Feel The Love Mardi Gras celebrations set for February

Residents in the Sydney's Inner West suburbs should get ready to party, with the Leichhardt council committed to hosting the region's second annual "Feel The Love Leichhardt" Mardis Gras party on February 12.

After the success of last year's inaugural celebration, Mayor Darcy Byrne said he wanted to bring the the local Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Queer and Intersex community (GLBTQI) community together again in a show of solidarity and equality in the area.

"[The] council has in the past year established a consultative community to break down discrimination against the GLBTQI people in our local community," said Mr Byrne in a January 29 statement.

"We have established this annual celebration to send a clear message that gay and lesbian people and families are valued by Leichhardt council."

Anyone interested in joining in the festivities are welcome to attend the reception from 7 p.m. at the council's administrative building, which could be an enjoyable, illuminating experience. There will be a wide range of guest speakers involved with the proceeding.

Some notable guests include Dorothy McCrae-McMahon speaking about spirituality and ageing; Kerry Hunt from Rainbow Babies, a support group for GLBTQI parents in the Inner West region; Curtis Dickson (Young People) and Teresa Savage from the LGBTQI Action Group who promote and defend the human rights of the community.

Furthermore, next week the mayor will be joined by members from the LGBTQI community to hoist a rainbow flag the Balmain Town Hall, which will fly above the Inner West for the duration of the Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the region.

The Rainbow flag, which will be be raised on February 7, has been a symbol for the pride of gay and lesbian people since the 1970s and holds significance in the wider community for the LGBTQI movement.