Famous Amsterdam Rainbow Dress arrives in Sydney ahead of WorldPride 2023

A famous artwork of 71 flags, each representing a country in the world where it’s still illegal to be gay has arrived in Sydney – the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to host WorldPride.

The monumental Amsterdam Rainbow Dress artwork has arrived in Sydney for the first time, ahead of the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference in March 2023.

The dress is made from the national flags of the 71 countries where it is still illegal to be LGBTQIA+ on penalty of imprisonment, torture or death.

Actor, theatre critic and trans woman Suzy Wrong donned the enormous gown, which is over 3.5 metres in height, and 16 metres in diameter against a backdrop of the Sydney Harbour skyline.

“The Amsterdam Dress is a great visual display of all the work that we still need to do to protect LGBTQIA+ rights,” Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett told Confidential.

As a symbol of hope, each time a country changes its law, its national flag is replaced by a rainbow one.

The dress is made from the national flags of the 71 countries where it is still illegal to be LGBTQIA+ on penalty of imprisonment, torture or death. Picture: Tim Hunter

Here, the dress is being modelled by actor, theatre critic and trans woman, Suzy Wrong. Picture: Tim Hunter

Since the dress was created in 2016, the national flags of six countries – Angola, Belize, India, Trinidad and Tobago and Botswana – have been replaced by the rainbow flag.

Meanwhile, the national flag of Chad has been added.

As a symbol of hope, each time a country changes its law, its national flag is replaced by a rainbow one. Six countries have changed their laws since its creation in 2016. Picture: Tim Hunter.

When Wickett first came out as lesbian, as a 16-year-old in Adelaide, the world was a much different place.

“We’re in a much luckier position than some countries where being who you are is punishable by death. But there’s still a lot of work to be done here to achieve true equality,” she said.

“The first Mardi Gras started in 1978 as a protest up Oxford St, and has changed to a protest and a celebration. I don’t think those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.”

The Dress’ visit pre-empts the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference (1-3 March, 2023), at which 1500 community leaders, activists, politicians and human rights experts from across the globe will gather. Picture: Tim Hunter

WorldPride is a global event which began in Rome in 2000, and is awarded to a different host city every two-three years. In 2019, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras beat out Houston, U.S., and Montreal, Canada with its bid to be the very first Southern Hemisphere host city.

“It’s a huge opportunity to shine a light on the Asia Pacific, and our queer First Nations culture,” Wickett said.

“And really, to invite the world to Sydney on the 45th anniversary of Mardi Gras is so incredible. It will be a beautiful juxtaposition of fantastic parties — which we know we will have — and debate and learning.”