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Sexual Tourism and the Excitement of the Strange: Heterosexuality and the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade

Gail Mason
University of Sydney

Gary Lo
affiliation not provided to SSRN

Sexualities, Vol.2, No. 1, pp. 97-121, 2009
Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 09/25

Abstract:
The Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade is one of the largest public celebrations of queer sexuality in the world today. This article seeks to understand the attraction of the Mardi Gras parade for heterosexual spectators who feel ambivalent or negative towards homosexuality. Drawing upon the concepts of 'the stranger' and 'the tourist' we suggest that the parade has several liminoid features that enable these spectators to momentarily suspend sexual norms that would otherwise inhibit them from attending. In this way, the parade provides an almost ideal opportunity for the ambivalent sexual tourist to experience the pleasure of the strange.

Keywords: sexuality, homophobia, violence

JEL Classifications: K10, K30

Accepted Paper Series

Date posted: May 05, 2009 ; Last revised: June 18, 2009

Suggested Citation

Mason, Gail F. and Lo, Gary, Sexual Tourism and the Excitement of the Strange: Heterosexuality and the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade (May 5, 2009). Sexualities, Vol.2, No. 1, pp. 97-121, 2009; Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 09/25. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1399245

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Contact Information

Gail F F. Mason (Contact Author) University of Sydney ( email ) Faculty of Law Building, F10 The University of Sydney Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
Gary Lo affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Abstract

References (48)

Date posted: May 05, 2009 ; Last revised: June 18, 2009

Suggested Citation

Contact Information

Gail F F. Mason (Contact Author)

Gary Lo