The ABC has announced the diverse and talented group of presenters who will host the Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert and the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
Set to celebrate community and pride in back-to-back events, Friday 24 February at 7.30pm the Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert will get the party started as we broadcast from the Domain on ABC TV, ABC iview and live crosses on triple j.
The star-studded event will be hosted by songwriter-actress-author-presenter Casey Donovan and international drag icon Courtney Act, joined by the ABCs’ Jeremy Fernandez and award-winning comedian, Rhys Nicholson. Feeling the vibes on ground will be entertainer Brihony Dawson.
The night will be an epic celebration as we welcome the world to Sydney in a concert featuring headline performances from Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX, Jessica Mauboy, plus a huge array of Australia’s iconic queer performers.
The following evening, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is back on Oxford Street, bigger and better than ever. Tune in Saturday 25 February at 7.30pm as we broadcast across ABC TV, ABC iview and triple j.
Anchoring the parade will be ABC News Breakfast’s Nate Byrne, Behind The News presenter Jack Evans and ABCQueer’s Mon Schafter. They will be supported by exceptional on-the-ground hosts including ABC NEWS’ Jeremy Fernandez, Actor-Musician-Director, Zindzi Okenyo and comedian Mel Buttle.
Fan favourite presenters Tyrone Pynor, Abby Butler and Latifa Tee, will all be at the helm of triple j’s broadcast covering the floats, the fanfare and all the fun.
Marking 45 Years, with over 200 floats and the biggest international presence the parade has ever seen, the ABC is excited to showcase the dazzling and diverse community coming together for this world-famous event.
Host, creator and advocate Rudy Jean Rigg will be covering Sydney WorldPride across social as the ABC’s first-ever Queerespondent. They will be on ground sharing LGBTQIA+ histories, festival top picks, handy how-to’s and so much more across ABCQueer.
The ABC has a long history of supporting LGBTQIA+ Australians and it reaffirms its role in connecting queer communities across Australia, as the proud broadcast partner for the exciting line-up of once-in-a-lifetime events across Sydney WorldPride.
Stream live events and discover a suite of LGBTQIA+ programs currently available on ABC iview and ABC listen. For more information, visit: www.abc.net.au for details.
Image: Sydney WorldPride Presenters – courtesy of ABC