Gathering of Mardi Gras at Sydney Cricket Ground

It's almost 50 years since the first Mardi Gras in Sydney wound its way down Oxford Street... and was marred by police violence and a large number of arrests. Known as the 78-ers, this brave group of activists are touted as having paved the way for modern LGBTIQ+ rights in Australia, demanding to be seen in the midst of social stigma and discrimination in the 1970s.

Source: SBS/ALC

It's almost 50 years since the first Mardi Gras in Sydney wound its way down Oxford Street... and was marred by police violence and a large number of arrests. On Saturday,  Mardi Gras gathering was exempted to get together to celebrate how far they have travelled and how the legislative changed to recognised them has helped them.

David Ajak Ajang who is a Senior Project Officer, Communities in Cultural Transition Program at STARTTS help explained the importance of respecting the social changes in individuals lives. " It is human rights for them even if you don't agree with them you need to observe and respect their choice". Ajak Ajang Said. Although this is still a hot topic in the South Sudanese especially in the Dinka speaking's community people need to be mindful and accept the choice these individual make Ajak continued to explain.