New South Wales Police might be banned from the upcoming Mardi Gras 2025 parade after drawing criticism from the LGBTQIA+ community.
This Saturday, Mardi Gras members will vote on one of three suggested outcomes regarding police participation in the parade, Guardian Australia reports.
The first resolution, which was brought forward by the Mardi Gras board after consulting the community, involves the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) being barred from marching until they “demonstrate a commitment to improving relationships with LGBTQIA+ communities”.
The second resolution, which was suggested by activist group Pride in Protest, called for cops to be banned altogether.
“A diverse range of members of the LGBTIQ+ community shared story after story of their own mistreatment at the hands of the police, from profiling, harassment, physical violence, wrongful detention, and more – and their subsequent trauma as a result of police actions,” it read.
“Police are a body that continue to do ongoing harm to our community, to Aboriginal people and quite broadly,” they told ABC Radio on Thursday.
“We have police more or less improving their brand, despite making no real change, by marching in our parade and demanding pride of place.”
And finally, the third resolution is for LGBTQIA+ cops to be allowed to march in plain clothes, with a NSW police spokeswoman suggesting they would continue working with organisers.
“The NSW Police Force is dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ communities and takes pride in its role as a community leader for inclusion and diversity,” she said.
“The NSW Police Force works closely with Mardi Gras organisers to ensure the safety and success of its events.”
Icomes after uniformed officers were banned from the 2024 Mardi Gras.
Uniformed cops have previously participated in the parade, but the invitation was revoked earlier this year after an officer was charged with the murder of couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
Following much debate, offers were eventually allowed to march in plain clothes, but the board’s resolution did not stipulate rules surrounding future events.
According to a survey of the local community, 54 per cent of respondents did not feel that police should be allowed to march in the 2025 Mardi Gras parade.
“The consultation highlighted there were ongoing concerns about the NSWPF as an organisation not demonstrating a commitment to better relationships and policing practices with our communities,” the resolution stated.
“It became clear the way the NSWPF interacts with our communities and other marginalised communities is not creating a sense of safety for everyone in our communities … while many people respect and feel protected by NSWPF, many also feel threatened or marginalised.”
The Mardi Gras board did not share recommendations of how members should vote on Saturday.
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