As with Gay Pride events around the globe, Sydney’s Gay Mardi Gras was originally held in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots of June 1969.

But the connection with the Stonewall riots didn’t stop there. Just as the police had attacked protestors in New York, police also attacked protestors at the first Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1978, arresting 53 people.

On the morning of 24th June, a 500-strong march through the centre of Sydney had gone off without incident. However, twelve hours later, police repeatedly blocked and harassed participants in a Mardi Gras parade down Oxford Street, culminating in the 53 arrests.

But, just like Stonewall, the attacks simply fuelled people’s anger and the protests grew larger and larger. By June 1979 the parade was twice as large and, despite a very visible police presence, there were no clashes or arrests.

Following the arrest of 53 people at the previous Saturday’s Mardi Gras parade, protestors assembled outside Sydney’s Liverpool Street Court House the following Monday. A further 7 people were arrested and their names and addresses published in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The carnival atmosphere had been a key theme of the parade from the outset and in 1980 another of Mardi Gras’ famous features was added – the post-parade party. Whilst on one level it was merely a continuation of the festivities it also served an important ‘community safety’ function – by getting people off the streets and away from a hostile police force.

But the decision that really set the event on the path to the world-famous celebration it is today took place in 1981. Following a community consultation, organisers decided to move the event to February – the Australian summer – and name it Sydney Gay Mardi Gras.

The impact was both quick and considerable: as well as an increase in participants the event began to attract onlookers. Five thousand people came to watch it in 1981, by 1983 it had grown to 20,000 and 100,000 by 1987. And by 1994 it was being broadcast on national TV.

It’s now the world’s largest night-time event and the second largest money-spinner for its host state,  New South Wales.  Politicians clamour to give their support and endorsement – and there’s even a float from the New South Wales police service!

Whether or not it would have achieved this level of success had it remained a winter event remains a matter of conjecture.