Johnnie WALKER DEBUTANTE BALL

Despite being home to one of the biggest celebrations of Pride on the planet, many queer Australians have never attended The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The reasons they have yet to attend are nuanced and personal. They can be because of acceptance of their own identity, family pressure and conservatism, geographical, financial and even because of a fear for personal safety. 

As a proud partner and official sponsor, Johnnie Walker wanted to empower people to come to their first ever Mardi Gras in 2024.

So, we subverted the most iconic ‘coming out’ tradition there was, a Debutante Ball, and gave it a big, fabulous twist. The Johnnie Walker Debutante Ball helped Mardi Gras First Timers take the first steps they thought they might never take, surrounded by their community.