I am what I am etc etc

Enough of all this butch sports watching and laddish lager swilling - it's time to put the Bacardi Breezers in the fridge, get out the whistle and go to the grand opening of the 2007 Sydney Mardi Gras.

The actual event and party is a month away but today (Sat 3rd Feb) is the start of a month long period of activity. You know the sorts of things I mean - lesbian book reading nights and the screening of porn films masquerading as some kind of art concept. That sort of stuff.

The organisers of Mardi Gras decided to keep details of where the launch would be a secret. Instead, a series of clues as to the location were posted on the official web site. This struck me as odd until some people I know (and who knew the venue) informed me that Mardi Gras was to be officially opened by Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Makes sense to avoid attracting people who only want to see them, I suppose.

In time honoured tradition I am late for the launch, which does have the silver lining of meaning I missed the 'congaline' from the Sydney Opera House to Customs House on Circular Quay, where it is to take place. Yes, that's right. All attendees were made to conga a considerable distance to where the launch was.

I arrive in time to hear some of the very worthy - but largely predictable - speeches. Australia does not have a particularly good record in comparison to other countries when it comes to gay rights, and I can imagine that in most parts of the country it would be extremely difficult to come out. Far more difficult than in England, not least because Sydney is the only place in the country with a large gay scene, and in a country as big as Australia it isn't somewhere you can just hop on a train to for a Saturday night out. So Mardi Gras - now in its 29th year - is seen as being a very important event for political as well as social reasons.

I support the concept of events like Mardi Gras (obviously, I was at the launch) but sometimes wonder to myself if they can be counter productive in some ways. Having a very visible celebration of gay/lesbian culture does make a very bold statement - it says that we will not hide, we will not accept second class treatment and so on. But when I heard one speaker at the launch say that Mardi Gras say the event advances the cause of gay rights, I have to admit I did doubt to myself whether or not the sight of a few hundred queens doing the conga by the Sydney Opera House really does that much for the cause. For example, I doubt whether or not a straight man who has been homophobic all his life is suddenly going to have his mindset altered favourably by this.

"Jeez sport, I used to hate those fags. But I was down by the harbour on Saturday and this big old bloke was doing the conga in the most fantastic drag outfit, and now they're ok in my book."

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, in my opinion, most people's attitudes towards gay people are changed by personal experience. If a family member, or a close friend, comes out it demonstrates that homosexuality is not kind of minority perversion. It brings home that people from all walks of life can be gay and that this is not some kind of lifestyle choice, but something people are as people.

It therefore needs to be asked: is a closeted young gay male, who is deeply worried about coming out and is uncomfortable with his sexuality, going to be encouraged by seeing a load of old queens doing the conga? Or is he more likely to suppress his feelings and remain in denial?

I'm just making the point, really. I recognise that the people who become active in Mardi Gras do far more than just dance around in loud clothes, and that many are active in the support networks that do so much for young gay people. I should admit that I have done, frankly, fuck all for gay rights in my entire life. Unless you count bouncing around dance tents twatted at the London Pride after-parties as a contribution.

Matt Lucas and David Walliams officially declare the 2007 Sydney Mardi Gras open to a rapturous welcome. It's nice to see them, even if they are on stage for less than two minutes. Lucas appears as Daffyd (god knows if I've spelt that corectly) and Walliams as his drag character Emily.

After the launch, I head on to a few bars on Oxford Street with a few people. We spend the rest of the afternoon/evening getting ratted and have a thoroughly good time. It's really good to have met some decent people in my first week who are great fun and company. Over the course of many conversations covering may subjects, something which is at first surprising becomes clear - Australians, well at least Australian gay men, really like Tony Blair. From a gay perspective, they compare and contrast the equality measures Labour have brought in with their own rather right wing government. I guess back home it is easy to always look at things from the glass being half empty perspective, and to forget how different the situation is elsewhere.

Poor old Tone, eh. He should just pack it in now and go somewhere else to top up his tan.