Sleaze

One of the great institutions in Sydney has always, in my adult lifetime at least, been the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, Parade and Party held in March each year. As a fundraiser for these events SGLMG would hold another party in October, Sleaze.

Darker, dirtier, fewer tourists, sexier and a lot of fun this event marked the beginning of the summer season of fun, the way Mardi Gras marked its end. Over the years I ahve been to a lot of Sleaze (no comments please) and usually enjoyed them.

I havent been to one since 2000 which is prior to the collapse of old Mardi Gras and the creation of "New Mardi Gras". I actually havent been to a NMG event at all, so last weekend when I travelled to Sydney was the breaking of a long drought.

Initially I hadnt intended to planned to go to the party at all, just the Sunday day parties, but Princess Nathan has OTHER ideas. Come Saturday night I was nagged, bullied and cajoled in turns until, Young Divas & the fierce Ms Blige pumping in my ears I Evangelisa'd into an old contacts apartment inthe Horizon to pick up my comp passes and VIP pass.

Knowing every faggot on the face of the planet has some advanges.

Back at Nates, some lightning ablutions, a glass or two of Dom Pérignon and a single costume change later we were into a limo and off to the party.

The party is definately smaller, and less polished but I had a really good time. The halls were fun, the music diverse and well spun and the crowd VERY good looking, but then I have been in a self imposed exile for the last couple of years so I seem to have forgotten how good looking men can get. And my they were friendly.

A number of my best friends were there, so I hung with my peeps for most of the night and just had a fabulous time. The only real negative I can give the night was the shows. Mardi Gras has long had a tradition of having AMAZING shows but it seems like that at least has slipped significantly. Its not just about a clearly lower budget, there was no real spark to them. But maybe my head was elsewhere and I didnt get them.

All up it was a fantastic night and Babs and I were only saying on Thusday that we could actually do it all again, which for me at least is quite something since I am not a party hound at the moment. After heading home at 6 and some rest and recreation Nate and I regrouped and headed off to Homesexual at Darling Harbor, where to all accounts, we made much mischief.

But thats another story.

If you are interested, there are some Sleaze weekend pictures in the Photo Album and on Flickr.