Skip to content

Variety of bottles from the Coca-Cola brand in a white background with the phrase "Media Centre" in white

Coca‑Cola Australia announced as supporting partner of Sydney WorldPride and Mardi Gras 2023

04-10-2022

Coca‑Cola Australia has been announced as a supporting partner of Sydney WorldPride – the first WorldPride to be held in the Southern Hemisphere – and Mardi Gras 2023.

The partnership reflects Coca‑Cola Australia’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace through workplace culture, community partnerships, diversity and inclusion policies, and employing people who mirror the diversity of the communities in which the company operates.

Two hands doing a toast with Coca-Cola cans with the word 'Love' printed on them

“Recognising, valuing, and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community is a priority for us, not only during Pride celebrations but all year round. We have a proud legacy of supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives around the world, by using our brands to provide a platform for voices in the community.

“We’re excited by the opportunity to celebrate WorldPride and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023 and we look forward to continuing to spread the message of inclusivity through the events next year,” said Kate Miller, Marketing Director, Coca‑Cola South Pacific.

In 2017, in line with the company’s strong commitment to inclusion, Coca‑Cola Australia created limited edition rainbow design ‘Love’ Coke cans and displayed the rainbow flag on its iconic Kings Cross billboard with a message ‘We Say Yes to Love!’, in support of the LGBTQIA+ communities ahead of Australia’s same-sex marriage vote.

Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Coca‑Cola Australia onboard as a supporting partner. Coca‑Cola Australia has been a long-standing supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and we look forward to their continued support as part of Sydney WorldPride 2023.”

Banner with illustration of a Coca-Cola bottle with multiple colors and the phrase 'We say yes to love!'

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger said: “For years, Coca‑Cola have been very vocal and visible in their support of inclusion and equality. We’re excited to have them join us in 2023 as supporting partner and look forward to sharing the wonderful activations they have planned for the community.”

The Coca‑Cola Company has an active Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Business Resource Group, and has received a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index every year since 2006.

Sydney WorldPride 2023 is the first WorldPride ever to be held in the Southern Hemisphere. Running across 17 days with events including Rainbow Republic, Ultra Violet and a three-day Human Rights Conference, the festival is expected to host up to 300 events and see over 500,000 people participate.

Coca‑Cola Australia plans to support WorldPride and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2023 with unique brand activations throughout the event period, inspired by the LGBTQIA+ community.

Various Coca-Cola cans on a shelf, where you can see the word 'Love' printed on two of them

About Coca‑Cola South Pacific

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. Our portfolio in Australia includes Coca‑Cola, Coca‑Cola No Sugar, Fanta, Sprite, Powerade and others. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. Together with our bottling partner we have made a commitment to reduce sugar across our non-alcohol beverage portfolios by 10% by 2020,  as well being part of an industry-wide pledge committing to reduce sugar across our non-alcohol beverage portfolios by 25% by 2025. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, The Coca‑Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, bringing economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners is the authorised manufacturer and distributor of The Coca‑Cola Company’s beverage brands in Australia. Coca‑Cola South Pacific Pty Ltd is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca‑Cola Company and provides marketing, technical and quality services to The Coca‑Cola Company in Australia.