Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has won their bid to host the international marquee Pride event, WorldPride 2023.
Members of the worldwide InterPride network of Pride organisations voted between Sydney, Montreal and Houston as the host city for WorldPride 2023. The final results were Sydney 60%, Montreal 36% and Huston 3% . The win was announced in Athens, Greece overnight at the annual InterPride AGM.
The first time ever WorldPride has been to the Southern Hemisphere
Sydney WorldPride will be held over February and March to coincide with Mardi Gras 2023. This will be the first time ever WorldPride has been to the Southern Hemisphere and Asia-Pacific region. This is important as many LGBTQI communities within the Asia Pacific are still denied fundamental human rights.
WorldPride represents a major tourism initiative for Australia. Deloitte have estimated a 25-40% increased growth in visitors, in addition to the 1.094m-1.225m visitors for Mardi Gras. Sydney will be the first stop, and other regional attractions will see visitation pre and post event.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Co-Chair Giovanni Campolo-Arcidiaco, says: “This is a major win for Sydney, Australia and the region more broadly. Bringing WorldPride Down Under means we can celebrate and shine a spotlight on the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQI community in the region.”
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Co-Chair Kate Wickett, says:
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our Federal, State and Local governments, corporate and community partners, the extended team at Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as well as our global community for helping bring WorldPride to Sydney 2023. This has been a truly collaborative pitch.”
WorldPride Committee Chair Robyn Kennedy, says: “Interpride has recognised how far Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has come since 1978, and now the world will march with us down Oxford Street to celebrate our community and support our region,”
Our WorldPride 2023 bid happened with the support of the NSW Government, the City of Sydney, Tourism Australia, ANZ, QANTAS and OUTtv.
