The 42nd annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival has been and gone and the Central Coast had unprecedented levels of representation at this year’s festival, with three floats flying the rainbow flag for the region.
Among them were Point Clare Families, a community of LGBT+ friendly people who live around the former Gosford Shire who are old hands at the parade and two brand new floats, the Coastal Twist community float that saw several LGBT+ groups from across the region unite under one all inclusive banner and Tuggerah’s own Jopuka Productions.
A leader in inclusive youth arts theatre, Jopuka Production Founder, Joshua Maxwell and his team have been giving a platform to queer artists, makers and thinkers since launching in 2016.
Growing up on the Coast with his own rainbow family, Maxwell knows first hand how important giving young LGBT+ people opportunities to feel seen and heard can be, and seen and heard they were, with Jopuka one of 10 floats chosen to feature prominently in this year’s Mardi Gras ad campaign, including a full feature on festival broadcaster SBS.
According to Maxwell, Jopuka made its Mardi Gras debut with 35 inspiring young people.
Maxwell said their float reflected Jopuka’s history of amplifying queer voices with a special performance of an original song, Closet House, performed by artists Quinn Carter and Bridget Johnstone.
“Mardi Gras was such a huge moment for us.
“Our float felt like a real representation of what we stand for, which is that young queer voices matter and that they always will,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said he felt Jopuka had been fully embraced by the Mardi Gras community and that it was fantastic to see such a big show of love and support for the LGBT+ community, he also praised the Central Coast community for being a part of that.
“Visibility of regional LGBT+ communities like ours is so important.
“When people think of the community they think Mardi Gras or Pride.
“It’s a way of thinking predominantly framed around metropolitan communities, but LGBT+ people and rainbow families exist everywhere.
“We live regionally.
“We live in areas that have been slow to accept us, or embrace change, but we’re here, and events like this are so important for making sure LGBT+ feel like they belong,” Maxwell said.
“I knew at least 200 Coasties who marched this year under different banners and with different floats.
“The Coast’s presence was strong and it was just an amazing thing to experience,” Maxwell said.
Source:
Interview, Mar 2
Joshua Maxwell, Jopuka Productions
Reporter: Dilon Luke