CNN
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has develop into the primary chief of the nation to participate within the Sydney Homosexual and Lesbian Mardi Gras within the occasion’s 45-year historical past.
In different components of the world, Mardi Gras is held the day earlier than the Christian fasting season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which occurred earlier this week.
Nonetheless, in Australia, the annual Sydney Homosexual and Lesbian Mardi Gras this 12 months is going down between February 17 and March 5.
It celebrates LGBTQIA+ identification and variety, champions artistic expression and challenges injustice, in line with the organizers. 1000’s are estimated to have attended.
“When the primary Mardi Gras march was held in 1978, you could possibly nonetheless be arrested for being homosexual,” Albanese tweeted on Saturday.
At that occasion police arrested 53 folks and the celebration resulted in violence.
“Within the many years since, folks devoted their lives towards the marketing campaign for equality,” the Prime Minister added.
“To be accepted as equal and acknowledged for who they’re and who they love,” he continued.
“I’ve been proudly marching in Mardi Gras for the reason that 80s. This 12 months I’m honored to be the primary Prime Minister to affix the march,” Albanese mentioned.
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attended Mardi Gras in 2016 however didn’t march, in line with the Australian Related Press.
