Mardi Gras - 2008

If you were wanting more pics from Mardi Gras Sydney - check out Morgan Carpenter, who has been the photographer for Same Same. See Morgan's site here. Before I click out for the night, below is our very own N.Z safe sex poster boi partying it up at Mardi Gras... Can I just say he's sexier in real life ;-)

Prince Harry @ War

Made available Sunday, March 2, 2008, Britain's Prince Harry is seen playing rugby with fellow soldiers during a break in their duties in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2008. Prince Harry's secret tour of duty, due to last until April, was abruptly ended after a magazine and Web sites disclosed details of his whereabouts. Prince Harry, home from his abandoned military mission to Afghanistan, says he hopes to return to combat zones as soon as possible. [Photo's John Stillwel]

New Study Same-Sex Partners

A new study show that similarities have been found for same-sex partners and heterosexual couples that are not not single, not married. Jeanine and Nichole Soterwood have made the same emotional and financial commitments as most married couples. They share a name. They have stood before a justice of the peace and exchanged vows. They both own their house and are the parents of a 4-year-old son, Isaac. But one thing about the Soterwoods is clearly not the same. They aren't married, because they can't be. Instead, they are among nearly 109,000 same-sex couples who live together in California - double the number of any other state. The most the Soterwoods could do is register with the state as domestic partners - a step roughly 43,000 California couples have taken, and that the Soterwoods moved specifically from Arizona to do. As the gay marriage issue returns to center stage in California, same-sex registered partners like the Soterwoods have a direct personal stake in the issue. A look at the growing body of data on these couples shows a group that is larger in California than in any other state, and - perhaps not surprisingly - that looks more similar to married heterosexual couples in terms of affluence, parenthood and other social measures. Like many same-sex couples, the Soterwoods don't want the similarities to end there. "People are like, what does that mean, 'commitment ceremony'? Just like, what does that really mean, 'domestic partnership'?" said Nichole Soterwood, who like Jeanine is an engineer who works for Raytheon, the defense contractor. "Well, people know what marriage means." Activists say a majority of California's registered partners, and a significant portion of same-sex couples who live together but who aren't registered, would likely marry if the California Supreme Court reversed the ban on same-sex marriage. "For many couples I know who are registered domestic partners, they see it as an intermediate step to winning full marriage equality," said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a counsel for the plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage suit the Supreme Court will hear Tuesday. That would create a very loud chorus of "I dos," although it might also create a backlash from those who believe gay marriage would undermine the institution. Roughly one in six unmarried partner households in the state are same-sex couples, among the highest share in the nation, according to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau data. About six in 10 of California's same-sex couples are gay men, while four in 10 are lesbians. The Census Bureau's estimates of the number of same-sex couples is growing across the country - it's up 18 percent in California since 2000. Still, the number remains small compared with California's 6 million married couples, and experts say the higher estimates don't necessarily mean there are more same-sex couples. "It's very likely that most of this is simply more accurate reporting," said Gary Gates, a demographer at the UCLA law school's Williams Institute. "It's certainly possible that with increased social acceptance, more lesbians and gay men are actually coupling and cohabiting, but given the magnitude of the increases, it's very unlikely that this is the primary cause." A recent state survey of California's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population primarily done to assess tobacco use also found that gay and lesbian couples who live together - particularly those who are registered partners - resemble married heterosexual couples in terms of affluence, race and other social measures. The data undermines the stereotype that gay men eschew long-term relationships. Lesbians in California are more likely to partner - 64 percent share a home with a partner compared with 46 percent of gay men. But gay male registered partners in California have been together longer - an average of 12 1/4 years, compared with 8.9 years for lesbian registered partners, according to Gates' analysis of the state-funded tobacco survey. Registered lesbian partners are much more likely to have children, however, with 34 percent of California female registered partners reporting children compared with just 2 percent of men. California has about 14 percent of the nation's same-sex couples, slightly higher than the state's share of the total U.S. population, but census estimates of same-sex couples are growing more quickly in the Midwest and other places away from the coasts not traditionally seen as centers of gay life. The census does not measure the full gay and lesbian population, only the number of same-sex couples who live together. California may have a higher proportion of same-sex couples than many states because of the early rise of large and influential gay communities in San Francisco and West Hollywood, communities that attracted those fleeing the hostility of the rest of the country, Gates said. Devin Baker and Art Adams of San Jose, who along with the Soterwoods are among the roughly 1,300 registered partners in Santa Clara County, were in the clerk's office in San Francisco City Hall, their marriage application half-filled-out, when the state Supreme Court halted the same-sex marriages Mayor Gavin Newsom had begun in 2004. Amid a tangle of photographers and family members, their new wedding rings in hand, Adams remembers a city official ordering, "You have to stop!" Adams and Baker, both 43, watched as the heterosexual couple in line behind them got married on the spot they were to take their vows. Four years later, it remains a bitter memory for the two men, the only South Bay plaintiffs in the marriage lawsuit. "It's just a very basic equality that values my relationship the same as it would any heterosexual relationship," said Baker, explaining his desire to marry. "You don't have to explain it; you don't have to excuse it; you don't have to give it different words. It's just the same." [source]

Melbourne Fashion Festival

L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival - 2008 starts today through to the end of the week, the opening party was at the stunning Government House, as you can see from the picture left - it's an amazing place. Talking of amazing - picture right is my dwarf-like friend, hottie - Anthony Callea at the opening party. From what I've heard, you need to check out the Bond range... Which we should be able to see this week sometime.

Sydney Mardi Gras - Pictures (2)

Lifesavers With Pride

Were only half way through the floats (So exciting) - One would think this would of been the hottest floats - Lifesavers With Pride! Check out their blog and also their flickr site where it has some sweet pics.

Sydney Mardi Gras - Pictures

Mardi Gras underway in Sydney

The traditional dykes on bikes began the parade up Oxford Street to the cheers of around 300,000 spectators. They were followed by members of the original 1978 march before gay and lesbian life savers began dancing up the parade route alongside a fire truck, a small yacht and several moving dance floors. Among the 150 floats are a number of political groups, including same sex equality activists and political party. But for many people here the extravagant costumes and an array of loud brightly coloured floats are all part of a very large party. An international contingent of revellers is also joining the parade with people coming as far as the United States and Europe to be in Sydney. Organisers say this year's parade is the biggest in Mardi Gras' history and is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made and the challenges still ahead. [source]

Mardi Gras - How Far We've Come

Where ever you are I hope your loving the 30th Mardi Gras, it's hard to believe the people who are marching from Pastors, Federal Police, the people of 1978, kids and their parents and even the Defense Force. While I'm listening and watching I'm starting to get a better understanding of how far the GLBT community has come since 1978. Wow just amazing.

Mardi Gras Live Streaming

If your wanting live streaming for the 30th Mardi Gras go here to Joy FM... click on listen - (if you can keep the bandwidth low as you can)

30th Mardi Gras Start Now.

If you are in Sydney - awesome! If you are anywhere else in the world you can stream Mardi Gras to hear what is happening as it happens link coming in next post.

Mardi Gras To Be The Best Ever

This story from SMH also check out some of the floats to watch for. Mardi Gras to outstrip all others Organisers of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras say tonight's event will be the biggest ever, with 10,000 people taking part in the parade. Crowds of up to 300,000 people are expected to line the central city route to watch the procession of themed floats, drag queens and many more costumed and flesh-revealing revellers. Up to 80 military personnel and defence force employees are expected to march for the first time as the internationally renowned gay pride event marks its 30th anniversary. The head of New Mardi Gras, Marcus Bourget, said the event had achieved a great deal since the first parade in 1978. "Mardi Gras has had its fair share of ups and downs so to achieve the 30th anniversary is a huge milestone for us," Mr Bourget told ABC Radio. But it retained much of its original political message, he said. "Mardi Gras is all about the festival and it's all about telling Australia our stories, our lives, and showing Australia that our love is not a second-class love and shouldn't be treated as such," he said. "So it's all about compassion, understanding and acceptance, so I think they're universal values. City Rail and Sydney buses have added extra services to and from the city throughout the night. Road closures and special event clearways will be in place in the Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst, Moore Park, Surry Hills, and Centennial Park from 11am to the early hours of Sunday morning.

2nd Annual National Underwear Day Brazil

Pictures from the 2nd Annual National Underwear Day, which took place in Brazil on Wednesday. All images Source Finíssimo.

Massive crowds expected for Mardi Gras

Our Freedom Your Freedom Organisers say tonight's gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney will be the biggest in the 30-year history of the event. Almost 10,000 people will head up Oxford Street on 150 floats tonight, three decades after the original protest march for gay rights. Organisers are expecting more than 300,000 people to watch tonight's parade. The head of New Mardi Gras, Marcus Bourget, says a lot has been achieved since 1978. "Mardi Gras has had its fair share of ups and downs so to achieve the 30th anniversary is a huge milestone for us," he said. Mr Bourget says the modern Mardi Gras retains much of its original political message. "Mardi Gras is all about the festival and it's all about telling Australia our stories, our lives, and showing Australia that our love is not a second class love and shouldn't be treated as such," he said. "So it's all about compassion, understanding and acceptance, so I think they're universal values." Among the marchers tonight will be gay and lesbian military personnel, who for the first time have the military approval to march. Chief Petty Officer Stuart O'Brien will be one of them. "I think it's an important step forward for the Defence Force in recognition of the wider community that we actually recruit from," he said. Military Force Hopefully the military and our political leaders will learn from their mistakes, change what they do, and start helping people instead of killing people. A Humanitarian Force can defend itself just as easily as a military force can. Australia should get out of Iraq and Afghanistan now. War is a deadly 'Meme' and one of the root causes of domestic violence. But the best rule of thumb is to challenge these deadly Memes wherever you see them and not those who follow them.... STOP THE WAR, END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE , END PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN Transport CityRail is adding extra train services in and around the CBD to cope with the Mardi Gras crowds, with a direct shuttle between Bondi and Central from 6:00pm AEDT to 1:00am. Museum Station on the city circle will be closed this evening between 6:00 and 10:00. Sydney Buses will run extra services on major routes to and from the city from 4:00pm. Politics and partying on Sydney's gayest MARDI GRAS has put violence against gays and lesbians at the forefront of its political agenda, asking the two men who were bashed while walking hand-in-hand in Darlinghurst three months ago to lead tonight's 30th anniversary parade.While it will be, as always, a celebration of all things gay and lesbian, ongoing discrimination is never far from participants' minds, and community groups have warned the spike in homophobic violence that occurs during Mardi Gras will be as bad as ever this year. Surry Hills police came under sustained criticism over their investigation of the violent crime - an internal investigation and a complaint to the NSW Ombudsman followed. Meanwhile, in the Mardi Gras workshop in Rosebery, in homes citywide, and in the iconic House of Priscilla costume store on Oxford Street, final touches are being made to floats and outfits. Source