Sydney will come to life this weekend with all the glitz, colour and excitement of the 40th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
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Hayley Hoskins from Baylin’s Gift is preparing to march in the parade in her son’s honour alongside Kempsey’s Dreamtime Divas.
Mrs Hoskins lost her son Baylin, who was battling depression and struggling for acceptance of his sexual orientation, to suicide in 2016 and started the charity Baylin’s Gift in his honour.
“I would have loved to have done the march with Baylin but that’s not going to happen,” she said.
“We are definitely marching in Baylin’s memory but it’s also about recognising and showing awareness for the kids that don’t get it in their community.
“It’s important we acknowledge all those kids that didn’t make it.”
Mrs Hoskins told the Argus Mardi Gras is a place you can go and be accepted no matter who you are and that’s really important especially for young people.
“Mardi Gras is family,” she said.
“Mardi Gras is a support system.
“It’s a community.”
Baylin’s “second mum”, Cindy SImons, his friends, and a number of young Macleay people will join Mrs Hoskins at the inclusive event.
“It’s important that they get the chance to be involved in that family and in that acceptance.
“We’re really proud that there is a few young ones marching.”
The group will proudly display two banners, promoting the local charity, Baylin’s Gift, and the community movement which is spreading awareness and acceptance - It’s OK on the Macleay.
Speaking on behalf of the Macleay contingent, Mrs Hoskins said it’s exciting to be participating in the first Mardi Gras following the marriage equality vote.
“It’s the 40th anniversary of Mardi Gras this year so it’s absolutely massive.
“Lots of people missed out on a spot to march so we were lucky.
“We feel really privileged to be able to march – it’s really special.”
In life, Baylin never made it to Mardi Gras, though he did try.
In the months before his passing, Baylin, and his close friends boarded the train bound for Sydney central and Mardi Gras.
“We couldn’t understand why he wanted his ashes scattered at Cape York.”
- Hayley Hoskins
However, on the way he lost his wallet and was sidetracked by the ensuing search.
Eventually, he located his wallet at a police station but unfortunately the parade had finished by the time he retrieved it.
Last year, Baylin got to attend Mardi Gras in spirit as the Dreamtime Divas carried his ashes in the 2017 parade.
The Hoskins’ family then travelled to the northernmost tip of Australia to honour their son’s last wishes.
In a letter to his father, written prior to his passing, Baylin requested his ashes be spread at Cape York Peninsula.
“We couldn’t understand why he wanted to be scattered at Cape York.”
The family soon worked out what Baylin, who dreamed of being a marine biologist, already knew – that the East Australian Current, which flows down the eastern coast, would carry their son on a final journey back to Hat Head.
“He came all the way home,” Mrs Hoskins said.
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