North Islanders who are heading to Sydney for Mardi Gras are being sought to take part in research about the impact it has on them. Researcher Anna de Jong says the study is an attempt to understand the role of the event in people's lives beyond metropolitan Sydney, in a context of changing sexual politics and citizenship. She says preliminary research in Australia suggests that in 2014, the Mardi Gras Parade holds complex meanings for attendees. "For some Mardi Gras Parade is not necessarily about the extravagance or politics of the event itself but more about the opportunity to travel and spend extended time with friends in a way that is not always possible in everyday life. "For others Mardi Gras Parade offers a space to develop a sense of belonging, which is a feeling maintained long after the final float marches down Oxford Street." Anyone aged over 18 and planning to travel to the 2014 Mardi Gras can take part in the research, which will take place between 15 and 28 of February. It would entail an interview about an hour in length interview before the parade, which can take place in person or on Skype, and a follow-up interview. "The sharing of photo/video from the trip will also be possible for those interested in further participation," de Jong says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 1st February 2014 - 8:09am