Political protest has always been the fulcrum of Mardi Gras, but after years of anger and frustration at the obvious injustice of marriage discrimination, the 2018 iteration took on a distinctly celebratory air. Starting under a perfect Sydney sunset with the traditional roar of the Dykes on Bikes, and with superstar and gay icon Cher waiting in the wings, the 12,000 marchers stormed up Oxford Street to an estimated crowd of 300,000 spectators decked out in gold, glitter and all the colours of the rainbow. “There’s a very different vibe now that we have marriage equality,” said Alex Greenwich, the state MP who played a pivotal role in the long campaign for marriage equality. “People are marching with more confidence this year than ever before.” But getting marriage equality across the line has also cleared the air for other queer issues to get the oxygen they deserve, Mr Greenwich said, such as rights and respect for transgender people. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was cheered by fans as he watched the parade from outside the Courthouse Hotel, told the Herald he had received a “very warm” reception.

“You know, I’m still the only Prime Minister to go to Mardi Gras,” he said. “I reckon there’ll be a few more. Mardi Gras has been about equality and respect for all of its 40 years. And there’s been so much change in those 40 years, and there was the final issue of marriage equality, and we got it done, and we got it done as a nation, and we all had a say, and we said ‘yes’.” The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018. Credit:James Brickwood Mr Turnbull also noted it was 40 years since his first date with his wife Lucy. But amid the celebrations of marriage equality there was lingering resentment over last year’s divisive postal survey, which asked Australians to vote on whether same-sex relationships were of equal worth. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018. Credit:James Brickwood

Philip Busfield, 56, marched with a group called Punk Livid - punk because it was big in 1978, and livid “because of the plebiscite”, he said. “I’m still angry.” And Indigenous Australians, marching at the head of this year’s parade, were equally mindful of the challenges that lie ahead to achieve true equality. American singer Cher at the Sydney Mardi Gras. Credit:James Brickwood “It’s a big honour ... just to get the message out there that it’s okay to be gay,” said Nev Bloomfield, marching for the first time with his sister Bonita in the First Nations float. Steve Symonds, one of two hundred 78ers who marched in the parade this year, said he was “thrilled” at the progress made since that violent night when “the police stopped the party”. But of course, marriage isn’t for everyone.