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There’s something beautifully consistent about the LGBTQIA community's ability to mix party, politics, and protest at any and all given opportunities. Give us a dancefloor, a ballot box, a megaphone, or all of the above, and we're very good at showing the fuck up — loudly, with purpose, and with reckless gay abandon. It’s very rarely just one or the other, because our mere existence as queer people is still political. Celebration and resistance have always lived side by side in our spaces, stitched into the same nights out, the same marches, the same moments that bring us together.
This week’s stories sit right at that intersection of parties, politics and protest: from the uneasy return of far-right voices in the recent state election, to the ever-expanding scale and evolution of our biggest community celebrations, to the growing questions about who holds power to make change within them.
Because while we know how to throw a party (better than anyone else, in my humble queer opinion 💅), we’ve never been content to leave it at that. Not when there’s work to be done, and not when our people's welfare and wellbeing are on the line.
TOP STORY
SA Election: One Nation Surges, Cory Bernardi Wins Upper House Seat
"An earthquake has rattled the foundations of uni-party politics in South Australia.”
Despite an absolute blitz returning the Labor Party to power, a familiar and deeply divisive political figure is back in the spotlight after South Australia's election over the weekend, with former One Nation leader Cory Bernardi securing a seat in the upper house.
For many of us, Bernardi’s return (and One Nation beating out the Liberal Party in the primary vote) raises real concerns about the re-emergence of rhetoric and policies that have historically targeted queer people. As the dust settles, advocates are watching closely, reminding us that progress in politics is never guaranteed.
by Michael James
QLD NEWS
Brisbane’s Big Gay Day Is Making A Huge Move In 2026
Big Gay Day, Brisbane’s biggest gay street party, has made a huge announcement for their 2026 event — organisers have now shifted the date to the end of year.
But if you've already booked your flights and accomodation, don't stress – the long running Little Gay Day is set to continue in May.
by Michael James
OPINION
Parties, Politics & Protests: Who Is Running The Show At Sydney Mardi Gras?
The 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is over. For most, it probably looked like a fun, glitter-filled celebration. Ecastica!
But under the shiny rainbow facade, everyone involved seems to agree that there are deep tensions and a ‘fight for the future of Mardi Gras’. This year, the tensions felt heightened.
It’s time for proponents of queer rights, particularly those with some leverage, to start playing a more active role, says former SGLMG Board Member Luc Velez.
by Luc Velez
More people can now donate plasma, including gay men, transgender people, and PrEP users.
An intimate space, where you can relax in a cosy booth surrounded by an oasis of colourful kitsch.
NSW NEWS
Sydney Might Be Getting An Inner City LGBTQIA+ Services Hub
The City of Sydney Council has unanimously backed the Inner City Legal Centre’s calls for support to establish an inner city LGBTIQA+ Services Hub.
Demand for the Inner City Legal Centre’s LGBTQIA+ and Sex Worker Legal Services has significantly increased in recent years – meaning the organisation has now outgrown its current space in Kings Cross. Following a recent motion, the City will look to find them a bigger space that can also function as a hub for other LGBTIQA+ organisations to work from together, potentially in a similar fashion to the Victorian Pride Centre.
by Patrick Lenton
