Thousands paraded in Sydney Mardi Gras

ABC NEWS (Australia)

WARNING: This story features the name of an deceased Indigenous person, which has been used with the permission of his family. The Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade is a time to celebrate but also honour LGBTQI legends that walked before us.

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00:00 Last night was incredible and the First Nations Float Collective is an amazing way to experience

00:08 Mardi Gras because it is the first float, it leads the parade.

00:13 You know, 120,000 people, there's 12,000 people marching and you're seeing queerness celebrated

00:18 at this national scale of glitter and sequins and really important messaging as well.

00:24 The theme of this year's Mardi Gras is Our Future and it's about honouring local LGBTQ

00:29 legends and celebrating the trailblazers and someone with an unwavering commitment

00:34 to this genuine representation is Ginny Jane Smith.

00:38 Now Ginny Jane is a Wiradjuri Wubunja woman and she works at ACON which is New South Wales

00:43 leading HIV and sexual health organisation.

00:47 Now a huge reason for Ginny Jane taking this career path was her uncle Rossie Smith.

00:54 Rossie Smith was this fabulous Wubunja man from the south coast of New South Wales and

01:00 he was vibrant, he worked in the public service, he trained as a nurse and he was so close

01:05 to his family.

01:06 He was the youngest of seven siblings and he was so close to his nieces and nephews.

01:12 He died of AIDS in 1994 and he inspired Ginny Jane and in a way still does to live her most

01:20 authentic life and don't be ashamed to talk about sexual health and safe sex.

01:25 She was just 12 years old when she died but he had a profound impact on her.

01:32 He was this vibrant, poppy, energetic, you know, extra lovely, extra lovely I should

01:40 say, you know, human who was just, yeah, filled with love.

01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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