Spectacle

[flexibeast]

Now that almost a week has past since the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, it's probably okay for me to admit to something: i have absolutely no interest in participating in, or observing, said Mardi Gras.

i realise this is a rather heretical position for a queer to take, so i'll elaborate.

It's true that, as an introvert, big, noisy events such as the SGLMG are not particularly attractive to me in any case. But whereas i can nevertheless imagine myself participating in a variety of other big, noisy events - spending New Year's Eve in the CBD, watching an ODI at the MCG, attending a Tori Amos concert, and so on, the SGLMG is a different matter:

• i may be wrong in this, but the SGLMG very much gives the impression that it's about appearance, rather than essence, or style rather than substance - and i very much prioritise substance over style. (Oh, but i forgot; we all know that being queer means being fabulously well-dressed! :-P ) The question may then fairly be asked whether i think SGMLG participants are shallow people who prioritise style over substance. To which i would say: No; although at least some participants may be like that, i personally know people who participate who are not like that. But nevertheless, that does not change the overall impression i get of SGMLG in this regard.


• The SGLMG also gives me the impression that it's a freak show for heteronormative society: "Look at the weirdo queers!" they say from the sidelines, before they retreat back to their het worlds and provide their support to political parties with queerphobic policies (e.g. against same-sex marriage). i say this because, whereas other Carnivale-like events - e.g. the New Orleans Mardi Gras - involve society as a whole "letting its hair down", the SGLMG involves queers celebrating whilst heteronormative society watches. And whereas the Victorian Pride March also involves heteronormative society watching a queer parade, i feel it's far less about spectacle and more about political statement (even though SGLMG also has implicit and explicit political elements, and the VPM also has elements of spectacle).


• Finally, and further to the spectacle thing, the SGLMG comes across as one of the many queer events based around challenging heteronormativity through performance art, my feelings about which i've commented on before. And to be honest, i feel that i already provide a challenge heteronormativity most days of the year - my transgender identity usually challenges people's ideas about gender and the gender dichotomy of Western society.

So the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is not for me. Please direct any flames to /dev/null :-)