About us
What we do
First Mardi Gras 78ers is a not-for-profit association representing over 230 “78ers.” We are an all-volunteer, member-based organisation that works all year round to deliver our objectives:
Keep our history alive - the diverse political and socially complex LGBTIQ+ communities that we know today were built on the actions, boldness and bravery of early lesbian, gay and trans activists. By sharing our lived experience and the history of the early Pride movement we aim to strengthen resilience to contemporary threats to our freedoms.
Stand up for our rights and freedoms – inequality remains for some members of the LGBTIQ+ community and, at an international level, protections for our community have been eroded or are under threat.
Work with like-minded organisations – the early Pride movement was built on grass roots, collaborative social and political action by lesbian, gay and trans activists, and their supporters. This history shows that united action can deliver fundamental social change.
L to R: Robyn Kennedy, Robyn Plaister, Fair Day 16 February 2025. Photo credit: Anne Morphett
Engage with our members – 78ers are the foundation generation of Mardi Gras and many of our members are life-time social justice activists. We aim to maintain strong connections with our members to support social inclusion, particularly as an ageing community.
We achieve these objectives through:
Public speaking and media, responding to dozens of requests annually
Community education including our regular Salon78 forums
Advocacy for equal protections for LGBTIQ+ communities and broader human rights issues
Publications including Voices from 1978, our monthly newsletter and Annual Report
Social events for our members and supporters.
L to R: Virginnia Iliff, Johnny Whitehead, pre–Mardi Gras Prade drinks, 28 February 2025. Photo credit: Anne Morphett
Our logo
From the inception of our association, the First Mardi Gras 78ers logo has incorporated both the pink triangle, used in the early LGBTI movement, and the black triangle.
In the World War II Nazi concentration camps, pink triangles identified suspected gay men and black triangles represented suspected lesbians, prostitutes, Roma and other “undesirables.”
Using both these images reclaims them from the horrors of the camps and celebrates our pride.
Barry Charles with Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Living History Walk, 22 February 2026. Photo credit: William Brougham.
Speakers for media and events
First Mardi Gras 78ers provides speakers for media interviews, events, and regional Pride festivals. We also assist with research projects.
Topics covered by speakers include early Pride activism, the events related to the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade as well as contemporary issues such as trans rights, ageing, policing, and gay hate crimes.
For all media and speaking inquiries contact: info@78ers.org.au
L to R: Dave Urquhart, David Abello Christmas Drinks 2025. Photo credit: Anne Morphett
Read our Annual Reports and newsletters
L to R: Richard Thode, Britt McPherson, Christmas Drinks 2025. Photo credit: Anne Morphett