26 May 2025
While on a regional presence deployment, HMAS Sydney’s crew marked IDAHOBIT Day with a movie night showcasing films from the 2025 Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival.
IDAHOBIT stands for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, and commemorates the day when the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from the Classification of Diseases in 1990.
Sydney’s Chaplain Simon Edds organised the movie night for his fellow shipmates.
“Having previously worked in the film industry, I experienced first-hand how culture is influenced by what we see,” Chaplain Edds said.
“I thought it could positively impact our LGBTQIA+ members to see themselves represented on screen, and the short film festival may even enlighten a few members who don’t know much about the LGBTQIA+ community, but are open to learning more.”
To enable the screening, Chaplain Edds worked with Queer Screen to get a copy of the Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival films, and DEFGLIS (Defence Gay and Lesbian Information Service), who provided the funds to cover the licencing fees.
DEFGLIS President Rachael Cosgrove said the screening was an outstanding achievement.
“DEFGLIS is extremely proud to have been a part of this remarkable show of support for the LGBTQIA+ personnel within our ships at sea,” she said.
'These short film packages have presented us with a unique opportunity to bring LGBTQIA+ stories aboard a ship.'
The volunteer-run organisation is currently working on a project to highlight the contributions of LGBTQIA+ people in the ADF after World War 2.
With more than five per cent of the ADF identifying themselves as queer in the latest Census data, the film night gave them a chance to see their stories highlighted in six short films.
Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival Director Lisa Rose said she was thrilled to work with Navy to bring the best of the Mardi Gras Film Festival to the sea.
“These short film packages have presented us with a unique opportunity to bring LGBTQIA+ stories aboard a ship,” she said.
“It has created a space where crew members from our community and beyond can truly feel seen, valued and included.”
Sydney is undertaking Navy’s second regional presence deployment for 2025. Until early July, Sydney is sailing throughout the Indo-Pacific to conduct training, exercises and other engagements with regional navies.
