About this Event
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the original custodians of this land. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Rempong (adj.)
An Indonesian slang word meaning unnecessarily complicated. In Indonesian Queer circles, rempong is lovingly used to describe the drama, the baggage, the extra-ness. A little messy. A little dramatic. Deeply familiar. And honestly? Very us.
The Why
Sydney Mardi Gras is a time of visibility when queerness fills the streets and celebration feels effortless. But for many LGBTQIA+ Indonesians, visibility is still a risk.
This event sits between two worlds. We reflect the realities faced by LGBTQIA+ people in Indonesia where identity is policed, expression is restricted, and safety is never guaranteed, while also holding space for the challenges carried by Indonesian Queer people living in the diaspora.
We are Indonesian Queer. Some of us left home searching for freedom, only to face new struggles abroad: visa uncertainty, unstable work, isolation, language barriers, and the quiet pressure to survive without complaint. While some back home imagine we are finally free, they don’t see how displacement, racism, and loneliness shape our everyday lives.
And during Mardi Gras season, when pride is loud and public, that tension between celebration and survival becomes even more visible.
The How
We turn survival into spectacle.
This night blends vulnerability with volume, storytelling with strutting. Expect storytelling from our guest speakers, drag, music, and burlesque serving truth, tenderness, and a little trouble. This is joy with bite, softness with edge.
The Goal
Healing doesn’t always look quiet. Sometimes it wears lashes, sequins, and a killer outfit on Oxford Street. Showing up loudly, fabulously, and unapologetically is valid and powerful.
For one night, we take space. Not just for ourselves, but for those in our community who couldn’t march, couldn’t be seen, or are still forced into silence for daring to exist.
The Fundraising
Your ticket keeps the lights on, literally. You’ll be supporting Indonesian Queer artists and helping fund the operations of IQC, the first Indonesian Queer charity organisation in Australia. Grants didn’t come through, but community always does.
Thank you for standing with us this Mardi Gras season with intention, care, and courage.
Follow us on Instagram for performer and guest updates: @indonesianqueercollective
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Stonewall Hotel, 175 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Australia
AUD 22.49 to AUD 27.78
