Thousands of lesbians and gays gathered in Australia over the weekend and got buck-naked for a darn good cause.
More than 5000 people congregated in front of the Sydney Opera House to be photographed nude in the name of art and diversity Saturday in light of Australia's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras brought tens of thousands to honor equality. The installment joined The History of the World-themed Mardi Gras parade featuring more than 9500 people and 135 floats.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australians stripped down to participate in a mass expression of human connection, nude, raw and uncensored on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in photographer Spencer Tunick's latest installation, "Mardi Gras: The Base."
Danielle Harvey, the festival's executive producer, said 5200 people had lined up to take part in the venture, including athletes, doctors, teachers and retirees.
Tunick said the title of the installation, "Mardi Gras: The Base," referred to the similarities of individuals, regardless of their sexual preferences.
"Gay men and women lay naked next to their straight neighbors and this delivered a very strong message to the world that Australians embrace a free and equal society," Tunick said.
"It was difficult to get the straight people to embrace the gay participants ... I was happy we got it in the second set-up," he added.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras commissioned the project.
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