Last year this House offered an historic apology to the "78ers" who participated in the first ever mardi gras. This past weekend saw the kick-off of the thirty-ninth Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival with the flag-raising at Sydney Town Hall and Mardi Gras Fair Day held at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park. Mardi gras has a rich history as a protest organisation, playing a vital role in delivering equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning [LGBTIQ] people in New South Wales. This year's theme, "Creating Equality", continues in that vein. The LGBTIQ community in New South Wales continues to fight for marriage equality, for the promotion of safe and accepting schools, and for the removal of barriers and discrimination for transgender and gender diverse people in our community. I stand with them in their fight for equality. Happy mardi gras!