Former Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive Gil Beckwith has launched legal action against the organisation, seeking unpaid long-service leave and civil penalties following her resignation.
Beckwith worked at Mardi Gras from November 2018 until June 2025, initially in senior finance roles before becoming chief executive in 2023. The organisation announced her departure in May 2025, saying she would step down after two years as CEO.
The dispute between Beckwith and Mardi Gras Arts Ltd has been listed before the Industrial Court of New South Wales.
According to court documents reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Beckwith claims the organisation failed to pay approximately $21,000 in long-service leave, plus interest, after she resigned because of illness.
She says workplace stress affected her physical and mental health and that she was also suspected of having shingles, although the condition was never formally diagnosed.
The proceedings have also revealed allegations concerning Mardi Gras’ finances, workplace culture and complaints involving members of its board.
Beckwith Described Mardi Gras as a “Toxic Workplace”
Beckwith’s medical records reportedly show she was experiencing anxiety after deciding to end her employment contract early because of “incidents within the board and organisation”.
Notes from a medical practitioner described Mardi Gras as a “toxic workplace” and said Beckwith was experiencing significant stress.
The notes also referred to an escalation in her workplace situation after a complaint was submitted by a person who was themselves under investigation.
“Client feels this claim is vexatious and can reflect that [she] feels she has acted with integrity; however, it is worrisome that this is how she is exiting the organisation after giving so many years to it,” the note said.
Beckwith says she did not receive a formal warning in relation to the complaint.
Former Director Raised Concerns About Beckwith
Court documents reportedly include an email from Mardi Gras director Mits Delisle telling Beckwith that former director Kyriakos Gold had made a complaint against her.
“Kyriakos has raised concerns alleging your involvement in historical governance issues,” the email said, referring to “escalating hostility, and procedural misuse and premature escalation in regard to the anonymous staff concerns re: his behaviour at the [Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras] 2025 festival.”
In affidavits dated March 2025, Beckwith said she had been “managing the formal complaints process relating to the allegations of sexual misconduct made by seven staff members against three of the respondent’s board members during the 2025 Mardi Gras Festival”.
The allegations against the board members have not been proven in court.
Mardi Gras Disputes Illness Claim
Lawyers representing Mardi Gras argued that Beckwith could not establish she had resigned because of illness, describing stress as a state of mind rather than an illness.
They also noted that her suspected case of shingles was not formally diagnosed. A doctor had tested her for the condition and issued a medical certificate, but Beckwith confirmed she never received a diagnosis.
Justice Peter Kite reportedly rejected the suggestion that stress could only be considered a state of mind, saying it could constitute an illness.
Organisation Accuses Beckwith of Hiding Financial Position
Mardi Gras has also alleged that Beckwith withheld information about the organisation’s financial position and that it had been operating at a loss for two years.
“[Beckwith] had hidden from the board the true dire financial position of [Mardi Gras],” documents filed by the organisation reportedly state.
“The board did not become aware of the true dire financial position of [Mardi Gras] until after [Beckwith] left her employment.”
Mardi Gras argues that, had it known the full financial position while Beckwith was employed, her alleged conduct could have amounted to serious and wilful misconduct and disqualified her from receiving long-service leave.
The claims against Beckwith remain allegations and have not been determined by the court.
Beckwith Cited Board Turnover and Staff Complaints
On her final day with Mardi Gras in June 2025, Beckwith emailed the board saying she was experiencing “undue stress, impacting on my physical and mental health and ability to do my job”.
The court heard she had not previously told anyone at Mardi Gras that she was unwell.
“Since December 2024, there had been four different co-chairs, and at the meeting on March 14 (the date of her verbal resignation),” the email stated, “I had just received a number of complaints from staff members about their behaviour over the festival,” including allegations of “sexual misconduct”.
“I felt at that time I didn’t have the trust or ease of communication with the co-chairs to share my personal information.”
Mardi Gras submitted evidence that Beckwith had not directly informed others when taking sick leave and had instead processed her medical certificates and leave arrangements through human resources.
The Industrial Court proceedings will determine whether Beckwith is entitled to the disputed long-service leave and any additional civil penalties.
