar line-up for celebrators of all things gay and their friends. Over 80,000 people are expected to turn out to Victoria Park in Camperdown, showing in force the support for and positive energy around the acceptance, promotion and equality of LGBTIQ people and their family and friends. nd equality of LGBTIQ people and their family and friends. This year, presented in partnership with ANZ, Fair Day 2019 will shine a light on rising LGBTQI music stars that are reshaping the Australian contemporary music landscape and breaking new ground. Hosted by Faustina Agolley, you will discover a heady mix of queer trailblazers including soulful electronic pop duo and Eurovision contenders Electric Fields, genre-defying J Award winner Mojo Juju and breakout electronic tomboy-pop artist HANDSOME. Also taking the stage are Detroit-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Flint Eastwood, fierce R&B storyteller & producer Maribelle and Melbourne-based synth-pop duo The Marion Cranes plus super DJ duo stereogamous spinning tunes between sets. Complete with all the stallholders for all people from all walks of life, Fair Day is a celebration of life, living and sharing joy amongst everyone alike. The mid-morning program on the ANZ Main Stage will start from 10:30am and will feature performances from the NSW Police Band, Swing Out Sydney Dancers and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. In the early afternoon you will be able to get a taste of some of the extraordinary queer performance, cabaret and… Read More

Category: CITIES, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Eurovision glory: Drag queen Courtney Act is going to save Australia

by James Banham

Updated: 01/01/2019

Somebody needs to strip Jessica Mauboy’s right to rep Australia in Eurovision ASAP and Courtney Act is the woman to do it. Since she burst onto our TV screens back in the hey day of Big Brother Australia – and she’s just won the celebrity version of the fizzer in 2018 – Courtney Act (Shane Jenek) has released a new tune she’d love to take Australia to the big leagues in 2019. We’ll be able to decide soon. The new track by Courtney Act is called Fight for love and will hit Eurovision – Australia Decides on SBS on Saturday 9 February 2019. “A sweet 16 years after Australian Idol, I have the chance to show Australia how I have grown as an artist and performer and I am so excited! To compete to represent Oz in Eurovision is second only to being on that stage in Tel Aviv and singing my lungs out for my country. Fight For Love is a dancefloor banger all about coming together and fighting for the things we believe in. I think it’s so important to think about the basic human rights of others and to use our collective voices, minds and bodies to lift those people up and bring about change,” she said. Courtney’s new single Fight For Love is available to purchase now on iTunes and stream on Spotify. Courtney will compete with Fight For Love on SBS’ Eurovision – Australia Decides on Saturday 9 February 2019. Listen to the track on Spotify.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, DRAG, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Apotify, courtney act, Courtney Act drag queen, Courtney Act Fight for love, Fight For Love, Fight For Love Spotify

Love, bottled up: Celebrate 1 year of marriage equality with Absolut Drop

by James Banham

Updated: 26/03/2022

It was a year ago that Australia bit the bullet and finally conceded that everyone is equal – and it’s nice. Sure, it was only voted in by a margin, but marriage equality for LGBTIQ Australians was one of the biggest successes of 2017 and one of the largest successes of the Liberal Government at the time. And now, grog masters Absolut, have bottled-up the joyousness with one helluvan epic tale behind their latest bottle design to commemorate just this. In a nutshell, they went around the world and attended all the anti-love, pro-hate demonstrations they could find. Shockingly, there’s still quite a lot, apparently. But while they were there – earplugs in, of course – they collected all the anti-equality signage they could. They then extracted the ink from the signs and mixed it with the glass to infuse the essence of bullshit that hateful morons around the world exude, ironically and pragmatically turning it into a permanent state of love in the Absolute vodka bottle, which stars myriad words for love from all over the world. “This message is incredibly important to us,” commented Eric Thomson, Pernod Ricard Australia, marketing director, “we’re passionate about creating a more open world and we are excited to reveal Absolut Drop; the ultimate expression of this purpose. Earlier this year we were proud to partner with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for their milestone 40th anniversary of the globally renowned festival that is the embodiment of celebration, self-expression and acceptance.” The Absolut Drop campaign is part of… Read More

Category: FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Tags: absolut, absolut drop, absolut marriage equality, Absolut vodka, absolutly gay, gay australia, gay vodka, lgbtiq, marriage equality

This is why gays needs guns

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

We know a lot about America. Their president is scary, their gun politics are even scarier and the fact that fact year, 52 people were murdered because they identified as LGBTIQ+[1] is abhorrent. That’s why ‘The Pink Pistols‘ exist. Given the number of gay hate crime acts in the US has never been higher, there’s a growing legion of people who identify as LGBTIQ+ fighting back with bullets. Some call them the ‘GAY NRA’, but more affectionately, ‘The Pink Pistols’ will do. They explicitly advocate the exercise of Second Amendment rights for self-protection – that thing Americans are nuts about – but for good cause. This year on SBS Viceland, in a story around the fact it’s now two years since 49 people were shot and killed at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Walkley nominated investigative journalist for The Feed and host of SBS’s Mardi Gras broadcast, Patrick Abboud, takes to the camera in unprecedented access to The Pink Pistols in a special half-hour documentary. With more than 45 chapters across the US and at least 10,000 shooters, the organisation – under the slogan ‘pick on someone your own calibre’ – say they are one of the most rapidly growing pro-gun groups in the US. March for Our Lives put America’s gun problem in perspective like never before, when thousands of school students flooded the streets nationwide urging lawmakers to heed their calls and enact stricter gun laws. But The Pink Pistols don’t necessarily want tighter gun control. Their motivation to bear arms stems from the continued… Read More

Category: FEATURES, LGBTIQ, LIFESTYLE

Tags: american gun laws, Gay news, lgbtiq, pink pistols, sbs feed, sbs feed pink pistols, sbs viceland, sbs viceland pink pistols, the feed

ARTS & CULTURE

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Experience break dancing like never before this MAy

24/04/2024

By James Banham

Get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of hip hop culture, innovation, and artistry at Breakin’ Convention 2024. An international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, it’ll be taking over Sadler’s Wells in Islington this coming May Bank Holiday. Enthusiastically helmed by the visionary UK hip hop maker and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, this festival has become a beacon for fans and creators of hip hop from around the globe. The excitement is palpable as we gear up for two days packed with jaw-dropping performances, interactive workshops, and live music that promise to electrify the Sadler’s Wells venues on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. With an extraordinary lineup featuring international sensations like Femme Fatale (USA), Sons of Wind (France), and Jinjo crew (South Korea), alongside groundbreaking UK acts such as TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, and When Time Was New, this festival is set to showcase the dynamic and diverse world of hip hop dance theatre. Attendees of all ages can look forward to a vast array of activities including spectacular dance performances, bespoke graffiti workshops, freestyle sessions, and even live DJs sessions that guarantee to keep the energy high and the spirit of hip hop alive throughout the entire building. Not to mention, the festival coincides with the historic moment of breaking becoming an official Olympic sport at the Paris Olympics, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the festivities. Beyond the performances, Breakin’ Convention 2024 invites audiences to engage directly with the hip hop community through unique events such as the Tiny… Read More

Opera Australia orchestrates a new era with Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster

24/04/2024

By James Banham

In a move that marks a significant milestone in its illustrious history, Opera Australia has announced the appointment of the renowned French violinist Matthieu Arama as the new Concertmaster of the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO). This announcement follows an exhaustive global search, culminating in Mr. Arama’s selection, a testament to his extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. Set to join the OAO in August of this year, Arama brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Concertmaster of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, coupled with an impressive track record of performances with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by matthieu arama (@matthieu_arama) Arama’s role will be pivotal in steering the OAO towards achieving artistic brilliance across its broad annual repertoire, which spans over 250 opera, ballet, musical theatre, and concert performances for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. His recent engagements as Guest Concertmaster for Opera Australia on iconic productions such as La Traviata and Swan Lake, alongside The Australian Ballet, and a solo recital featuring opera and ballet excerpts, underscore his extraordinary versatility and musicianship. The enthusiasm within the OAO is palpable, with Acting Concertmaster Huy-Nguen Bui expressing excitement over welcoming Arama to the helm. “The OAO is excited to welcome an exceptional violinist and musician as our new Concertmaster. We look forward to reaching the highest levels of music-making through Mr. Arama’s artistic leadership,” said Bui. This sentiment is echoed by Opera Australia’s CEO Fiona Allan, Artistic Director Jo Davies, The Australian Ballet’s… Read More

Lauren Brincat When Do I Breathe 2024. Performer Jasmin Lancaster. Photographer Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist

Public performance in Randwick Sydney by artist Lauren Brincat

22/04/2024

By James Banham

This week, the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct will experience an exceptional infusion of art and community spirit through a public performance by the celebrated multidisciplinary artist Lauren Brincat. Scheduled for one-night only, on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, Brincat’s performance marks the launch of the new Laneway Art Program. This initiative, commissioned by the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and supported by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities program, seeks to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people navigating the streets and laneways of the Precinct. Brincat, along with Rochelle Haley, another leading Australian artist, has been entrusted with the mission to improve night-time connectivity and comfort within the precinct through performance-based and site-specific artwork. Both artists have engaged directly with health workers in the area to shape their projects, aiming to make the public spaces more welcoming and to strengthen the sense of community, safety, and inclusiveness across the site. The artwork, titled When do I breathe?, is an ambitious collaboration with sound artist Evelyn Ida Morris, UNSW Choral Director Sonia Maddock, and choreographer Charmene Yap. It invites the public to actively participate in shaping new paths across the precinct, offering a unique experience that encompasses three activation sites within the UNSW Kensington and the hospital precinct. The performance, beginning at 5:00 pm on the UNSW Scientia Lawn, is a reflection on the interconnectedness of local communities, especially those separated by differing work shifts and daily rhythms. Aiming to reclaim public space through collective action, When do I breathe? presents an… Read More

Good news for National Gallery London: Eva Gonzalès piece acquired

22/04/2024

By James Banham

On the occasion of the artist’s 177th birthday on Friday 19th April, the National Gallery has acquired La Psyché (The Full-length Mirror), about 1869-70, by Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883) thanks to three generous legacy gifts from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey, Miss Gillian Cleaver, and Ms Sheila Mary Holmes, and the National Gallery Trust. This is the first acquisition by the Gallery of a work by Gonzalès and the second acquisition of its Bicentenary year. La Psyché has not been seen in public for over seventy years and joins only one other painting by her in a UK public collection, The Donkey Ride, about 1880?2, at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Gonzalès is the 20th female artist represented in the National Gallery Collection, marking a significant addition. The story of Gonzalès’s reputation, during and after her life, reflects some of the reasons why women artists are not well represented in the National Gallery. These include being offered fewer opportunities in life and the lack of interest shown, consciously or not, in works by women artists by collectors of the era and onwards, from whose acquisitions the National Gallery’s own collection was assembled. During her lifetime Gonzalès was an established artist who exhibited multiple times to acclaim at the official Paris Salon. She was the only official pupil of Edouard Manet (1832-83), with whom she studied from 1869. Gonzalès likely painted La Psyché around the same time that Manet was painting his portrait of her, Eva Gonzalès (1870). That work, in the Gallery collection, was the focal point of the recent exhibition, Discover Manet & Eva… Read More

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.