Jane Becker celebrated her 30th anniversary working at Mardi Gras last year. She’s been a workshop manager, on committees and was even, in a former life, a dyke on a bike. But this year will be the first time she takes part in the parade with her children.
It was the family’s shared love of the Matildas, and the way that kids were able to see queer role models on the world stage at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, that led Becker and her friend Em, also a Mardi Gras veteran, to rally a group of families for a Tillies-themed float this year.
Mini Matildas march at the Sydney Mardi Gras.Credit: Getty/Jenny Evans
The “Mini Matildas” marching with the “em’n’jane Celebrating the Matildas” float are aged between 10 and 16 and play soccer in Sydney’s inner west.
“For people of Em and my generation who grew up with no queer representation at all, or only negative representation, it’s just incredible and honestly mind-boggling,” Becker said.
“The theme for the parade this year is ‘Our Future’, so we very much feel these kids are our future, and they have role models who are straight, gay, allies: it’s no big deal for them.”
Several members of the Matildas squad are in same-sex relationships, including captain Sam Kerr, who got engaged to her girlfriend, US national player Kristie Mewis, last year.
“That it’s no big deal that the captain of the Australian soccer team can be an out and proud lesbian who’s engaged to her girlfriend; it’s just unbelievable,” said Becker.
Source Agencies
