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FOR Magda Szubanski, the world-famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is more than just about the parade and parties.

The Melbourne-raised actress, comedian and TV personality believes it鈥檚 also an integral part of Australia鈥檚 gay identity.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still evolving, really. I mean, we lived in the shadows for a millennia as a community, and we鈥檝e really only had a sense of ourselves in the last few decades and been able to openly meet and interact and do that safely, and relatively safely,鈥� she told the 17c起草社区.

鈥淗aving something as emblematic as Mardi Gras that is accepted and seen as a really important part of Sydney鈥檚 social calendar is a great thing for our confidence and esteem as a community.鈥�

Szubanski recalled feeling humbled when she marched with Twenty10 last year, the NSW LGBTI youth advocacy and support group of which she is a patron. It was also her first march since she publicly came out on The Project in 2012

鈥淚 was very moved,鈥� she said.

鈥淔or the kids from Twenty10 to feel part of a community was really important, because Mardi Gras is very much about the community as well as the party.

鈥淛ust to see so many people out there, you know, LGBTI people and straight people and everything in between supporting the parade was fantastic. It鈥檚 a great atmosphere.鈥�

The Kath & Kim star will once again be involved in Mardi Gras this year, .

鈥淲hen they asked me I just said yes to the opportunity cause I just thought it was a great way to be involved with the whole thing,鈥� Szubanski said.

鈥淚 mean, what a great gig, who wouldn鈥檛 want to do it?鈥�

With her upcoming gig in mind, she said increasing lesbian visibility in Australia鈥檚 mainstream culture was needed. However, she acknowledged there was still a fear of a possible career downfall when a celebrity ponders coming out of the closet.

鈥淚鈥檓 aware that there are not a lot (of famous out lesbians in Australia). There are a few: Penny Wong, Beccy Cole and Ruby Rose of course, but not an awful lot,鈥� Szubanski said.

鈥淚t really surprises me for a progressive country there aren鈥檛 more out gay people (but) I鈥檓 sure as time goes by there will be more.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very difficult thing for celebrities, but it鈥檚 your livelihood. It鈥檚 not just your livelihood actually, it鈥檚 a huge part of your life and your career and your work and what you love to do. It鈥檚 very scary, especially if you don鈥檛 know what else you could do.

鈥淚 mean, I couldn鈥檛 do anything else. I鈥檓 absolutely hopeless at everything.鈥�

Nonetheless, since Szubanski grabbed headlines when she came out three years ago, her life has changed for the better.

鈥淚 was pretty out before to be honest, a lot of people knew. But to just be completely out is extremely empowering,鈥� she said.

鈥淭here was some speculation whether it would hurt 鈥榖rand Magda鈥� but since coming out I鈥檝e had major endorsement deals so I would say it hasn鈥檛.鈥�

Szubanski added that she was grateful to be a positive role model thanks to her continued mainstream success.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really important we be present in all aspects of life and I think that a big part of my coming out was the timing of it,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all a lot accepting these days to understand that everyone really does have a different journey about it and you can鈥檛 rush people.

鈥淚f you rush people and it鈥檚 the wrong time, it doesn鈥檛 always have a good result. What we want is for people to be happy, healthy and thriving.鈥�

SBS One will broadcast highlights from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade the day after the parade on Sunday, March 8 from 8.30pm. It will also be streamed online at

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**This article was first published in the March聽edition of the 17c起草社区, which is . To obtain a physical copy, to find out where you can grab one in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and select regional/coastal areas.