Media Release
For immediate release.
Sydney, New South Wales—21 February 2012—Sydney's polyamorous community has resolved the conflict with Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras over their entry in this year's Sydney Mardi Gras parade, one of the largest LGBTIQ events in the world.
Mardi Gras initially only allowed the poly group to participate as a 'supporter' entry, with a less prominent position and restrictions on displayed slogans. A Mardi Gras contact told one of the poly entry organisers that they were not an LGBTIQ group, and compared them to 'a bowling club'. Other long-time parade participants received similar correspondence, including sex worker activist group Scarlet Alliance.
Polyamorist social media erupted in a furore over the initial decision. For many polyamorists, it was particularly offensive because the parade's slogan is 'infinite love for all', and the logo is a pair of hearts arranged to form an infinity symbol—polyamorous groups worldwide have used similar symbology for decades.
Although the Sydney poly community is divided about whether polyamory is queer per se, most of last year's poly float participants identify as LGBTIQ. Even poly heterosexuals believe they have issues in common with LGBTIQ people. As one Facebook comment put it: 'when I had relatives threatening to punch me recently for my orientation, it wasn't for being L, G, B, T, or I, it was for being poly.'
On Saturday, poly group representatives Nina Melksham and Mik Scheper met with three Mardi Gras officers: the Board Chair, the Community Engagement Committee Chair and the Parade's producer. Melksham and Scheper explained that theirs was a queer entry and that they were happy to label it as such, and that it wasn't up to Mardi Gras to decide who is queer. Mardi Gras agreed, and welcomed the group's non-LGBTIQ-identifying partners and other supporters to take part in the entry as well. Both parties felt it would be beneficial for the poly community and greater LGBTIQ community to engage in more dialogue, and become more aware of each other.
Poly group members, heartened by the discussion and resolution, are once again enthusiastically at work on their parade entry, A Brighter Future for All Kinds of Love.
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For more information, contact media@polyamory.org.au
Hello all you beautiful people,
I just really love this media release because it is a story of
conflict resolution... particularly
"Both parties felt it would be
beneficial
for the poly community and greater LGBTIQ community to engage in
more
dialogue, and become more aware of each other."
Love it... it's a common theme within world conflicts.... some
people want to maintain barriers... understanding melts down those
barriers..... ----> world peace :)