From 1978 to 2028
2028 will be the 50th anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. This is a landmark event, likely to draw global attention, particularly in the light of Sydney’s successful staging of WorldPride in 2023.
The participants in the first Parade held on 24 June 1978 and the civil rights Drop the Charges campaign triggered by it, are known as “78ers”. First Mardi Gras 78ers (FMG) represents over two hundred and thirty 78ers. FMG is working collaboratively with key stakeholders on staging commemorative and celebratory activities for the 50th anniversary over a 12-month period from June 2027 to June 2028.
78ers in the 1 March 2025 Mardi Gras Parade. Photo credit: Ash Penin
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78ers
Discover who the 78ers are and how the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras unfolded — from the morning march to the night-time parade, the arrests, the Drop the Charges campaign, and the wave of activism and legal change that followed.
Early Pride History
Explore the history of homophobia and the rise of lesbian and gay rights activism — from early organising to expanded, collaborative movements that shaped the Pride movement we know today.
About us
Learn who we are and what we do, meet our Management Committee, access our Annual Reports and newsletters, find speakers for media and events, and get in touch.