Mardi Gras Burg Inc.

17/06/2026

Today is the birthday of American writer and early post-Stonewall LGBTQI+ rights activist, Thomas Lawrence “Thom” Higgins! 🎂

While Thom was credited with coining the term “gay pride”, he is best known for his act of pieing Anita Bryant — singer and anti-gay spokesperson — during a live televised press conference wherein Bryant praised gay conversion therapy. This incident drew national attention to the plight of the LGBTQI+ community and the ongoing fight for gay rights. 🏳️‍🌈

Thom is also known for:
⭐ co-founding the ‘Positively Gay Cuban Refugee Task Force’, who sponsored gay Cuban refugees to allow them to leave refugee camps and lead normal lives;
⭐being the first Minnesotan to receive conscientious objector status from the Vietnam War;
⭐ and working as a nurse who cared for AIDS patients.

16/06/2026

🎟️ SPONSORED TICKETS 🎟️

Want to support Mardi Gras-Burg but can't afford this weekend's fundraiser? You're in luck, thanks to tickets sponsored by generous members of our community!! 🫶

If you'd like to apply for a ticket that has been sponsored, or to sponsor a ticket yourself, reach out to us at [email protected] or via our social media. We are so grateful for your support in whatever form it takes!

Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY // 20th June // Banshees Bar & Artspace
Tickets here: https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party

15/06/2026

Do you have a child under 18 who's interested in attending this weekend's pride party fundraiser? Here's how they can join the fun!

All minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian and must get prior confirmation of their attendance by emailing [email protected]. Further details are in the image (and the alt text).

Mardi Gras-Burg Inc aims to create events that are accessible to all our local regional and LGBTQ+ communities, so we'd love to see you this weekend! 🏳️‍🌈💞

Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY // 20th June // Banshees Bar & Artspace
Tickets here: https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party

14/06/2026

So exciting to see such a massive pride event planned for Cairns!! Wonderful work Cairns Pride Festival 🏳️‍🌈❤️

12/06/2026

Our Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY is coming up soon!! Join us at Banshees Bar & Artspace on June 20th to celebrate pride month in Ipswich 🌈

With bands, a DJ, drag performances, games, and other party shenanigans, there's sure to be something you'll love 💖

This fundraiser helps us keep Mardi Gras-Burg's biennial festival free for everyone, so come along to support local artists and have a ball! 🪩✨

Tickets here: https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party

11/06/2026

HIGHLY recommend Pink Lemonade at the Ipswich Community Gallery!! It was incredible to see so many LGBTQ+ artists from Ipswich exhibit works on identity and community. It's on until this Sunday — be sure to drop by! 💗

Pink Lemonade 🩷
Friday 05 June to Sunday 14 June
Free
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
No bookings are required to visit the exhibition.
📍 Ipswich Community Gallery

Opening Event: Saturday 6 June 2026 4:30 - 6:00 PM

A collective exhibition of LGBTQI+ artists connected to Ipswich, exploring identity, place and community.

Pink Lemonade showcases a group of artists within the LGBTQI+ community, who work, live, and have history with the Ipswich/Tulmur region. These diverse artists range from emerging to established, and thematically explore identity, place, the body, and concerns over sustainability and mental health. Their diverse mediums include mixed media, painting, costuming, animation, photography, collage and textiles. At a time when the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI+ people are being threatened across the world, this exhibition is a proud celebration of identity and community. This exhibition is curated by Maya Kuzman and Elsie Salkeld, and managed by Kat Morrice.

Image Credit: Keira Percy, Pink Lemonade, 2026. Digital Drawing. Image Courtesy of the Artist.


https://ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/pink-lemonade?utm_name=sked&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=sked_69f2f5315109decc06e4f988

06/06/2026

Meet our performers!! ✨ 𝐎𝐢 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞 ✨

DJ Oi Nate is bringing the dance energy to elevate our night! Where would the q***r party scene be without our beloved DJs? A Your Shot 2025 finalist and Ipswich-born icon, Oi Nate will be pumping disco boogie beats and fresh house tunes for us to celebrate pride month with pizzazz. Dance along and join the party!! 🪩🎇

Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY // June 20 // Banshees Bar & Artspace

https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party

05/06/2026

Meet our performers!! ✨Shotgun Sam✨

Shotgun Sam is hard riffin', smooth talkin', and way-too-fast-drivin'. Instead of his usual World Famous Blues Band, Sam will be accompanied by some friends for this special pride event, including Mardi Gras-Burg's vice president and drummer extraordinaire, Hazel! Get ready for high-octane blues chaos and rock-&-roll heat from this iconic all-Ipswich band 🎸⚡

Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY // June 20 // Banshees Bar & Artspace

https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party

04/06/2026

Meet our performers!! ✨𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞✨

Mitchell Duke is an emerging force in the next wave of pop storytellers. A singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Brisbane, Mitchell is carving out a space defined by raw emotion, haunting melodies, and a voice that cuts deep. Mitchell and his band recently made their Banshees debut, and the MGB crew fell in love with their energy instantly! We're so lucky to party with them this pride month 🩵🪼

Mardi Gras-Burg PARTY // June 20 // Banshees Bar & Artspace

https://bansheesbar.com.au/event/mardi-gras-burg-party