FIRST NATIONS DRAG PERFORMER RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OVER MARDI GRAS OUTFIT

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

A First Nations drag performer has responded to criticism over an outfit worn at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Felicia Foxx, a Brotherboy-Sistergirl performer from the Gamilaraay tribe, wore a cultural lore garment paired with high-heeled boots. The outfit sparked mixed reactions within the Aboriginal community, with both support and backlash shared on social media.

Foxx addressed the criticism in a statement, saying they had faced accusations of disrespecting culture, not being a part of Aboriginal heritage, and misrepresenting traditional songlines.

“I’ve been told that my outfit was disrespectful, that my ancestors would be turning in their graves, and even that gay, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people didn’t exist in our songlines,” Foxx said.

They explained their choice of outfit aligned with the event’s theme, “Free To Be,” and the First Nations float theme, “Blak Royalty.”

“I can’t put my culture aside for my queerness, nor put my queerness aside for my culture. I decided to put myself in all my glory on display with the intent to be the visibility and representation I never had growing up as a young queer, Aboriginal boy,” they said.

Marianne Skeen, a Jaru woman from Halls Creek in the Kimberley, publicly criticised the outfit, arguing it blurred cultural lines.

“I have family members who identify as gay. There is nothing wrong with that. Show that you are a proud Aboriginal person, but don’t dress up as an Aboriginal queer warrior,” she told Ngaarda Media. “Our ancestors weren’t wearing high-heeled boots. He was dumbing down our culture.”

Skeen runs a Facebook group, “Australia has a Black History Stand Up and Be Counted,” with over 10,000 members. She said she had been accused of homophobia and cultural betrayal but stood by her views.

“I was told I’m homophobic, that I have no culture, that I’m a disgrace to my race. But that’s wrong,” she said. “I asked a question: when he stands up like this, is he under men’s law or women’s law?

“In our culture, you’re either a man or a woman. You can’t push your way in and demand to be both.”

The debate highlights ongoing conversations about identity, tradition, and cultural representation within the Aboriginal and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Here is the full statement from Felicia Foxx:

You have probably read or heard the serious mistreatment I have been facing due to the phenomenal outfit I graced you with at this years Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. I also played part in a photo opportunity with someone dressed up as Jesus.

The theme of this year’s Mardi Gras 2025 was “Free To Be” and the interpretation of the First Nations Float was Blak Royalty. I participated in the parade this year wearing a red lap lap, fishing spear, thigh high red boots and a red g-string. The ochre that I adorned my body with and most importantly, i painted myself to a certain standard that followed cultural protocol that a Kamilaroi man would do as such.

I've been told that my outfit was disrespectful. I’m not a part of the Aboriginal culture. My ancestors would be turning in their graves & I’ve even been told that Gay, two-spirited and Gender diverse people did not exist in our song lines.

I decided wholeheartedly and genuinely that I was wearing the outfit I wore to align with the theme “Free To Be” and our First Nations float theme “Blak Royalty”. My interpretation of this year’s theme was that you as an individual were free of restraints from society, free of gender roles, free of bigotry and free to be whomever you choose to be. I am a Gay Aboriginal man who lives simultaneously with my Queerness and Culture 365 days a year, I can’t put my culture aside for my queerness nor put my queerness aside for my culture. I decided to put myself in all my glory being so proud of my everyday identity on display in this outfit with the intent that I would be the visibility and representation that I never got to see growing up as a young queer, Aboriginal boy.

We are living in a society we’re culture is constantly evolving and I Wendell French aka Felicia Foxx am a proud gay, Aboriginal man who is constantly evolving with society and I made a stand to showcase to the world that I am a Queer man who has Cultural ties.

We have one of the most progressive an rich cultures on this earth to allow colonial ways deteriorate our amazing black strong minds. Pre colonial times and back in the times before white man settled we had Gay, Trans, Two spirited people belonging to different Nations across this continent. There are numerous nations with dialect that translate, Transgender and two spirited peoples that still exist. We have and always will exist in our culture and community as queer people.

If you haven’t seen it already, I’d like to cover my thoughts and feelings on the controversial image of me holding a spear to Jesus.

Everyone knows that colonialism brought the churches here onto Aboriginal land and forced Christianity, the bible and Jesus/God down my peoples throats. They were set up on missionaries and were taught the so called way that humanity should live, taking away the culture, language, traditional practices…etc.

The image of myself holding that spear to someone dressed like Jesus was a stance for the truth telling when it comes to pre colonialism and what the churches, colonialists & genocidest did to our people. We talk about truth telling in society today yet when myself someone who is apart of the race that the church tried to bred, wipe out it’s an outcry.

This is my truth and if you don’t like it then you don’t like the truth!!

WELCOME TO 2025

Where I am FREE TO BE ME AND SPEAK MY TRUTH

If you don’t like it then go Nik your Nanny