The 2012 Mardi Gras event aims to be a social and inclusive celebration of diversity, individuality and social harmony. The event will be non-alcoholic and non substance, and intends to include members of the ANU community, not only from the halls and colleges, but also from the greater Canberra area. The event is intended to be held in the week leading up to the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday March 3rd, and consequently the time of the event is Thursday March 1st from 12 -2. The venue is Union Court on the ANU campus, as it is a central meeting place for many students and members of the ANU community especially on Market Day. There will be live music, food, activities such as limbo, craft stalls, a novelty photo booth, and information stalls from health services, gay and lesbian support groups and student-run societies from the ANU that focus on gender, sexuality and health issues.

This will hopefully create a relaxed and social atmosphere in which to celebrate uniqueness and diversity, as well as to socialise with other members of the community and learn about health issues and information that is available. The theme is simply ‘Rainbow’, and the intention is that every individual will dress in a block colour (red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple) and that a photo will be taken where all participants will be standing in their colour groups to replicate the Pride Flag of the GLBTIQ community, thus signifying simultaneous individuality and unity of the ANU community.



The 2012 ANU Mardi Gras hopes to be an event where people can simply join in, spend a pleasant afternoon with others and enjoy learning about acceptance and harmony in the wider community.