Qantas arrives at WorldPride in style
Drag queen bingo 40,000 feet in the air? A menu specially made for Sydney WorldPride? Live performances, curated queer films, and a preflight party? Qantas' Pride Flight from Los Angeles to Sydney offered this and more.

This reporter arrived at LAX, only to be ushered into Qantas' lounge and greeted by smiling drag queens, never-ending sparkling wine, and a rainbow carpet. Fellow travelers gathered to mingle and enjoy snacks and performances by Australian artists G-Flip, comedian Joel Creasey, and singer-actor Hugh Sheridan.

Guests eventually changed into their official Qantas Pride Flight pajamas and took to the skies for the 15-hour flight. (You'd be surprised how quickly the time passes when you are having a blast.) Australian makeup brand Mecca Max provided swag bags and in-flight makeup lessons. (Those wipes and eye cream came in handy during the long trip.)

Members of Qantas Illuminate, the LGBTQ+ employee and ally group, were on board, making sure all were well fed and taken care of on the way to Sydney. Flyers who booked a seat on the Pride Flight also scored tickets to the sold-out Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert.

Flying the rainbow skies was a real treat.

Mardi Gras turns 45
Mardi Gras is Sydney's largest annual LGBTQ+ celebration, happening in late February, much like the large Pride festivals we have in the US. While there are certainly the things you expect in a Pride parade (Dykes on Bikes, floats, organizations), Sydney's Mardi Gras has choreographed dances and massive art pieces, like the First Nation's Rainbow Serpent, which twirled its way through the streets of Sydney's gayborhood.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended for the first time as PM, marking the first time that someone in the country's top leadership position has participated. Opposition leader Chris Minns joined him.

The five-hour parade featured over 12,000 marchers, including a bus with many of the 78ers, who are respected and revered for their tireless efforts to change the Australian system for LGBTQ+ people. Same-sex marriage in Australia was finally legalized in 2017 after 22 previous bills failed.

To learn more about the history of the 78ers and efforts to make Australia a safer and more inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community, check out the official website.

Respect
Before every event, from large-scale productions to smaller, more intimate events, respect was given to the custodians of the land the event was taking place on. Hosts, performers, and Sydney WorldPride staff all paid tribute to the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Darug, and Dharawal people. While the language may have changed slightly depending on the event and where it took place, the sentiment was always: "We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land."

Kylie Minogue kicks things off at the Live and Proud Concert
The opening night "Live and Proud" concert showcased talent from Australia and beyond, welcoming performers such as Electric Fields, Jessica Mauboy, and Australia's highest-selling female artist of all time (and huge LGBTQ+ ally), Kylie Minogue. Hosted by international drag superstar and Brisbane-born Courtney Act and Casey Donovan, the concert attracted thousands of revelers decked out in their finest rainbow outfits and glitter for days.

The production values were top-notch and included a special drone show and fireworks. A bombastic tribute to Priscilla Queen of the Desert brought out dancers and drag queens to celebrate the beloved Australian film, which next year will celebrate 30 years since its release.

Certainly, Kylie Minogue was the big draw of the night. She first played Sydney's Mardi Gras back in 1994 and has long been an ally and icon in the Queer community. Minogue and her troupe of dancers performed her big hits, including "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and "All the Lovers," on which she was joined by sister Dannii, who is also a beloved figure in the country.

Queer content creator Matthew Schueller, one half of the duo Michael and Matt, was in attendance for the Live and Proud concert and WorldPride festivities and wasn't sure what to expect but was quickly moved by the welcoming atmosphere of Sydney.

"From the beginning of the event, I was blown away by the sense of togetherness I experienced there," Schueller said. "It felt like walking into an open-armed embrace. The atmosphere was electric, people were really genuinely happy to be there and support each other, and you could feel it."

Sydney Opera House becomes a beacon for Pride and hosts the Blak and Deadly: First National Gala concert
You'd be hard-pressed to think of a landmark that exemplifies Sydney more than the famed Opera House, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Its signature shells were lit up with rainbows at various points during the WorldPride celebration. Seeing such an iconic image beaming with Pride is something that will stay with me personally as a Queer woman, forever.

Hosted at the Opera House, the "Blak and Deadly: First Nations Gala" was a two-hour concert featuring LGBTQIA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists, plus appearances by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Hosted by comedian Steven Oliver, the concert showcased encore performances by Electric Fields, Jessica Mauboy, and Casey Donovan. Australian opera star Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO was joined onstage by her wife and conductor Nicolette Fraillon. The newlyweds shared a sweeping kiss onstage before performing for the first time together on such a national stage.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra accompanied acclaimed composer and didgeridoo artist William Barton on a remarkable orchestral piece that set the tone for the evening: one of love, community, and artistry.

Opera, pop music, dance, and comedy, all performed by talented Indigenous artists on the country's most distinguished stage truly made for a night to remember.

UltraViolet puts queer women center stage
While many events at large Pride celebrations tend to cater to mixed crowds or a primarily Gay male audience, UltraViolet created a space for Queer women and their friends to dance the night away as well.

Taking place at Sydney's stunning Town Hall — a 130-year landmark made of Sydney sandstone and featuring the largest pipe organ this reporter has ever seen — UltraViolet took over the entire space with three different party vibes: an outside terrace for dancing and mingling, a lower level with DJs and dance music beats, and the main floor with live performances.

Produced by Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill, the event featured performances by Jesswar, Bec Sandridge, and Okenyo, plus aerialists and bawdy burlesque. There was even an impromptu rendition of "I've Had the Time of My Life," performed much to the crowd's delight by Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett and Kath and Kim star and activist Magda Szubanski.

The main event was by electroclash artist Peaches, known for her unapologetic lyrics and subversive performances. Peaches did not disappoint as she crowd-surfed, stripped down into a bathing suit, danced, and sang her hits to a rapturous audience.

Progress Shark
Located in front of the Australian Museum, at the busy intersection of College and Park Streets, is Progress Shark. The museum's large statue got into the spirit and became the unofficial mascot for Sydney WorldPride. Wearing a custom Progress Flag (designed by Daniel Quasar) swimsuit, the Great White shimmered in the sun as thousands of WorldPride attendees stopped to take a picture. Artist George Buchanan created the suit, fringe and all.

Progress Shark was one of 45 "Rainbow Moments" that appeared across Sydney to commemorate 45 years of Mardi Gras. Is Progess Shark here to stay? Only time will tell. (The statue was originally expected to come down in April.) Long live Progress Shark!

LGBTQ+ art on display
Sydney is a true art city. Murals appear across town, while museums (with free admission) feature the work of Australian artists and others. At the Art Gallery of New South Wales, rainbow placards appeared next to works created by LGBTQ+ creatives for the "Queer Encounters" and "Queering the Collection" exhibitions. Contemporary LGBTQ+ artists, such as Dennis Golding, whose work "Casting Shadows" greeted visitors upon entrance, were featured alongside Queer and Trans artists who have long passed.

Too often, artists were forced to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity, only to have history forget these important parts of them. Works like "The Bay" by 20th-century Lesbian Thea Proctor and "By Tranquil Waters" by Sydney Long finally get the context they deserve.

Next door at the North Building, LGBTQ+ artists are featured in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections and "Dreamhome: stories of art and shelter."

At Powerhouse Ultimo, the "Absolutely Queer" exhibition, which was initially curated for Syndey WorldPride, has plans to continue through the end of the year. This is a collection of costuming, multimedia works, and more, all centering on the LGBTQ+ experience. Artists and creators Nicol & Ford, Renè Rivas, and Sexy Galexy are all featured in this colorful exhibition that looks back on our history, with an eye also cast toward the future.

Powerhouse curator Anni Turnbull was part of the team putting together "Absolutely Queer" and shared her enthusiasm for having WorldPride taking place in Sydney: "It's kind of an enormous celebration. It's so important to recognize our Queer history, to recognize how far we've come in the last 38-40 years in terms of people's rights. And I think the way it's been done is so joyous."

Oxford Street, the heart of Sydney's Queer district, was covered in murals by artist Amy Blue, commissioned by the City of Sydney. The murals, which also served as a clever way to cover up construction and scaffolding, featured important people and places in Sydney's LGBTQ+ history.

Crossing the Bridge
The Sydney Harbor Bridge is another iconic landmark and one of the major arteries through the heart of town. On the final day of WorldPride, 50,000 marchers rose early with the magpies to participate in the historic event. With participants from around the world, the march kicked off and traversed across the bridge.

A group from Dhaka, Bangladesh, marched with a banner representing their region. "We are here to march for those who cannot march in our country," one of them said.

This was a common refrain: recognizing our LGBTQ+ community in countries where being Gay or Transgender is illegal or oppressed.

The Rainbow Serpent made its final appearance, leading the march, followed by the 78ers and World Pride 2025 hosts, the delegation from Washington, DC.

I caught up with artist Renè Rivas, a renowned artist and designer of Mardi Gras fashions, at the end of the walk to get his thoughts about the WorldPride experience. Originally from El Salvador, Rivas came to Australia as a refugee as part of the family reunion program in the 1980s.

"For me, this is a dream come true to be able to be open to the world," he said. "In Australia, we welcome all kind of communities, and we really embrace the diverse culture that we have."

Rivas also had a message he wanted to share with the global community: "Don't be afraid of who you are. That happened to me many years ago. Now my costumes are at the Powerhouse Museum, and I travel around the world being able to express myself."

Passing the torch
All good things must come to an end, and at the closing ceremony, people gathered one last time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and applaud all those who worked hard to put on such a large, diverse, and meaningful event.

Before Muna, Kim Petras and Ava Max took the stage, CEO Kate Wickett, Festival Creative Director Ben Graetz, and Graham Simms (also known as the iconic Nana Miss Koori) welcomed members of the Washington DC, Capital Pride team. DC WorldPride will take place May 23—June 8, 2025, and marks 50 years of Pride in DC.

It will be hard to top Sydney WorldPride, but it's clear that the next event is in extremely capable and enthusiastic hands. In the meantime, Sydney and New South Wales have once again established themselves as a major destination for safe, welcoming, and exciting LGBTQ+ travel.