Established on aboriginal territory in 1788 by British settlers, Sydney is surrounded by stunning cliffs, radiant beaches, and verdant national parks. Today it boasts perhaps the most recognizable harbor in the world, featuring the expansive Harbour Bridge and distinctive white petaled opera house. The city has developed into a culturally diverse urban center with a rapidly growing population of over four million people.

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Sydney's large lesbian and gay male neighborhoods are found in Darlinghurst, Paddington, and Surry Hills, with newer enclaves developing in Newtown, Leichhardt, and Alexandria. Glbtq social life is centered on Oxford Street, which has a multitude of gay-owned and operated restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and bookshops.

Sydney gained international attention when it was selected to host the 2000 Olympic Games. Controversy erupted when it was announced to the media that a bevy of drag queens would represent Stephan Elliot's film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), during a segment of the closing ceremony that paid tribute to Australian cinema. And so it was that amidst mixed public cries of both condemnation and support, October 15, 2000 witnessed the first open display of gay culture and transgenderism at an Olympic ceremony.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the world's largest celebration of glbtq pride, and, beginning each February, lasts for three weeks. The festivities include all types of parties, performances, exhibitions, an outdoor fair day, and a two-week film festival. The culminating event is the Mardi Gras Parade, which features over 100 floats from glbtq and gay-friendly organizations, and is broadcast nationally on Australian television.

Although today the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has all the trappings of one big--and heavily commercialized--street party, this historic event did not start out that way. Influenced by the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, lesbian and gay political activism picked up momentum in Australia from the early 1970s. In particular, Sydney's burgeoning lesbian and gay subcultures attracted people from all over the country.

The struggle to repeal laws that criminalized homosexual acts reached a head on June 24, 1978 when more than 1000 people marched down Oxford Street in celebration of Gay Solidarity Day. Demonstrators called for a repeal of all anti-homosexual legislation, an end to police harassment, and increased acceptance of gay men and lesbians. When police suddenly rescinded the organizers' permit in mid-parade, a riot ensued, and over fifty people were arrested.

The police eventually dropped all the charges against those who were arrested, but the lesbian and gay community was already galvanized. Organizers quickly planned a follow-up parade for the next year, and the newly dubbed "Mardi Gras" became an annual event that steadily grew in size over time. While repressive laws against homosexuality still remained on the books, the parade continued to be political, rather than purely festive, in nature. Once each of the Australian states began decriminalizing homosexual relations in late 1984, Mardi Gras organizers shifted their focus more toward the goal of entertainment instead of activism.

Historically, Australia has produced some important gay and lesbian artists, but only recently have openly glbtq artists felt comfortable in Australia.

The recent efflorescence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer themes in Australian film must be placed in the context of a film industry that, prior to the 1970s, was characterized by social conservatism and censorship.

In the past two decades Australia has come to occupy a leading place in gay and lesbian literature, and New Zealand has recently produced some significant gay and lesbian texts.

Despite some important breakthroughs in the depiction of gay men and lesbians in the past, Australian television today lacks any regular and open discussion of queer issues and lives.

Given its history, it is somewhat surprising that Australia now has exceptionally gay-friendly laws and public attitudes, with widespread public tolerance and acceptance of the glbtq community.

Throughout the year, the glbtq community unites in pride and in protest, in recognition of a rich heritage and in hope for the future.

Both parades and marches have served to render the glbtq community visible; whereas marches typically attempt to effect political change, parades and pride events affirm identity and community.

Too often cinematic drag is reduced to a mere joke, a harmless tease that tacitly reassures us that people can change their clothes but not their sexual identities.

Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia is respected not only for his legal acumen but also for his devoted commitment to the cause of social justice in his homeland and also around the globe.

Mardi Gras, or Carnival, as it is often called, is a festival known for wild abandon, sexual promiscuity, feasting, drinking, dancing, parading, and elaborate masquerade.

At the height of his athletic career, Australian rugby superstar Ian Roberts made the courageous decision to come out as a gay man.

The confrontations between police and demonstrators at the Stonewall Inn in New York City the weekend of June 27-29, 1969 mark the beginning of the modern glbtq movement for equal rights.