Locals joined the Coastal Twist festival team in a flurry of feathers and glitter this weekend, celebrating all things ‘Love’ at the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Float lead Shane Milson said he was ‘still buzzing’ from the March 5 event.
“We felt such a big feeling of overwhelming love as we entered the stadium … the vibe was electronic,” Milson said.
“It came together better than expected.
“Everyone had their base outfit and bedazzled it to bring out their own personality in their Cupid costumes.
“We had people from so many diverse backgrounds and age ranges it was amazing to see.
“I believe the bringing of these people together this year has help grow a stronger community on the Coast.”
Coastal Twist Festival director, Glitta Supernova, said it was an emotional day.
“From the sidelines we watched on with tears in our eyes full of Coastie Pride – it looked fantastic.
“Our hearts were bursting seeing how it all came together, the teamwork and the end result at the stadium was stunning,” Supernova said.
“It is so important to celebrate in this day and age, although the LGBTIQA-plus communities have come along way with laws and rights, we still have such a long way to go in the fight for equality.
“Visibility at this level helps break down bias and also shares community, culture and personal stories.”
Coastal Twist was named one of three regional participants across Australia to participate in the soon-to-be-released ‘Big Rainbow’ video.
The project, which was inspired by other icons such as ‘The Big Banana’ and the ‘Big Prawn’, is the first landmark to celebrate regional LGBTQIA-plus communities.
Maisy Rae