4 February 2010

Getting out and about this Mardi Gras? Expand your horizons and help create a stronger and more vibrant GLBT community by attending one of ACON’s fabulous Mardi Gras events.

Throughout the festival, ACON hosts a range of events as fundraisers for the organisation. So why not rally the troops and treat yourselves to a great night out and help support a good cause at the same time?

Then again, maybe you have a thirst for knowledge or want to contribute to the discussion of important issues affecting our community? Then you should get yourself along to some of the FREE forums and workshops that ACON hosts during the Mardi Gras season.

Either way, by being out and about at any of the events listed below you’ll be expanding your horizons and helping create a stronger and more vibrant GLBT community.

Details of all ACON events are available on the ACON website: www.acon.org.au/mardigras

1) BIG BINGAY…AT THE BEACH

Lifesavers With Pride, a social group of gay and lesbian lifesavers, has teamed up with drag diva Mitzi McIntosh plus singing sensation Naomi Palmer to present a special beach-themed edition of BIG Bingay for this year's Mardi Gras festival. Bingay is Mitzi's take on bingo, but it has a very big twist! Expect weird rules, singalongs, penalties and hilarious stories with prizes that range from mobile phones and harbour cruises to heaps of theatre, movie and party tickets. There’s also great free snacks and food plus a special trivia quiz. And 10 Speedo-clad representatives from Lifesavers With Pride will be on duty to ensure that guests enjoy their night at the beach by giving out free Golden Gaytime ice creams and rolls of Lifesavers. And all proceeds go to ACON.

When: Fri 19 Feb 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: Paddo RSL 226 Oxford St Paddington
Cost: $37 for all games
Info/Bookings: (02) 9206 2110 or events2010@acon.org.au

Web: Big Bingay

2) 21 DOWN

Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham and pop star/dance idol Rhys Bobridge will help kick off this year’s Mardi Gras Youth Festival as special guests at 21 Down, an ACON-produced event for young GLBT people. Bobridge will host the five-hour extravaganza which will feature some of Sydney’s best DJs and surprise performances by some great Sydney entertainers. Mitcham will talk about his life as a young gay man then mix and mingle with guests. Dance, meet new friends and be dazzled by the atmosphere at the Slide, one of the hottest nightclubs on Oxford Street! This is an under-21 event aimed at GLBT youth and their friends, and is 100% drug, alcohol and smoke free.

When: Sat 20 Feb 2010, 1pm – 6pm
Where: Slide Nightclub & Lounge, 41 Oxford St Darlinghurst
Cost: FREE
Info/Bookings: (02) 9206 2077 or youth@acon.org.au

3) CSN H.E.L.P. - WILLIAM YANG PHOTO EXHIBITION 

To celebrate twenty-five years of ACON’s Community Support Network (CSN), renowned photographer William Yang was commissioned to take photographic portraits of ten CSN volunteers. H.E.L.P. is an acronym for heart, empathy, listening and positivity, the qualities that make a great volunteer. In the portraits, ten volunteers are captured in their work of providing practical assistance to clients, including some of the domestic tasks that are sometimes too much for people with HIV. Proceeds from the exhibition will fund CSN’s volunteer training and programs.

When: Sat 20 Feb - Fri 6 Mar, 2010
Where: TAP Gallery, 278 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst (opening hours:12pm to 6pm)
Cost: FREE
Info: www.acon.org.au

4) THE FABTABULOUS WALK OF HISTORICAL AND MODERN CURIOSITIES

Thought that Oxford St was the centre of the GLBT universe? Think again. Discover the rich queer history of the Inner West with other young GLBT people and find out more about our community's evolution. This collaboration between ACON's Youth Team and the Pride History Group will begin in Newtown and finish at one of the biggest and best Mardi Gras events, Fair Day. This event is open to GLBT people aged 26 and under.

When: Sun 21 Feb 2010, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Where: Meet at Twenty10, 45 Bedford St, Newtown
Cost: FREE
Info/Bookings: (02) 9206 2077 or youth@acon.org.au

5) FAIR DAY

Want to find out how to look after yourself, connect with other community members or volunteer to help people in need? The get along to ACON Alley at this year’s Fair Day. Our friendly staff will be on hand to answer all your questions about men’s health, women’s health, living with HIV, alcohol and other drugs, and staying safe on the street, in the workplace and at home. Staff from our Aboriginal, Asian, Mature Gay Men and Western Sydney projects can help you connect with other members from your community. And you can also volunteer to help people living with HIV through our Community Support Network, pick up some cool giveaways or become a financial supporter through our ACON Angels program.

When: Sun 21 Feb 2010, 10am – 8pm
Where: Victoria Park, Camperdown
Cost: Entry by gold coin donation
Info: www.mardigras.org.au

6) HATS OFF!

Celebrating 12 fabulous years of sensational entertainment, this year’s theme for the annual variety spectacular is ‘The History of Showstoppers’ so get ready for a non-stop evening of fabulous entertainment featuring the stars of Australian musical theatre, comedy, dance and cabaret, all donating their time and talent to help raise much-needed funds for ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation. Hats Off! is always a highlight of the Mardi Gras Festival and this year will feature classic showstoppers from your favourite hit West End and Broadway musicals over the last century. Directed by Margi de Ferranti with Musical Director Anne-Maree McDonald. Hosted, once again, by the hysterical Jan Van de Stool, with Garry Scale attempting to lend some sanity to the proceedings. Produced by Jonathan Mill and Laurence Stark. Book early as this event will sell out! Presented by Oz Showbiz Cares Equity Fights HIV/AIDS & New Mardi Gras.

When: Mon 22 Feb 2010, 7:30pm
Where: Seymour Centre, cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale
Cost:  $90 / $75 / $70 + bf
Info/Bookings: www.seymourcentre.com.au or (02) 9351 7940

7) THE BIRDS AND THE BIRDS: SEX(Y) ED FOR SAPPHIC SISTERS

Birds of a feather f*ck together so spread those wings and leave your nest for the Lesbian Sex Workbook launch. DJs fill the airwaves with gliding jives while performers strut. Peck at complementary crumbs and bird watch. Yum! This is a drug and alcohol free event for young same-sex attracted women and friends. So take a bird bath, feather your hair and have a sticky beak at the Lesbian Sex Workbook. Remember the early bird gets the … Flightless birds welcome.

When: Wed 24 Feb 2010, 6pm – 9pm
Where: The Red Rattler Theatre 6 Faversham St Marrickville
Cost: FREE (no RSVP required)
Info: (02) 9206 2029 or mwood@acon.org.au

8) ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PARADE ENTRY

Join in the fun of the parade with members of NSW’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Participants will be given a T-shirt and sausage sandwich and other refreshments before the parade. To participate, just register online at www.acon.org.au/aboriginal. You can also com along to the optional dance movement workshops at Redfern Community Centre between 8 – 15 Feb between 5:00pm-9:00pm. The workshops will be led by choreographer Sani Townson.

When: Sat 27 Feb 2010, 2pm – 10pm
Where: ACON, 9 Commonwealth St, Sydney then parade route
Cost: FREE
Info/Bookings: www.acon.org.au/aboriginal

9) ACON PARADE FLOAT

Want to be in this year's Mardi Gras Parade? Members of the GLBT community are invited to get on board the ACON float and help celebrate ACON’s 25 years of service to the GLBT community and people affected by HIV/AIDS. All you need to do is visit www.acon.org.au/mardigras and fill out the online form. We'll then send you all the info you need a few days before the parade.

When: Sat 27 Feb 2010, 2pm – 10pm
Where: ACON, 9 Commonwealth St, Sydney then parade route
Cost: FREE
Info/Bookings: www.acon.org.au/mardigras

10) THE RED PARTY

Get along to Stonewall for this annual ACON benefit event and raise money to help us provide services for people HIV. For a $5 donation at the door you’ll get shows all night by Sydney’s leading drag performers. There’ll also be a prize for Best Red Costume.

When: Sun 28 Feb 2010, 9pm - late
Where: Stonewall, Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Cost: $5 donation at the door
Info: www.stonewall.com.au

11) THE GREAT DEBATE

This year’s great debate throws the rooster amongst the hens and pits pants against panties as six of Sydney’s funniest people ponder the question, “Top or Bottom, Butch or Fem - who rules the roost?” Join the versatile Bob Downe and a host of comedians at the top of their game as they get to the bottom of what identity means and where the power lies in sex and relationships. Assume the position and strap yourself in for a hilarious night of give and take that will have you role-ing in the aisles! Celebrity debaters include Jackie Loeb, Bernie Hobbs, Denise Hanlon and Lex Lindsay.

When: Thu 4 Mar 2010, 7:30pm for 8pm
Where: Factory Theatre 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville
Cost:  $37.50 / $32.50 + bf
Info/Bookings: (02) 9550 3666 or www.factorytheatre.com.au