Several motions to bar the New South Wales Police Force from participating in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade were defeated during the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on December 7, 2024. The contentious proposals sparked heated debate, with members ultimately voting to maintain the status quo, at least for now.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) Board introduced the first motion, suggesting the NSW Police Force be barred from marching in the parade “until such time as they demonstrate a commitment to improving relationships with LGBTQIA+ communities.” While the Board did not take a position for or against the motion, it acknowledged the ongoing concerns many have regarding police interactions with LGBTQIA+ individuals.
After arguments from three speakers on each side, the motion narrowly failed with 459 votes in favour, 493 against, and 26 abstentions.
Activist group Pride in Protest introduced a second motion advocating for a permanent ban on police participation in the parade. Procedural motions to block the debate failed, allowing one speaker for and one against the motion to address members. However, the motion also fell short, with 425 votes in favour, 522 against, and 2 abstentions.
A third motion, brought by Rainbow Labor, supported allowing police to march in the parade for the next five years. This proposal also failed by the same margin as Pride in Protest’s motion: 425 in favour, 522 against, and 2 abstentions.
The AGM’s votes highlight the deeply divided opinions within the LGBTQIA+ community about police participation in the iconic parade. With none of the three motions passing, the future role of the NSW Police Force in Mardi Gras remains unclear.
Pride in Protest spokesperson Damien Nguyen expressed disappointment but noted the narrow margins as a sign of progress. “We’re disappointed there has been a loss, but we know now that it’s a question of when, not if, the police will be removed from the parade,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen accused the NSW Government of interfering in the process, claiming it campaigned in the media and encouraged ministers to join as Mardi Gras members to sway the vote.
“This is an attack on the self-determination of our parade,” Nguyen stated. “A straight Premier is issuing orders to our community that we must welcome an institution that continues to abuse and harass us every single day.”
The debate in Sydney closely mirrors events in Auckland, where Auckland Pride made the controversial decision in 2018 to ban uniformed police officers from their parade.
The decision divided Auckland’s LGBTQIA+ community, with some viewing the ban as necessary to create a safer and more inclusive space, while others felt it excluded allies and LGBTQ+ people actively serving within the police force. Despite backlash and the withdrawal of major sponsors, Auckland Pride continued with the ban.
