People with Disability Australia proudly representing LGBTQIA+ people with disability at the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Wednesday 5 March
There's a place I know if you're lookin' for a show. Where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor
While it's unlikely Ke$ha was referring to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras when she wrote these lyrics in her 2010 hit song 'Take it Off', they do make an appropriate description of the night.
This Saturday 1 March, PWDA members, staff and board members joined 10,000 participants and a crowd of tens of thousands on Oxford Street, Sydney to celebrate the intersection of LGBTQIA+ and disability pride.
PWDA members noted the significance of the connection between their LGBTQIA+ and disability identities and how much they appreciate the ability to celebrate their full authentic selves. Disability and queerness are both such a big part of our identities and people with disability deserve to be everything that they want to be. Everything that people without disability can be.
Before the parade we spoke to members joining us about what it means to them to be 'Proud and Free to be Me'.
"To be able to be in a place where I can embrace all of my different identities, not in isolation, but collectively, and then to find community that does that as well. So being here today I've found my place, and I've found the people that I feel most connected to in this way" shared PWDA member Caitlin Blanch
Members and community came together on the night to celebrate our identities and be proud of who we are. Rolling up Oxford Street, waving to the crowd and showing everyone that we can be authentic and proud of our identity as LGBTQIA+ people with disability.
Former staff member Giancarlo De Vera shared why they were joining this year. "People with disability deserve to be part of our community, they deserve to be queer, they deserve to be anything and everything they want to be and PWDA creates a space for us to be free to be".
PWDA stood alongside our members and community in a vibrant show of pride, visibility, and solidarity. Seeing so many people celebrate their full authentic selves was a moment that PWDA members and staff will not forget.
Joining PWDA this year was a contingent from Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) as well as staff, volunteers and friends and family of PWDA member Bodhi who marched with us last year and sadly passed away in 2024. They held signs that said "Remembering Bodhi" with his image, with rainbow wings.
Click through the gallery of glitz and glam from the night.
PWDA members share what it means to be Proud and Free to Be Me?
I'm proud of myself and free to do anything I want in my life.
PWDA member Leigh
PCDN Kelley Temple – "What it means is that we can actually be our authentic selves, accept our authentic selves, love ourselves and love each other in a way that isn't actually damaged by homophobia and by prejudices. And that means that ultimately people will be happier, and we can experience love in our lives as we all deserve to."
PWDA member Helen Wheels - "It means me to be proud, to be authentically myself, not to be ashamed of my disability and just have fun and prove to other people with disabilities that they can do whatever they put their mind to and don't worry about what anyone has to say negative about them because really it's a reflection on them and not the person with the disability."
PWDA member Caitlin – "To be able to be in a place where I can embrace all of my different identities, not in isolation, but collectively, and then to find community that does that as well. So being here today I've found my place, and I've found the people that I feel most connected to in this way"
PWDA President Trinity Ford - "Being Proud and Free to Be Me means being proud of our bodies and our identities and sexualities and free from oppression and discrimination. And to be able to share that pride."
Why are you marching with PWDA?
PWDA member Leigh – We are marching to advocate for people like weans are drag queens and um lots of gay and lesbian and so that's my main purpose.
Former staff Giancarlo DeVera – People with disability deserve to be part of our community, they deserve to be queer, they deserve to be anything and everything they want to be and PWDA creates a space for us to be free to be.
This is my second year doing the parade with PWDA and as soon as I knew that it was happening again, I put my hand up straight away. Doing something like Mardi Gras really opens people's eyes up that there are other people with disability who are proud to be who they truly are. We are here to show them that it's okay not to be ashamed or embarrassed, because all we want is to be authentically ourselves
PWDA member Helen Wheels
PWDA member Caitlin – "Disability is obviously a really fundamental part of who I am, but also being queer makes of big part of who I am too. So having those two meet at the intersection and being able to be here and share that with everyone else here today is a really beautiful experience."
PWDA President Trinity Ford – "I'm our President and maybe our first transwoman President and I'm so excited to be here with everyone."
PWDA in the media
If you missed us on the night, PWDA featured prominently in coverage of the event. You can find us on:
ABC iView - Watch PWDA march in the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. PWDA can be seen in the broadcast from 23:39 – 24:28. (Will ask you to log in)
SBS News – Mardi Gras in Pictures
7 News – Mardi Gras wrap up
Become a PWDA member
If you have a disability and you are not already a PWDA member, we invite you to join PWDA and help us promote the rights, equality, and dignity of all people with disabilities. Membership is free and lets you join all our events.
You can find information about becoming a member and the application form in different formats at Membership – People with Disability Australia.
Comment below what it means to you to be 'Proud and Free to Be Me'
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