Mardi Gras best of: HAAi, Jake Shears, Casey Donovan, Ed Le Brocq and Rhys Nicholson

Over the years of I've chatted with many incredible people from the LGBTQIA+ community. Artists, comedians, musicians, singers; and a common thread through all these conversations is how much music has meant to them. How it’s been a place of joy and solace, love and healing.As we celebrate the annual Mardi Gras parade, I dug into the archives to pull out some of my favourite moments on Take 5.All of these stories come from the heart, but they also show just how much music is a map for all of us. How it can be a home, a salve, a lightbulb moment, and a community.Scissor Sisters - 'Running Out'David Bowie - 'Boys Keep Swinging'Maddie Zahm - 'You Might Not Like Her'Ry Cooder & V. M. Bhatt - 'Isa Lei'N-Joi - 'Anthem'Listen to the full episodes here:Rhys Nicholson Takes 5 with the unexpected https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/rhys-nicholson-take-unexpected/103148616Jake Shears' boundary pushing songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/jake-shears-take-5/10905602Casey Donovan's sanctuary songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/casey-donovan-take-5-sanctuary-songs/104562904Ed Le Brocq's songs on the road https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/ed-le-brocq-take-5-on-the-road/102427136HAAi's pride songs https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/take-5/double-j-take-5-zan-rowe-haai/102019612Lifeline: 13 11 14