The Sydney Mardi Gras has won the bidding process and will host World Pride 2023 after defeating Houston and Montreal to win the bid at the InterPride Annual Meeting in Athens.
Pride organisations from across the globe for the first time were able to vote for the World Pride host city even if they didnt attend the conference in Athens.
Sydney secured 60% of the votes followed by Montreal on 36% and Houston on 3%.
YES! #WorldPride 2023 goes to @sydneymardigras! #InterPrideAthens pic.twitter.com/W4aCBi31vY
— Steve Taylor ???????? (@danophile) October 20, 2019
Sydney plans to host World Pride at the same time as the 45th anniversary of Mardi Gras, capturing the events that are always held as well as an opening ceremony in Centennial Park and a special World Pride parade.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Co-Chair Giovanni Campolo-Arcidiaco, said: “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, said: “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, said: “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,”
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham says: “Sydney has long demonstrated its ability to host spectacular world-class events that attract visitors from right across Australia and around the globe.
“It is absolutely fitting that Australia and particularly Sydney celebrate our diversity through such a symbolic event that will also deliver a huge boost to our tourism industry.
“Congratulations to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the wider LGBTQI community and all other supporters on the work they have done to secure the internationally renowned extravaganza that is World Pride 2023. We are proud to have helped secure this win and look forward to promoting an event not to be missed!”
NSW Minister for Arts Don Harwin said “I am absolutely delighted that Sydney has been chosen to host this incredible event, which coincides with the 45th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras Parade and the 50th Anniversary of the first Australian Gay Pride Week.
“This event will attract thousands of international visitors and put Sydney on the world map as a truly inclusive and united global city.”
Last Updated on Oct 20, 2019
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