Kylie for Sydney Mardi Gras

Australia’s favourite pop princess, Kylie Minogue, will return for Mardi Gras this year.

Minogue — who has performed at Party twice, the last time in 1998 — will attend the Parade to celebrate her 25-year music career and relationship with the gay community.

“I am coming home for Mardi Gras this year,” Minogue said.

“I simply cannot wait, and it’s going to be a beautiful way to celebrate 25 years of this relationship.”

“Your support over the years has just been phenomenal and I can’t wait to come home and share that with you. So see you in March.”

Minogue’s appearance at the Parade — widely recognised as the world’s best celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex pride and diversity — will kick off her celebration of 25 years in the music industry.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) will honour Minogue during the Parade with a spectacular K25 float that pays homage to the artist’s outstanding contribution to the music industry and support of the LGBTQI community.

SGLMG’s CEO Michael Rolik says Minogue’s RSVP will go down as one of the great moments in the organisation’s history.

“There is no doubt our community contains an enormous number of Kylie fans, so we are delighted she will be here for Mardi Gras at the start of her 25th anniversary in the music industry,” he said.

“There are often rumours that Kylie will be back at Mardi Gras and today we are pleased to confirm she will be here to party alongside us over the Parade weekend. We will be pulling out all the stops to show her a good time.

“In strategic partnership with Destination NSW we have been investing in the quality of the Parade to ensure that it delivers great creativity, stronger messages and is a more attractive event for visitors from around Australia and overseas.

“This year promises to deliver a wonderful Parade and Kylie’s attendance will be the cherry on the cake.”

NSW Tourism Minister George Souris said the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, had forged a strong partnership with Mardi Gras which has helped ensure Minogue, who was recently inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, is in Sydney for Mardi Gras.

“We welcome Kylie Minogue to Australia’s leading tourism and events city for one of the world’s leading events,” Souris said.

“Ms Minogue has a very special place in Australians’ hearts. She has a global audience who adore her. Where better for her to celebrate her 25 years in entertainment than in Sydney, Australia’s global city.

“The presence of Kylie Minogue is sure to make this the biggest and best Sydney Mardi Gras ever.”

INFO: Sydney Mardi Gras 2012 runs February 12 – March 4. More at www.mardigras.org.au