Mardi Gras board decision to consult queer community on police joining parade hailed as ‘massive win’

The Sydney Mardi Gras board will vote on whether NSW police force members will march in its annual parade later this year.
In an email sent to members on Friday evening, the board announced three community consultation sessions – two online and one in person – would be held in September to gather feedback.
The results of the consultation will form an independent report, and a motion will be put forward at this year’s Mardi Gras annual general meeting for a vote.
It is understood a date for the 2024 meeting will be announced in the coming weeks.
In its email, the board acknowledged the participation of police in the parade has been “a topic of ongoing discussion within our community”.
“Our aim is to ensure that all voices within our community are heard, and that members have the necessary information to make informed decisions on this issue,” the message stated.
“The goal is to gather clear and unbiased data that will support informed decision-making.”
Riley Brooke, a member of the queer community group Pride in Protest who have long advocated against the police marching in the parade, welcomed the move as a “massive win”.
Brooke said Pride in Protest had “pushed hard” for the wider community to be consulted on the issue.
“We encourage everyone who is participating to do so in good faith,” Brooke said.
“The queer community doesn’t benefit when the queer community is sniping at itself [so] it’s really important we have these crucial political discussions and we treat them with the seriousness that they warrant.”
Brooke said a lot of people have “very firmly held beliefs” around police marching – themself included – and noted there is “justifiable hurt and anger from marginalised communities about the inclusion of police”.
“Actually talking about those politics and talking about the impact that the decision to include or not include – or how we invite or don’t invite police officers into queer spaces – that conversation is really important.”
In its email, the board specified consultation was around the police force’s involvement in the parade not the operational presence of NSW police at its events – which is mandated under state law and will continue as required.
Discussions around the inclusion of police in the parade have been ongoing over a number of years. However, the debate came to a head early this year after police Sen Const Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged with the murder of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird allegedly using his police-issued firearm.
The board asked the force not to march in the parade for the first time since 1998, however police later agreed to march in plainclothes “in consideration of the sensitivities”.
The first Sydney Mardi Gras took place in 1978 as a protest against discrimination and a celebration of the local LGBTQI+ community. It led to police violence, mass arrests and the public outings of attenders by the media.
In 2018, the then-NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, formally apologised to ’78ers – those who marched in the first parade – for the pain caused by police actions.
This year, the site of the old Darlinghurst police station was transformed into a queer museum, with founder David Polson previously telling Guardian Australia this would mark “the start of the healing process between the police department and the queer community”.
One exhibit now on display broadcasts Fuller’s police apology from inside a police cell.
In a statement, a NSW Police spokesperson said “We look forward to continuing to work with Mardi Gras organisers.
“The NSW police force is dedicated to supporting LGBTIQ communities and takes pride in its role as a community leader for inclusion and diversity,” the spokesperson said.
“The NSW police force works closely with Mardi Gras organisers to ensure the safety and success of its events.”
The Mardi Gras board declined to comment beyond the email sent to members.