Rene Rivas
Bio
Renè Rivas arrived in Australia in the 1980s from El Salvador via the Refugee Family Reunion program. Soon after arriving, Sydney legend Peter Tully took Rivas under his wing in the Mardi Gras workshop. Since then, Rivas has worked as a costume designer in theatre, cabaret and film, creating costumes for major events such as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, and international films.
His acclaimed career has seen him work with the likes of Sydney icons Peter Tully, Doris Fish, Ron Muncaster and Jeanne Little, and received several awards including the SGLMG Lifetime Achievement Award (2016) and the Ron Muncaster Costume Award (2002).
In 1986, Rivas founded the Latin American LGBTQA Community and Friends group aimed at promoting multiculturalism, diversity, human rights, inclusion and social equality, and he continues to be an advocate for transgender youth, survivors of discrimination, abuse and religious persecution.