By John Huxley
They've had an Aborigine dressed as Captain Cook; huge effigies of Premier Bob Carr and Opposition Leader Kerry Chikarovski; and, last year, a floodlit Noah counting the animals, two same sex by two same sex, onto his Ark.
So who or what will be featured on the lead float in the 24th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on March 3?
In recent years it has been the festival's most closely-guarded secret, but in a radical policy departure organisers yesterday provided a preview.
Surprise. Surprise. A dozen pink flamingos are going, going, gonna play a star role. So will the little bundles of joy which they carry in their beaks.
Birds and babies - which were given a brief test flight in Newtown - are part of a tableau called Behind the Pink Picket Fence. It is a typically iconoclastic re-scripting of family life within that cherished piece of Australian nostalgia, The White Picket Fence.
Designers Kathy Sant and Jenny Mann have repainted the pickets and, at the start of their story, replaced storks, traditional air couriers of the new-born, with flamingos.
"The aim of the float is to challenge the stereotypes, showing John Howard and the community at large that gays and lesbians do have families, that they are good parents and that we are proud of them," explained Ms Sant.
She also hopes the float's appearance in the parade, which coincides with renewed debate over the use of access to IVF facilities, will highlight some of the legal obstacles faced by same-sex couples, and the discrimination and victimisation sometimes faced by their children.
"Getting the point across is a real challenge," says Ms Sant. "Basically, you've got two minutes, the time it takes for the float to pass." Hence the giddy mix of serious message, vibrant colour, outrageous costumes and uninhibited movement, being assembled by a team of 12 workshop artists at Mardi Gras HQ in Newtown.
Parade director Jacky Jones is confident of the lead float's success. She says the family concept won unanimous approval from dozens submitted. "As you can imagine with creative people, there's usually a lot of arguing.
"This year, though, everyone agreed. This is the issue. This is the moment. I think it's going to be very special and will attract heaps of attention."
Organisers expect the parade, from Hyde Park to Moore Park via Oxford Street, will attract more than 650,000 spectators
The following news item is in the "Sun Herald" Sunday, March 4, 2001 Home > National > Article. It is the leading Sunday paper in Sydney, Australia.
"Proud Mardi Gras families send message to Howard
Let's samba: Rene Rivas on the Latin American float.Photo: AFP
By Christine Sams
After the traditional roar of motorbike engines from Dykes On Bikes, last night's Mardi Gras parade began with a political statement from gay and lesbian parents.
A large group of gay parents marched with their children behind the slogan Children Of The Rainbow.
Kathy Sant, designer of the lead float, the Pink Picket Fence, said the main message was that lesbians and gay men had families too.
"We love our families and our community and we want to celebrate it," she said.
Ms Sant said the theme was inspired by Prime Minister John Howard's suggestion last year that gay and lesbian families were not as good as the traditional concept of mother and father.
"It's really hurtful to families and especially the children," she said.
A gay father and his straight daughter marched side by side.
Richard has been watching, volunteering or participating in the parade since 1978 but this is the first time he has attended with Rebecca, 27.
"This year, we are saying gay men and lesbians have the right to be parents," Richard said. "We make good parents."
They are part of a NSW gay and lesbian rights lobby float which is raising awareness that gays and lesbians do not have equal rights in parenting and superannuation.
"Also, the age of consent for gay men is 18, whereas for straights and dykes it's 16," Richard said. "We are lobbying to get this changed."
Rebecca, attending her first Mardi Gras, said: "It's great. I'm here to support my Dad. The rights of gays and lesbians are important. I want to show how proud I am of my Dad."
Mardi Gras officials and police estimated spectator figures to be about 100,000 down on last year's figure of 500,000.
"I'd like to think it was the weather," said Julie Regan, president of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
"We are not disappointed. We're just glad people went away after having such a good time."
Surry Hills Local Area Commander, Police Superintendent Gary Hodsdon said the general behaviour of the crowd was "excellent".
"It was a happy mood, a joyous mood," he said.
Seven people were arrested for assault, breach of the peace and malicious damage. Several spectators were treated for minor cuts and injuries.
The issue of reconciliation was a key theme, with indigenous gays and lesbians calling for a treaty from the Federal Government.
The thousands watching the parade remained in good spirits despite wet weather. "This is just awesome, it's so much fun," said Sam Ritchie, of Burwood, who was with her boyfriend, Eliot Coleman.
"It's relevant to us," she said. "We think gay people belong in our community. They have every right to be happy."
Tim Wainwright, 21, of Dee Why, who was with Christian protesters, said: "This doesn't do any good for the stability of the family. It's not morally right."
Wendy