Rainbow Champions

From high-profile figures to grass-roots change-makers, Sydney WorldPride will be celebrating 45 influential figures from across Australia’s diverse LGBTQIA+ extended family. These 45 Rainbow Champions represent the 45 years since the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which took place on 24 June 1978. 

Each Rainbow Champion has been chosen for their contributions to Australian LGBTQIA+ community and culture. For the rest of the year, we will make our way around Australia to meet all the Rainbow Champions. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

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Thirty-six

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Thirty-seven

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Thirty-eight

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Thirty-nine

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Forty

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Forty-one

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Forty-two

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Forty-three

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Forty-four

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Forty-five

Festival partners

Our festival would not be possible without the support of our partners who have an ongoing commitment to the community and what it stands for.

Yes Optus and Sydney WorldPride animated It starts with yes
Canva banner with photo of couple and design with pride text on rainbow background
A banner advertisement with text "New Season Podcast", has a graphic of a rainbow layers of colour in a heart shaped and abc logo plus one for "Innies + Outies" podcast and then text that says "listen" above a button shape that says "Stream for free"
Banner ad with text on coloured background "Herbert Smith Freehills championing diversity and inclusion"
Yes Optus and Sydney WorldPride animated It starts with yes
American Express "express yourself" rotating banner ad
Coles Sydney WorldPride 2023 proud partner banner
Colourful animated gif advertising Absolut vodka with a sparkling rainbow background and a bottle of the vodka in the foreground. The words "Pride in Diversity" display at the end.
Yes Optus and Sydney WorldPride animated It starts with yes
Animated banner advertisement of ooh media depicting happy adults with phrases like "Making love unmissable!" on an orange background
Archie Rose advertisement showing a bottle of Archie Rose gin with a background of rainbow flowers with the text "Official Gin Partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023. Proudly Serving Everyone."
Orea advertisement with the text "Stay Playful Stay Proud" next to a heart made by stacking images of Oreos together and the Oreo to the right of it with a blue background.
Yes Optus and Sydney WorldPride animated It starts with yes
Qantas advertisement showing a Qantas plane with a rainbow tail flying above the clouds with the text "Pride is in the air" displayed next to it and the logos for Sydney WorldPride, Qantas and Mardi Gras along the top.
P&G advertisement depicting happy people and text saying "This 2023, lead with love" and logos of their brands.
An advertisement for Covermore that shows a photograph of two women holding a rainbow flag behind them with text to the left that says "Cover More travel insurance. We're there every step of your journey. Learn more. Proud Supporting Partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023."
Yes Optus and Sydney WorldPride animated It starts with yes
Durex advertisement that consists of a collage of photos with a red filter over them showing two women above to kiss and two men kissing with the text "durex, love your sex and gather. dream. amplify." displayed above further text saying "Proud partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023"
A black banner advertisement with the Deloitte logo in white with a green full stop on the left and a white version of the Sydney WorldPride logo on the right. This then rotates to another slide that says "Wonderful, proud and free!" in a lot of colour and movement

Acknowledgement of country

Sydney WorldPride will take place on the lands of the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Darug, Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Sydney Basin.

We pay our Respects to their Elders past and present. Always was Always will be Aboriginal Land.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people come from many different clans and communities across Australia & in 2023 will come together as one, to celebrate with our global LGBTQIA+ community.