Australia: 5,000 Gather in Sydney for Naked Photo Shoot in Equality Protest

More than 5000 people have gathered in front of the Sydney Opera House to be photographed nude in the name of art and diversity today. A pregnant woman was among the first group of Australians to take their place on the steps of the Opera House just after dawn in photographer Spencer Tunick's latest installation, Mardi Gras: The Base.

Mardi Gras festival executive producer Danielle Harvey said 5200 people, including sportspeople, doctors, teachers and retirees, had lined up to take part. "We were expecting 2000 or so ... we're absolutely thrilled," Ms Harvey said.

Tan lines were the most prominent feature of the Australian line up, which whooped and cheered its way onto the Opera House forecourt in lines in cool, cloudy conditions.

Full Story from the Sydney Morning Herald
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Australia: Artist Plans Nude Instalation for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Some artists sculpt with hardwood, others with marble or bronze. Internationally acclaimed photographer Spencer Tunick sculpts with thousands of naked people and will transform the forecourt of Sydney Opera House with his unique medium next month to celebrate the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Running from police through the streets of New York with 20 volunteers who were wearing nothing but panicked smiles, Tunick said he could never have imagined that a few short years later he would summon 18,000 to undress in the shadow of Mexico’s national palace and the largest cathedral in the Americas.

“I was being threatened with arrest and imprisonment in 2000 by Rudolf Giuliani, so having thousands pose for me the next year was really the furthest thing from my mind,” Tunick said. “I think conservatives want to control people, control your freedom, control your body and control your mind. My work goes against control freaks.”

Full Story from the Wentworth Courier
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Australia: Thousands Gather at Gay Marriage Rallies in Six Cities

Crowds have gathered in Australian cities calling for marriage equality after a bill to endorse gay unions was rejected by the Senate. A Senate inquiry into same-sex marriage on Friday dismissed the Greens' marriage equality bill, while the ACT government this week struck a deal with the federal government to accept a civil union scheme. Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Alex Greenwich said strong attendances by more than 2,000 people at rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, ACT, Adelaide and Lismore on Saturday to launch a national year of action showed positive community support. "I think the bill's rejection has re-energised people's commitment to marriage equality," he told AAP. He said same-sex marriage could become a key issue in the lead-up to the next federal election. Full Story from 9News: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=977223

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